Brussels, 04/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - In Rarotonga (Cook Islands), on 30 August, the Pacific heads of state reiterated their commitment to conclude talks with the European Union by the end of the year on an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the whole region, while calling on Europeans to show proof of more flexibility in negotiations.
So far, the trade talks under way since 2004 have only led to the conclusion of an interim EPA with Papua-New Guinea and Fiji, while the Pacific region comprises 15 ACP (African/Caribbean/Pacific) countries. Ibn Chambas, Secretary General of the ACP Group, believes these laborious talks are one of the “major concerns” in relations between the EU and ACP countries. He applauds the intention reaffirmed by the whole of the Pacific region to conclude a regional EPA.
The secretary general said during the Rarotonga summit that the decision of the Pacific leaders to confirm their commitment to conclude a complete regional EPA, including all members beyond what was signed by two members of the region, is very praiseworthy. What is now needed, he said, is for the Pacific region to progress together towards strengthened regional integration.
Chambas nonetheless noted the frustration expressed by the states of the region, which are calling for the EU to be more receptive to the requests made by its partners concerning market access.
The Commission has threatened to withdraw the benefit of regulation 1528/2007 on market access from countries that have initialised an EPA albeit unable to conclude talks by the end of 2013. In such an assumption, countries that are not LDC (least developed countries) would lose their access to the EU market without customs duties or quotas. Chambas said it appears that the high income and middle income ACP countries would also lose the benefit of GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) further to a Commission proposal to review the system. Such intransigence does not promote the progress required to finalise talks, he said.
The interim agreement initialled end 2007 by Papua-New Guinea and Fiji has been implemented provisionally since January 2008. Limited to the trade in goods, it provides for Papua-New Guinea to abolish its customs duties over 15 years for 88% of imports from the EU. For Fiji, it would be 87%. (AN/transl.jl)