Brussels, 23/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - Everything must be done for the economic partnership agreements (EPAs) negotiated between the EU and six sub-regions of the ACP group (Africa/Caribbean/ Pacific) to be signed within the time allowed on condition, however, that, by way of the new agreements that are compatible with WTO rules, no ACP country finds itself less advantaged in trade relations than it currently is under the Cotonou Agreement. Such was the resolve expressed, on 21 March in Brussels, by the members of the European Parliament's external trade committee when it adopted the report by Robert Sturdy (EPP-ED, UK) by 21 votes in favour, 6 against and no abstentions.
Following their rapporteur, MEPs consider that EPAs have a crucial role to play as development instruments and that they must contribute to strengthening economic growth, regional integration and the reduction of poverty. Aware of the communication difficulties between the European Commission and the ACP countries and concerned by the fact that most negotiating regions are now behind schedule, except for the Caribbean, MEPs urge negotiators to step up their efforts to complete negotiations by the end of 2007. They urge the Commission, however, to show proof of greater flexibility when it comes to the concerns of ACP states.
Should negotiations not be concluded on 1 January 2008 - the deadline for expiry of the derogation to WTO rules - the Commission is invited not to exercise “excessive pressure” and to make an effort at the level of the WTO in order to avoid interrupting existing exports from ACP countries to the EU, pending a final settlement.
Recognising that preferential access to the European market enjoyed by the ACP countries has not been as effective a development tool as hoped, MEPs call for totally duty-free access without quantitative restrictions for ACP states, as well as simplified and liberalised rules of origin that are more flexible than those foreseen by the “Everything But Arms” initiative in favour of the least developed countries (LDCs). They stress in this context that access to zero duty without quotas on the European market for almost all products has not yet led to a notable increase in developing countries' exports to the EU, which can mean that the liberalisation of tariffs and quotas does not make poor countries more competitive.
MEPs trust that the rate, the timetable and the range of liberalisation will be progressive and flexible to improve regional integration and the competitiveness of ACP countries. They call on the negotiators to define a strategy for improving the competitiveness of ACP countries beyond market access, mainly in the field of agriculture, and recall that food safety must be duly taken into account when improving the agricultural competitiveness strategies of ACP countries. Effective safeguard mechanisms allowing ACP states to face up to the strong increases in EU imports of farm products, will complete the mechanism. Given the very great dependency of ACP countries on primary products, MEPs call on the EU to develop more effective instruments to help adjustment and diversification of production as well as the development of the processing industries and SMEs in ACP countries. Although they welcome the EU's commitment to increase trade-related aid in favour of ACP countries to €2 billion by 2010, MEPs urge the Commission and member states to specify these commitments. The ACP states are requested to present detailed proposals with figures and to clarify how additional EPA-related financial support will be used (mainly with regard to regulatory frameworks, safeguard measures, trade facilitation, aid granted to meet international sanitary and phytosanitary norms and intellectual property, and the composition of the EPA monitoring mechanism).
Finally, MEPs call for the creation of a parliamentary control committee on EPAs - which will meet in parallel to the joint ACP/EU Parliamentary Assembly and not as a separate institution - to follow and carry out a public re-examination of the impact that EPA implementation will have on trade and development, and to answer ACP concerns. The Sturdy report will be voted in plenary in May. (an)