At the 16th annual meeting of the joint ministerial trade committee held in Brussels on 26 October, the European Union and the 79 ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) countries reviewed the state of the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) implemented by 29 ACP countries (whilst 21 have concluded negotiations with the EU). This annual meeting was chaired by European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Samoa's Trade Minister Lautafi Fio Selafi Joseph Purcell.
"The ACP ministers asked the EU to support the development dimension of the EPAs and to guarantee the effective access of goods and services from ACP countries to the European market. They also urged it to ensure the EPAs strengthen regional integration within the ACP regional groupings", an ACP source stated.
Rules of origin. The ACP ministers called on the EU to take greater consideration of the importance of cumulation under the rules of origin for the promotion of regional value chains, knowing that the agreement from the ACP party as regards the commitment to administrative cooperation on customs issues aims to facilitate cumulation within the ACP group.
Flexibility for countries in difficulty. The EU was furthermore asked to show flexibility in the resolution of outstanding issues with regard to the ACP countries that are having difficulty signing an EPA. The ACP countries also asked that the post-Cotonou agreement being negotiated provide for modalities to strengthen the interim agreements (staged agreements towards an EPA).
These discussions were "constructive", Malmström tweeted on 26 October, saying that EU trade assistance has reached a record €13.5 billion. When asked by EUROPE the same day, the Commission services replied on Tuesday 30 October that this "meeting illustrated positive dynamics in ACP-EU trade relations, as more countries are entering into EPAs and these agreements can be enhanced and extended to cover new areas when the parties are ready". The Commission services also said that "the focus of the EPA process is now on implementation". (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)