PRESS RELEASE N0. 01/ 17th AU SUMMIT

AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT TO DISCUS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Addis Ababa, 16 June 2011 – The 17th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) is scheduled to take place from 23 June to 1st July 2011 in Malabo, Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Holding under the theme: “Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development”, the 17th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union will officially kick off on Thursday 23 June 2011, with the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC).

Meanwhile, prior to their meeting in Malabo, the Ambassadors who form the PRC have already started deliberating the agenda of the Summit at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In Malabo, the Ambassadors of the AU Member States meeting at their 22nd Ordinary Session, will for two days (23-24 June 2011) share views on a number of issues including: Consideration of the report of the PRC sub-committees such as the report of the advisory sub-Committee on administrative, budgetary and financial matters on the draft budget for 2012 and on the status of implementation of the new AU staff regulations and rules, amongst others.

The PRC will further exchange views on specific reports including the report of the sub-committee on structures; activities on multilateral cooperation; refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Africa; economic and trade matters; and the report on the NEPAD Agency. They will consider the working documents and draft decisions in preparation for the 19th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

On the other hand, the 19th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will hold from 26 to 28 June 2011, in Malabo. The Ministers of External Affairs or other ministers or authorities designated by the governments of Member States will exchange views on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organised by the AU Commission during the last six months. They will consider the activity report of the Commission; the recommendations of the PRC on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures; the progress report on the work of the ministerial panel on the election of members of the Commission in January 2012; among others.

The Executive Council will proceed to the election of one member of the African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL) and five (5) Members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). The Ministers will consider the reports of other AU organs such as: the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); the Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR); the AU Advisory Board on Corruption; the AU Commission on International Law (AUCIL); and the report of the president of the General Assembly of ECOSOCC. They will also discuss items proposed by Member States.

The17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union is scheduled to take place from 30 June - 1 July 2011.

During the Summit, the Heads of States are expected to adopt the Decisions and Recommendations of the 19th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council as well as the Declarations of the Summit. They will also agree on the date and venue of the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union.

For more information, consult the African Union website: www.au.int and visit the 17th Summit web page of the AU at the following link: http://www.au.int/en/summit/17thsummit

Journalists are invited to cover the official opening and closing ceremonies of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the PRC on 23 and 24 June 2011, the19th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council from 26 to 28 June 2011 and the 17th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly on 30 June and 1st July 2011.

Journalists wishing to interview the leadership of the AU Commission during the Summit should submit their requests to Mrs Esther Azaa Tankou E-mail: YambouE@africa-union.org / esthertankou@yahoo.com