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EPAs

Leaked letter from the EC’s Falkenberg and Manservisi to Tavola on Pacific EPA
5-Dec-2006 Article in the Financial Times
Letter leaked to the Financial Times outlining the European Commission’s response to the Pacific’s proposals on their EPA, rejecting most of them.
ECOWAS seeks extension of agreement with EU
3-Dec-2006 This Day
The regional ministerial committee monitoring the negotiation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between West Africa and the European Union has requested a three year extension of the 2007 deadline for the conclusion of the negotiations for a free trade area of the two economic blocs.
Some dangers and prospects of the regional and international situations
2-Dec-2006 Political Affairs Magazine
In the economic field, imperialism’s consternation with the slow pace of forging multilateral North-South agreements under the Doha round of meetings of the World Trade Organization have led to the more energetic push for bilateral Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
Reject the Economic Partnership Agreement EU-ACP!
22-Nov-2006 Via Campesina
The member organizations of Via Campesina in Africa, in Europe and in the Caribbean consider that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) are a new threat for the peasants and small farmers in the four regions. We ask a definitive stop in the negotiations and the opening of a period of debate and analyses on the impacts of free-trade on our national agricultures. Alternatives based on the right to food sovereignty exist.
Unequal partners
21-Nov-2006 Oxfam New Zealand
This paper by Claire Godfrey provides a wide-ranging look at the many problems with the EPAs, and investigates how these could impact on the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries’ future development.
Key issues in Pacific trade negotiations with the EU
21-Nov-2006 Oxfam New Zealand
This short summary of issues by Barry Coates of Oaxfam New Zealand focuses on the most recent negotiating documents, particularly the draft “legal text” that was prepared by Pacific negotiators after their meeting in June 2006. It aims to provide a “non-technical” overview to inform civil society of progress in negotiations.
The con/dominion of Vanuatu?
21-Nov-2006 Oxfam New Zealand
A case study that looks at the impacts from liberalisation of the tourism industry in Vanuatu.
Offering a realistic alternative
21-Nov-2006 Oxfam New Zealand
Outlines the legal and moral obligation of the EU to offer the Pacific ACP an attractive alternative to the EPAs.
Fishing for a future
21-Nov-2006 Oxfam New Zealand
Provides background information on fisheries in the Pacific and explores the pros and cons of a Pacific fisheries agreement with the EU.
Ghana, EU to sign partnership pact
9-Nov-2006 Graphic Ghana
Ghana and the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed their commitments to go ahead with signing Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) despite calls by the civil society for its immediate suspension.
Multiple problems in EPAs highlighted at workshop
31-Oct-2006 TWN
The absence of development content and the severe effects of rapid trade liberalization were among key problems highlighted by policymakers and NGO participants at a workshop held here on the Economic Partnership Agreements between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group.
Pacific ACP united against pressure
24-Oct-2006 Fiji Times
Papua New Guinea prime minister Sir Michael Somare said that after much negotiation, the European Commission had conceded that not all Pacific ACPs would need to sign up to a single, comprehensive EPA.
Kenyan Minister warns against bilateral trade deals
20-Oct-2006
The Kenyan Trade Minister, Mukhisha Kituyi, today spoke up against the danger of countries running to negotiate bilateral and regional trade deals with the impasse of the Doha negotiations at the World Trade Organisation.
Britain urges EU to change stance on free trade talks
16-Oct-2006 The Guardian
Gareth Thomas, international development minister, and Ian McCartney, minister of state for trade, are calling for the European commission to be more flexible in its approach and consider alternative agreements, should developing countries choose not to enter an EPA.
Time running out on European trade pacts
16-Oct-2006 Jamaica Gleaner
When European and Caribbean Ministers meet in Brussels in November, there will be an urgent need to reach an understanding on what is achievable.
Analysis on the PIC’s draft text of Pacific EPA
16-Oct-2006
This is a preliminary analysis of the Pacific Islands’ draft text of the Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement and the EC’s ‘non-paper’ on services and investment.
Draft EU-Caribbean EPA - services non-paper (Aug 2006)
16-Oct-2006
Draft EU-Pacific EPA - new services non-paper (Jul 2006)
16-Oct-2006
Draft EU-Pacific EPA - new investment chapter (Oct 2006)
16-Oct-2006
Europeans drop demands of equal treatment in Free Trade with Dominicans
13-Oct-2006 Dominican Today
As part of an important achievement for the Dominican Republic, the European Union (EU) will not demand from the Dominican Republic the same treatment that the Caribbean nation is compelled to grant to its partners in the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the United States (DR-CAFTA).