11/10/2016 (Agence Europe) – The steppingstone agreement between the EU and Ghana for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has been ratified by the EU. On Monday 10 October, the Council of the EU proceeded to the adoption of this decision on the subject, without debate (see EUROPE 11639). Ghana had initialled this stepping stone agreement in December 2007 but left it pending whilst waiting for an EPA to be concluded with the whole of the West African region, which proved to be a very laborious process. Ghana had concerns about finding itself subject to the GSP+ regime, a threat that weighs over all ACP states that are not classed as least developed countries (LDCs) and which would not have signed an EPA by October this year (see EUROPE 11570). Ghana finally signed this agreement with the EU on 28 July, with a view to concluding it at a later date, which it has now done. (AN)