Addis Ababa, 3rd July 2012 – The Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the African Union (AU) will officially kick off 9 July 2012 in the Plenary Hall of the New African Union Conference Center (AUCC) in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, under the theme: “Boosting Intra-African Trade”.

For two days (09 and 10 July 2012), the Ambassadors representing the 54 Member Countries will be meeting at their 24th Ordinary Session within the framework of the 19th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU to discuss the agenda for the Summit. They will, exchange views on specific reports including the reports of the Advisory Sub-committee on administrative, budgetary and financial matters; sub-committee on programmes and conferences; sub-committee on structures; multilateral cooperation;; economic and trade matters; the report on the NEPAD as well as that of the refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Africa). They will also consider the working documents and draft decisions in preparation for the 21st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council among others.

Meanwhile, the report of the PRC will be submitted to the Executive Council for adoption.

For more information, consult the African Union website: www.au.int and visit the 19th Summit web page of the AU at the following link: http://au.int/en/summit/19thsummit

Journalists are invited to cover the official opening and closing ceremonies of the 24th Ordinary Session of the PRC on 9 and 10 July 2012.

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

Attached is the Agenda of the 24th PRC Meeting