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Lobbyists meet in Uganda to press for ’just’ EPAs
24-Mar-2008
Ahead of another round of negotiations to conclude the economic partnership agreements with the European Union, civil society from East and Southern Africa meet in Kampala this week to take a common position on the remaining issues — services, agriculture, investment, competition and government procurement.
NGOs confront EU over regional deals
22-Mar-2008
On his arrival at a Joint Parliamentary Assembly of EU and ACP countries in Slovenian capital Ljubljana this week, EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel was confronted with an array of parliamentarians and civil society activists carrying the message, ’Brussels-made EPAs will not fit ACPs’.
CAN intensifies preparations for the third round of CAN-EU negotiations
20-Mar-2008 IBLS
The Andean Community Member Countries intensified their preparations this week for the Third Round of Negotiations for the establishment of an Association Agreement with the European Union, which will be held this coming April 21 to 25 in Quito
’How EPA will underdevelop Nigeria’s economy’
19-Mar-2008 AllAfrica.com
Nigerian cocoa producers have said that the Economic Partnership Agreement will underdevelop Nigeria’s economy because the EU standard makes it necessary for exporters to add value to cocoa, something Nigerian cocoa producers cannot comply with.
EPAs - Groups decry perceived EU imposition
19-Mar-2008
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), including farmers, workers, women, faith-based and students groups and organisations drawn from across Africa, have decried the negotiations on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between Europe and the continent as another form of re-colonisation.
Maqbool discusses FTA with EU delegation
19-Mar-2008
Commerce and Industry Minister Maqbool bin Ali Sultan received here yesterday the European Union parliamentary delegation and briefed them on the Omani economy and the Sultanate’s future projects.
EU warns Sri Lanka trade depends on rights record
19-Mar-2008
The European Union has told Sri Lanka it has "very serious concerns" about civil war human rights abuses and that lucrative trade concessions could be at risk if they continue.
Michel on EPAs: ’I do not accept these excuses’
19-Mar-2008 EUX.TV
Continued opposition to new economic partnership agreements for Europe’s former colonies is too often based on "simplistic" arguments that are not acceptable, according to the European Commission. "I do not accept these excuses," says European Development Commissioner Louis Michel in an interview with EUX.TV. "If they really want to profit from globalization, they have no choice."
Costa Rica negotiates Free Trade Agreement with EU
19-Mar-2008 Costa Rica Pages
Representatives from Central America and the European Union met yesterday, March 17th, to negotiate new trade policy. One of the key elements being proposed by the Central American committee is the lowering of tariffs imposed on certain agricultural products to allow for more competitive trade.
Join the week of strategy planning and action against European Free Trade Agreements
18-Mar-2008
Over 40 people from movements and organisations from the South will visit Europe and join together with European organisations to sound the alarm on EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
EPAs: The latest (unspoken) facts
18-Mar-2008
According to the latest information received, the ACP countries should be under pressure again this year to sign and provisionally implement EPAs before notification to the WTO could take place in order to avoid a challenge by other developing countries — this despite a legal opinion by a renowned WTO legal expert, Dr Lorand Bartels, that initialled interim EPAs could be notified to the WTO.
Free trade talks with EU lose pace
16-Mar-2008 Telegraph
India and the European Union (EU) will have to give the December deadline for their free trade agreement a miss if differences persist over the negative list and non-tariff barriers to trade.
Switzerland to negotiate agriculture free trade agreement with EU
15-Mar-2008 Forbes
The Swiss government on Friday said it will negotiate a free-trade agreement on agricultural products and food with the European Union in a bid to increase competition in the sector.
Understanding the EPA - Most Favoured Nation concession a danger for the Caribbean
15-Mar-2008 Jamaica Gleaner
So concerned is Brazil about the Caribbean EPA that it sent, on February 5, a communication to the World Trade Organisation requesting a debate. Its concern is that the arrangement agreed with the European Commission may cause nations like India, China and others to cease to negotiate with nations like the Caribbean.
’It’s Ok to Belong to More Trade Blocs’
15-Mar-2008
The East African Community (EAC) in November 2007 signed interim agreements with the European Union (EU) after the December 31 expiry of the Cotonou arrangement that gave preferential treatment to Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries accessing the EU market. Peter Kaujju, spoke to Chungu Mwila, the director for investment promotion and private sector development at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
EU leaders agree on watered-down "Club Med" plan
14-Mar-2008 Reuters
European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to a watered-down version of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s grand design for a Mediterranean Union to boost ties with the bloc’s southern neighbours.
Central American leaders oppose preconditions for EU talks
13-Mar-2008 Earth Times
The leaders of Central America Wednesday agreed to finish negotiations about a new agreement with the European Union by early 2009 - but only if EU demands for preconditions such as changing local laws are dropped.
EPA negotiations: State of play and strategic considerations for way forward
12-Mar-2008 South Centre
This South Centre Analytical Note overviews some of the main challenges that ACP governments face now in the EPA negotiations and provides suggestions regarding strategic options for the way forward.
Brussels seeks greater power in foreign deals
12-Mar-2008 FT
The European Commission is seeking to take more power into its hands to strike deals to protect European companies investing abroad, a role traditionally undertaken by the European Union’s member states.
Cameroon: ACP-EU free trade accord - experts say Gov’t is on wrong track
8-Mar-2008 AllAfrica.com
Association des Producteurs de Bananes du Cameroun (ASSOBACAM), sources reveal, pushed the Cameroonian government to jump into a bilateral agreement with the EU Commission. Many observers interpret the move to mean that government sacrificed the young industrial sector of the country to protect the interest of banana producers, most of which are owned by Western countries.