Brussels, 14/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on 11 December, Fiji and the EU signed a temporary economic partnership agreement. This agreement had been initialled by Papua New Guinea and Fiji in November 2007, but in July 2009, only Papua New Guinea signed, as Fiji chose to postpone its signature (EUROPE 9952).
The Commission hopes that this temporary EPA, which is limited to products, will still lead to a full EPA early next year. Currently, it covers the vast majority of the region's exports to the EU and provides for Fiji to dismantle its customs duty for 87% of imports from the EU over 15 years (for Papua New Guinea, this figure was 88% from the first year). The agreement also aims to step up cooperation between the EU and Fiji on technical standards, animal health and plant health. So far, only Cariforum has signed a full EPA with the EU. The very first EU/Cariforum Council of Ministers is set to take place at the end of February 2010, under the Spanish Presidency. (A.N/trans.fl)