An historic 100th Session of the [ACP Council of Ministers](http://www.acp.int/) took place in Brussels, Belgium from 9-12 December, 2014. Ministers from the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States engaged for the first time, incoming members of the new European Commission’s administrative representatives, including Frederica Mogherini, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security and Neven Mimica, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development. Representing The Bahamas at the Ministerial Council was Ambassador Rhoda M. Jackson, Bahamas Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva.
The landmark session was particularly important for the CARIFORUM members states, as the new Secretary General to lead the ACP Secretariat for the next 5 years, from 2015 to 2020 was to come from the region. On Wednesday, 10 December, The Ministerial Council approved the appointment of Dr. Patrick Gomes, current Ambassador of Guyana to the European Union, as the new Secretary General. The region is to also serve as the host of the next ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The Council met at a critical juncture as the Cotonou Agreement expires in 2020 and there is a need to redefine the future cooperation arrangement between the European Union and the countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, within the framework of the post – 2015 Development Agenda. The Report on the Further Perspectives of the ACP Group and the Interim Report on the Eminent Persons Group would serve as the basis for these ongoing discussions. Other issues considered at the Council included Ebola and support to the affected countries, the status of negotiations for the Regional Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and Development Finance Cooperation.