2009 stod imidlertid i skyggen af AVS-Ministerrådets beslutning fra december 2008 om at foretage drastiske nedskæringer i AVS-sekretariatets budget for tjenesterejser.
Despite this, 2009 was blighted by the decision, adopted by the ACP Council of Ministers in December 2008, to make radical cuts to the ACP secretariat budget earmarked for staff missions.