African, Caribbean and Pacific nations and the EU call for debt relief for the poorest countries. And we take a look at what's happening in Brussels next week.

The News: Debt and famine relief appeal

Officials from Europe and the countries  of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific

have called for action to help cut debt  in the world’s poorest countries.

At talks in Togo,  parliamentarians from 78 nations

demanded that debt be  cancelled or rescheduled.

One third of ACP countries are in  or on the verge of debt distress.

They say that funds from that process  should be used to provide education

and health care,  especially to fight HIV/AIDS.

80% of Africa’s population  still rely on traditional medicines,

herbs and fruits that they can find  out in the wild areas,

wild areas that we know are under threat.

And of course the populations are moving  to urban areas. So it's a double whammy.

They are losing their skills  and their knowledge.

Also top of the agenda was  the conflict in lawless Somalia

and its effect on the famine  in the Horn of Africa

which has killed  tens of thousands of people.

ACP countries say Europe is  part of the food security problem

as its farm subsidy system  floods their markets with cheap produce.

Farmers make up 70% of the population  in some poor countries,

I’d like to draw your attention to the  dramatic situation of pastoral communities.

They are the first to suffer from drought  and do not benefit from any state aid.

Amid the party atmosphere, other hot topics  were refugees fleeing Libya

and the impact of the Lisbon Treaty  on poorer countries.

Croatia, HIV/AIDS  and the European Central Bank:

just three of the items on the agenda of the  late-November plenary session in Brussels.

Members are expected to vote  in favour of Croatia joining the EU,

although that’s unlikely to happen  before July 2013.

The accession document will be signed  when EU leaders meet

MEPs are expected to  have their say about that, too.

On Thursday, there'll be discussion on the  EU’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic

and debate on the long-delayed  EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

We don't think it's correct  to have in the penal code

articles accusing people  of political decisions,

or to make them criminals because  they've taken political decisions.

The new President of  the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi,

will present the annual report  of the ECB for 2010,

his first time since taking over the role.

MEPs will also vote  on their Code of Conduct,

which obliges them to reveal  outside earnings or links with lobbyists.

Another topic will be the problem of young  people leaving school without qualifications.

Over 14% of Europe’s youngsters do that,  boys rather more than girls.

A report proposes government money  to encourage them to stay on,

a counselling service and perhaps  an alternative to higher education.

This might be second chance schools  where they can go when they are older,

or it may be another sort of method  that is appropriate.

The violence and coming elections in Egypt  will also feature on a packed agenda.

Should be enough  to keep the members busy!