Malmström welcomes parliamentary vote on Ghana agreement
European Commission | 1 December 2016
Malmström welcomes parliamentary vote on Ghana agreement
Press release
Today, the European Parliament voted, with a 375-220 majority, to give its consent to the interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Ghana. In a statement, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström welcomed the decision.
“I was very pleased with today’s vote in the European Parliament ratifying the interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and Ghana. The Agreement has the potential to boost growth and support prosperity by helping the democratic country of Ghana integrate further into the world economy through investment and trade. The Agreement was also ratified in the Ghanaian Parliament this summer, in a cross-party vote.
It immediately guarantees Ghanaian exporters duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market. It protects local development through safeguard clauses and only a limited and gradual liberalisation.
Many provisions of the agreement deal with support to Ghanaian producers to meet EU standards. Furthermore, the Economic Partnership Agreement includes the sustainable development objectives and provisions on labour, environment, democratic principles and human rights enshrined in the Cotonou Agreement.
In West Africa as a whole, a large majority of countries have signed the regional Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU, which intends to foster and strengthen the regional integration process in West Africa. From the Commission’s side, we are committed to the conclusion of that Agreement and continue our advocacy together with West African regional organisations.”
