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ACP


The failed WTO talks and EPAs negotiations
ACP countries cannot continue with the EPAs agenda as if the failed WTO talks are irrelevant to the EPAs context. An option would be to take advantage of the proposed review of the Cotonou Agreement upon which the EPAs negotiations are based. ACP countries should not wait for the EU to do this for them.
EU begins to soften its position on EPA negotiations
In what could be described as a softening of its position on the Economic Partnership Agreements negotiations between EU and ECOWAS, the EU’s Ghana office says it is hopeful that the concerns of ECOWAS would be addressed “before” the implementation of the EPAs begin.
European Union, ECOWAS to regulate trade
The European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have decided to negotiate an agreement to regulate their trade relations under the new World Trade Organization (WTO) Compatible Framework.
Civil society groups want African leaders to stop trade talks with EU
African Civil Society has called on the governments to stop negotiations on the proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union EU, saying it would undermine development and lead to increased poverty.
No EPA without investment rules and full reciprocity, Falkenberg insists!
Karl Falkenberg, Deputy Director-General of Trade at the European Commission, says its is not worth having an Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and ECOWAS if the Agreement did not enshrine Free Trade Agreement-style full reciprocity between the parties and liberalised rules for Investment.
Regional leaders to discuss global trade issues today
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller will chair the prime ministerial sub-committee on External Trade Negotiations today, according to a Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat statement issued here yesterday.
Mandelson/EPAs: Remarks to ACP Ministers
In this speech to ACP Ministers in Brussels EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson argues that EPAs offer the best possible framework for a new generation of trade relations between the EU and the ACP countries.
Economic Partnership Agreements: Family farmers speak out!
At the initiative of the Network of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organizations of West Africa (ROPPA), leaders of three small farmers’ networks from ACP regions met in parallel to the Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna on 19 June 2006 to assess the process of negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements between their regions and the European Union.
Dominican delegation to propose creating adjustment funds in European negotiations
The Dominican Republic, jointly with the other CARICOM (Caribbean) nations will propose to the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) countries, creating structural adjustment funds to cover costs of the transition toward free trade, within the framework of negotiations with the European Union.
ACP want additional resources from EU
Pacific Island countries want the European Union to allocate additional resources to cover the costs of the regions adjustments when the Economic Partnership Agreement comes into effect.
Pacific ACP trade ministers meet in Nadi, Fiji
The Pacific ACP Trade Ministers Meeting was held in Nadi, Fiji, on 19 and 20 June 2006.
Ghana is ill prepared for EPA - Study
Empirical studies conducted on the impact of the proposed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on Ghana has shown that the country is ill prepared and would face detrimental effects if it decides to join now.
Bush sends 6, 000 soldiers to the Mexican border. Where will Europe send its soldiers when the EPAs are signed?
You may be asking yourself: " what is an EPA? " Well, you are not alone. In fact I have just met with a European Member of Parliament who is no more au courant than you. And that’s worrying!
A global call for action to stop EPAs
We call upon civil society organisations, social movements, and mass-membership organisations across the ACP and Europe to join the STOP EPAs campaign, and engage with their governments on the issues of ACP development in relation to the EU.
EPAs are a slap in the faces of poor countries, CSOs warn
The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), currently negotiated being between African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACPs) and the European Union are set to further reduce incomes of farmers and agric-related employees by 50-60%, anti-EPAs campaigners have said.
Southern NGOs want greater say in agreements with EU
Civil society organisations from a large group of developing countries are insisting on full participation in negotiations under way with the European Union.
Fair trade campaigners push for the scrapping of EPAs
Thirty civil society groups across Africa and Europe have called for an end to negotiations aimed at implementing an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
ECOWAS trade ministers agree on conditions for EPA
ECOWAS Trade Ministers have rounded off a one-day appraisal meeting on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union with an agreement on pre-conditions to be fulfilled before the beginning of the second phase of the negotiations.
The bitterness of sugar
A round table discussion held in Barbados on April 3rd and 4th between CARICOM sugar producing countries and the European Union appeared to achieve the exact opposite of what it intended.
Alternative (to) EPAs: Possible scenarios for the future ACP trade relations with the EU
The purpose of this study is to provide an overview and assessment of possible alternatives to EPAs in order to clarify the choice of alternative options that ACP countries have, to inform the policy debate and help increase the understanding of the different participants in the negotiations.