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Pakistan-EU talks to resume after over a decade
4-Mar-2008 Dawn
The Pakistan-European Union Joint Commission is expected to meet within three months, after remaining suspended for over a decade, and a possible free trade agreement is on the agenda.
EU-India FTA hits roadblock
4-Mar-2008 The Hindu
The prospects of free trade agreement between the European Union and India being wrapped up by the 2008-end deadline look very bleak with sharp differences having arisen over various issues — intellectual property rights, competition, agriculture, public procurement, market access and transparency.
Europe headed for new security deal with Israel
4-Mar-2008 The Arab American News
The European Union is considering new steps to deepen its cooperation on scientific research with Israel, despite admitting that previous funds earmarked for that purpose have gone to firms operating illegally in the Palestinian territories.
Crunch week for world’s oldest customs union
3-Mar-2008 Business Day
Sacu trade ministers meet in Gaborone with European Commission trade head Peter Mandelson tomorrow in a bid to break a stalemate over the economic partnership agreement the region is negotiating with the European Union. Mooted as an opportunity to harmonise the region’s trade arrangements with its biggest trading partner and deepen regional integration, the EPA has achieved the opposite. It has divided the region and is threatening to split it permanently.
’We’ve messed up’ on EPAs - trade experts
28-Feb-2008 Swazi Observer
Even though Swaziland initialled an interim economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union, trade experts acknowledge that the country ’messed up’ by doing so.
Brussels proposes first ever framework for EU-Libya ties
28-Feb-2008 AFP
The European Commission said it would begin negotiating an agreement covering political, social, economic, commercial and cultural relations with Libya once it has received the green light from the bloc’s 27 member nations.
Caricom ’carry go bring come’
28-Feb-2008
Tomorrow, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states will assemble in Kingston to spend two days in a retreat on the conduct of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. This is hard to believe.
AU ambassadors endorse AU stance on EPAs
28-Feb-2008
African group of ambassadors who on Friday met in Brussels expressed satisfaction at declaration of the AU assembly of heads of state and government on EPA negotiations.
EU aims to rope in African states resisting EPAs
27-Feb-2008 IPS
The European Union is determined to get those African countries on board which have so far kicked against the economic partnership agreements. A two-part article from Aileen Kwa.
Call to action against Europe’s aggressive economic agenda in Africa
27-Feb-2008
Declaration of civil society organisations at the meeting of the Africa Trade Network, Cape Town, South Africa, 22 February 2008
Trade-EU: Deals with Africa a ’PR disaster’
27-Feb-2008 IPS
Trade talks between the European Union and African countries have been a public relations "disaster" for the Brussels bureaucracy, a high-ranking official confessed Feb. 26.
French heavyweights pressing for EU trade deal with Canada
27-Feb-2008 CanWest
A former French prime minister and now a confidant of President Nicolas Sarkozy have endorsed the push for a Canada-Europe free trade agreement.
Central America, EU face off on penal court
27-Feb-2008 Prensa Latina
Central America and the European Union may have difficulties reaching an association agreement due to European requirement for ratification of the Statutes of Rome of the International Penal Court.
EU Warns Continent Over Sluggish Pace of New Trade Deal Talks
26-Feb-2008
The European Union has raised concerns about the speed at which African countries are moving towards negotiating for a comprehensive trade deal with Europe, which is expected to fast-track economic integration in the region ahead of the December deadline.
’EPAs Are Not About Partnership’
26-Feb-2008
The economic partnership agreements (EPAs) currently being negotiated between Europe and its former colonies in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions are not about equal partnerships but about enabling "big giant Europe to gain better access to African markets".
African Liberal Parties Want Benefits From Partnerships
26-Feb-2008
African Liberal parties, meeting in a General Assembly, that closed in Maputo on Saturday, have demanded that partnership agreements with the European Union should bring real advantages to Africa.
SA-EU Trade Row Puts Customs Union At Risk
26-Feb-2008
The future of the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) hangs in the balance, even as engagement takes place at the highest political level to save the world’s oldest customs union from collapsing.
Guyana and the wider world - Design and architecture of the EPA: The importance of self-critique
24-Feb-2008
Central to many of the contentious planks that remain (especially 4-9) is the observation of Timothy Kondo (Alternatives to Neo-liberalism in Southern Africa) that the draft EPA, which formed the basis of negotiations for his region was prepared by the EU, (Third World Economics, October 1-15, 2007). This observation was reiterated more generally by Marc Maes: "The texts that the Commission has tabled have reflected the Commission’s approach to global trade. They do not reflect the interests and needs of ACP countries." (ibid, p12)
Barbados government to review EPA
24-Feb-2008
Barbados’ Prime Minister has expressed reservations about the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which CARICOM will sign with Europe in April, and he says he’s given instructions for his government to review the deal.
Regional Leaders Differing On EPA
23-Feb-2008
Schisms have begun to show in the united front CARIFORUM leaders showed after signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe before the December 31 deadline last year.