The launch of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in 2004 was an important development in the sense that it opened up a critical space for African parliamentarians to make their contribution in facilitating cooperation and development in Africa. Members of the PAP come from national legislatures of AU Member states that have ratified the PAP Protocol and are therefore strategically placed to perform these functions. Like other legislative Assemblies, the substantive work of the PAP takes place at the level of its permanent committees.