Dubai: Representatives of the European Union (EU) and India participating in the KP Intersessional which took place in Dubai from May 23-26 presented a coordinated proposal under which the EU will be KP Vice-Chair in 2017 and KP Chair in 2018, while India will become KP Vice-Chair in 2018 and assume the position of KP Chair in 2019. Tung-Lai Margue, Head of the EU delegation to the KP, said the two delegations were making the announcement as responsible KP partners, and “offering a common solution” so as to “(avoid) situations of conflict and (provide) stability to the KP in the next crucial years to come,” the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council reported on its web site.

Margue’s presentation said the EU and India shared the following goals for the future of the KP:

• Forge a consensus during the next review cycle to reach agreement on a number of shared priorities to ensure the KP becomes stronger and more effective.
• Enhance cooperation and partnership with the United Nations’ system and with international financial institutions and to explore how the KP can contribute to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Work towards an agreement on ensuring the effectiveness of the KP scheme and further strengthening its implementation and enforcement.
• Renew and reinforce the engagement with Industry and Civil Society by actively promoting an open, constructive and substantial dialogue among the three constitutive pillars of the KP.

Margue said an agreement on the common solution proposed will provide the KP with clear and predictable Chairmanship for 2018 and 2019 and a continuous program around shared priorities between consecutive Chairs. Manoj Dwivedi, Head of the Indian delegation, said: “We also would stress on the continuity of good work together as Vice Chair and the Chair one after the other which will not only be in the interest of continuity but also strengthen the KP as was done during our successive Chairpersonships in 2007 and 2008 earlier.”