Brussels, 25/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The 78 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) and the European Union seemed satisfied on Friday evening with the Joint Council of Ministers, which allowed the two parties to conclude the formal assessment of the negotiation on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the EU and the six ACP regions, agreements which comply with multilateral trade rules. This general assessment, required under the Cotonou Agreement, took place with some delay in the timetable set, but, in the opinions of the negotiators, augured well for the conclusion of negotiations within the deadlines.
“We feel the aim of concluding the EPAs on time in 2007 is possible. The interim report which we adopted confirms this. The EPAs are largely focussed on development. We have put everything in place so that the process can be continued successfully, both in terms of market access and measures accompanying the implementation of these agreements,” co-chairwoman Heidemarie Wieczorek Zeul told press. She was equally pleased that the Joint Council had endorsed the decision to provide €100 million to the Facility for Peace in Africa for the period 2008-2010 (mainly to support AMIS in Sudan).
ACP Co-President Mohlabi Tsekoa, the foreign minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, said he was “extremely satisfied with the very fruitful outcome” of the meeting. “This partnership is faced with a very demanding period because we are renegotiating, region by region, a new trade system,” he said. Refuting the idea that the Commission was putting pressure on the ACP countries to sign within the time set, the President said he was confident that the EPAs “will allow us to create for ourselves increased access to the European market”. He added, “There is no doubt that we will reach agreement for these agreements to improve the development” of the ACP countries. (an)