Brussels, 13/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Speaking to the press in Brussels at the end of the third session of ACP/EU trade negotiations at ambassadorial level, Jean-Robert Goulongana, Secretary General of the ACP group, told them of those issues that will galvanise the ACP States in 2003, notably implementation of the Cotonou Agreement (entry into force is scheduled for April) and future Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU.
Regarding the first phase of negotiations over the EPAs, Goulongana stressed that there was agreement between the two sides on the principles and objectives they are attempting to attain to facilitate the task of ACP regional bodies which will take part in the second phase of negotiations (September 2003 - end-2007). But differences remain on the means to use, and these concern, he said: (1) the purpose of the agreements: for both parties the EPAs are not simply aimed at the liberalisation of trade; they are a means of eradicating poverty and encouraging regional integration and harmonious integration between ACP countries in the world economy. For the ACP, backing for development must lie at the root of future agreements and thus require galvanisation of adequate financial resources. For the Union, the question of financial resources does not arise, as it considers that the leftovers from the European Development Funds may be used and that the major obstacle to an increase in ACP production capacity lies in trade policies and the respect of the rules. Yet, Goulongana remarked, "we already have access to the Union's market; if we do not have that backing, these agreements serve no purpose"; (2) reciprocity: the ACP agree with the principle of the gradual elimination of obstacles to trade, but stress the need for an in-depth examination of the conditions for applying this principle, given their low level of development and gaps in development between the different countries of the group; (3) issues to deal with in negotiations: the ACP continue to place emphasis on six distinct questions (legal questions, market access, questions linked to trade, services, farm products, fisheries products). "It's a way of placing emphasis on what's important for us", explained the Secretary General, recalling that farm and fisheries products constitute most of the ACP exports to the EU. The Union, for its part, considers that questions of market access could be a common lot, as they concern all products.
To try to smooth out these differences, talks are continuing in targeted meetings, at the next ACP trade ministerial committee (Saint Lucia, 27-28 February), before the meeting of the ACP/EU joint ministerial trade committee, on 1 March in Brussels.
As for the repeated third country attacks against ACP preferences on the EU market, Goulongana pleaded in favour of ACP States and the EU finding ways of acting together to preserve them (the Cotonou Agreement provides for ACP/EU consultation, he recalled). Asked about the ACP strategy in the matter, taking the example of tuna, he noted that "certain Member states consider Thailand and the Philippines' demands must be adhered to, which is contrary to the Union's undertakings vis-à-vis us. We shall try, on the one hand, to convince the Union not to give in. If it cannot resist these demands, measures will have to be taken to compensate for our losses". That goes even more so for Brazil and Australia, which are attacking the sugar Protocol, whereas the volume of their sugar exports is not comparable to that of ACP States and that the Union is not their only export market, Mr. Goulangana stressed.
Mr. Goulangana also referred to the ACP's extreme concern for the slow pace of negotiations within the WTO and the "U-turns" in Geneva, contrary to the undertakings made in Doha. He denounced the dithering over access by poor countries to generic medicines and the "lack of political will of developed countries" to render the WTO rules more flexible regarding a special and differentiated treatment between rich and developing countries. "Development recognised as basis of this new round of negotiations no longer seems to be the concern of all. Particular national interests are taking over from these commitments … On the international agenda, questions of development are beginning to be lost from sight … The ACP countries will place emphasis on this issue at the ACP/EU Ministerial Council in May and in the preparations for Cancun", declared Mr. Goulangana.
Regarding Cuba's signing up to the Cotonou Agreement, M. Goulangana hoped that a decision could be taken, "as Cuba has submitted a further formal request along these lines that needs studying by the ACP/EU Council, at the same time as that of East Timor. Thanks to this new formal request, Cuba has passed from the status of informal observer to that of formal observer in ACP/EU negotiations.