Brussels, 05/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The development NGO, Oxfam International, has welcomed the offer made by the European Commission to the ACP countries which are due to sign economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with the EU to benefit from unlimited market access for more or less all of their products (EUROPE 9401). However, the NGO warns that this offer should not be used to force ACP countries to sign EPAs on 31 December 2007 if they are not ready by that date.
In a press release published on 4 April, Oxfam International says that the offer on the table for the ongoing negotiations responds in part to the legitimate concerns of ACP countries, but that it is the least of them considering the Commission's obligation, under the Cotonou Agreement, to give ACP countries market access after 2007 which is at least equivalent to that enjoyed currently, and the commitment made by the Commission to promote regional integration. The organisation adds that the offer should not be used to bribe the ACP countries with the aim of getting them to sign agreements before the end of the year, when studies have shown that many ACP countries are not yet ready to sign EPAs, as they have not yet carried out sufficient impact assessments and are concerned about the implications of the new rules in the areas of investment and public procurement. They appeal for more time to be given to these countries to guarantee that the agreements they sign will not have any negative impact on their development. Assuming that some ACP countries will not sign by the end of 2007, Oxfam thinks that they should be given assurances that they will continue to have access to the EU market, the absence of which would have a serious impact on producers, workers, businesses and the stability of ACP economies”. (an)