Brussels, 29/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The new atmosphere introduced by EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton into the negotiating process for the economic partnership agreements (EPA) between the EU and regions of the ACP group (African, Caribbean and Pacific) of states was welcomed by the joint ACP-EU Council in Brussels on 28-29 May 2009. While stating that they are prepared to continue the negotiations to conclude full regional EPAs and implement the full EPA signed by the EU and Cariforum, the ACP states repeated their demands. A resolution adopted by the ACP Council declared that “in the absence of a comprehensive development-oriented EPA, which takes into account the asymmetrical nature of the economies of ACP States, and which is at least equivalent to the situation existing prior to January 2009, must be provided by the EC, consistent with the commitment made in the Cotonou Agreement, most especially in Article 37(6).” The ACP group was grateful for the positive support from member states like Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands, which wrote to the Commission calling for greater flexibility in the negotiations.
During the debate on Thursday evening (28 May), Catherine Ashton assured the ACP partners that no country would be worse off than today but that flexibility was a two-way street (referring to Article 37 of Cotonou Agreement), also pointing out that only three trade schemes are possible: All but Arms (for less developed countries), EPAs or Special Generalised Preferences (SGP). She said the most important thing was to get all the already agreed interim EPAs signed as quickly as possible, before the negotiating mandate of the current European Commission runs out. (A.N./transl.fl)