|
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
PRESENTATION
Formal EPA negotiations with
seven members of the Southern African Development Community (Botswana,
Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique, Angola and Tanzania), known as
the SADC group, were launched in Windhoek, Namibia, on 8 July, 2004.
South Africa, which initially had an observer status, has been fully
included in the EU- SADC EPA negotiations since February 2007. Tanzania
is now negotiating in another regional EPA configuration.
The first
round of senior-level and technical talks took place in December 2004
and March 2005 respectively. On 23 November 2007, an interim EPA was
initialled with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Mozambique,
including a WTO-compatible market access schedule and provisions on
development co-operation and other issues. This agreement was initialled
by Namibia on December 11 2007. An
Interim Agreement was signed between
the EU and Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland on 4 June
2009 in Brussels, and shortly after, on June 15 2009, with Mozambique in
Maputo.
Factsheet on Economic Partnership Agreements: SADC EPA Group
(September 2010)
Factsheet on Interim Partnership Agreements: SADC Group (January
2010)
Factsheet on the Interim Partnership Agreements: an Overview of the
Interim Agreements (January 2009)
Factsheet on the Interim Partnership Agreements: SADC Group (January
2009)
Economic Partnership Agreements: EU and Southern African Countries Sign
Interim Deal (June 2009)
For further information on the
EU-SADC EPA negotiations, visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/wider-agenda/development/economic-partnerships/negotiations-and-agreements/#_sadc
BACKGROUND
Where do EPAs come from?
With the objective of
strengthening its relationship with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)
groups of States, the EU signed the Cotonou Agreement in June 2000. This
comprehensive Partnership Agreement builds on three inter-linked
pillars: political dimension, economic and trade co-operation and
development finance co-operation.
http://ec.europa.eu/development/geographical/cotonou/cotonou2000_en.cfm
The Economic Partnership
Agreements (EPAs) are defined by the Cotonou Agreement as the major
instrument of economic and trade co-operation between the EU and the
ACPs. Therefore, despite their independent legal status, EPAs are an
integral part of the Cotonou approach. Their objectives and principles
are defined in detail in the Agreement.
EPAs are being
negotiated with ACP regions engaged in a regional economic integration
process, and are thus intended to consolidate regional integration
initiatives within the ACP. EPAs are designed to foster the
smooth and gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world
economy, thereby promoting their sustainable development and
contributing to poverty eradication in the ACP countries. Thus, EPAs
are, above all, an instrument for development.
On
17 June 2002, EU foreign ministers unanimously adopted the mandate for
the European Commission to negotiate EPAs with the ACP. The strategy
underpinning the mandate is set out in the explanatory memorandum:
Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the Commission to
negotiate Economic Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries and
regions
(April 2002)
On
the ACP side, guidelines for the negotiations were agreed by ACP Trade
and Finance Ministers on 21 June, and confirmed by the ACP Council on 27
June, 2002:
ACP Guidelines for the Negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements
(July 2002)
EPAs: an Instrument for Development?
EPAs
are based on four pillars:
-
Partnership:
EPAs are partnership agreements, entailing rights and obligations
for both sides. Compliance with the obligations by each side is
essential for the achievement of the entire undertaking. In
particular, while the Union has further opened up its market to ACP
products and tackle all other trade barriers, the ACP States must be
prepared to implement appropriate policies to strengthen their
supply capacity and to reduce transaction costs.
-
Regional
integration:
Regional integration is a powerful means of fostering integration
into the world economy. The EU itself has built its strength on
regional integration. The recent progress made in regional
integration within the ACP reflects the political decision of the
ACP States to base their own integration into the world economy on
regional economic integration. EPAs will therefore be based on
regional integration initiatives existing in the ACP.
-
Development:
EPAs are above all instruments for development. They will therefore
be designed taking into account the economic, social and
environmental constraints of the ACP countries concerned and of
their capacity to adapt to the new trading environment.
-
Link to WTO:
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are not an end in themselves
but are intended to act as a stepping stone to the gradual
integration of the ACP countries into the world economy. They will
therefore build upon the rules of the WTO, taking into account the
results of the Doha Development Agenda.
In
order to provide a qualified assessment of the EPAs, the Commission
launched a Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) in parallel with the
negotiations. SIA is a process undertaken before and during trade
negotiations, which seeks to identify economic, social and environmental
impacts of a trade agreement. Its purpose is to integrate sustainability
into trade policy by informing negotiators of the possible social,
environmental and economic consequences of trade agreements. For more
information, visit the SIA-EPAs website:
The EU ACP Economic
Partnership Agreements: Sustainability Impact Assessment
For updated information on EPAs, visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/wider-agenda/development/economic-partnerships/
RESPONDING TO EPA
MYTHS
Economic Partnership Agreements: Frequently Asked Questions (May
2010)
Answer to the Petition from EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton to
Traidcraft (January 2009)
Interim Economic Partnership Agreements: Questions and Answers
(March 2008)
EPAs: Addressing the Misconceptions (January 2008)
SUCCESS STORIES
For "EPA Testimonials" from our ACP partners, visit:
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/stories/index.cfm?sort=topic&langId=EN
CALENDAR
For a calendar of upcoming EPA negotiating rounds and
events, visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/wider-agenda/development/economic-partnerships/
|