ESA to continue EPA negotiations
The Times of Zambia, 05/03/2008
Felix Mutati, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, has reiterated the commitment of Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries to conclude a “comprehensive, inclusive and development friendly Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU)”.
Mutati, who is also chairman of the ESA council of ministers under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), said that the region has agreed to continue negotiations with the European Commission (EC) as a collective body of 16 countries as they consider regional integration important.
The comments were made during the joint ESA-EC council meeting at the COMESA secretariat in Lusaka on Monday, which was focused on the EPA negotiations. Mutati said that following the ministerial meeting in November 2007, it was recognised that ESA countries would be unable to conclude a deal by the set deadline. An interim agreement was thus concluded in order to address issues of trade disruption while establishing a framework for continued negotiations towards a full EPA.
He did say, however, that there were contentious issues in the interim agreement which needed to be addressed in order for those countries who had not signed to do so and come on board. EC Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that the European Community was committed to negotiate services and investment with flexibility, “with reciprocal but asymmetrical commitments, gradual and effective opening of markets”. He said that the move was consistent with regulations from the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Mandelson said that his delegation was in Zambia for discussions with the ESA under COMESA in order to further what has been achieved in previous years. “He said the interim agreement had to be signed so that it became a legally safe text that WTO recognised and which all the parties could implement in full.” According to him, the interim deal had allowed for non-least developed countries (LDCs) such as Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe to secure and improve their preferential access to the European markets.
He also said that the logic of the EPAs in terms of trade, growth and regional integration remained compelling, where opting out of a deal would not help the regional integration process. He said he remains confident about the agreements because the long term and ‘good ideas’ prevailed over the alternatives.
Ten out of 16 ESA members have thus far initialled the interim EPA. Although Zambia was one of them, the country has yet to fully table a market access offer.
Mandelson said that the EU could help Africa build effective regional cooperation by signing into the agreements in order to realise the vision of regional integration. He said that the other way the EU could help was through financial support.
Felix Mutati, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, has reiterated the commitment of Eastern and Southern African (ESA) countries to conclude a “comprehensive, inclusive and development friendly Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU)”.
Mutati, who is also chairman of the ESA council of ministers under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), said that the region has agreed to continue negotiations with the European Commission (EC) as a collective body of 16 countries as they consider regional integration important.
The comments were made during the joint ESA-EC council meeting at the COMESA secretariat in Lusaka on Monday, which was focused on the EPA negotiations. Mutati said that following the ministerial meeting in November 2007, it was recognised that ESA countries would be unable to conclude a deal by the set deadline. An interim agreement was thus concluded in order to address issues of trade disruption while establishing a framework for continued negotiations towards a full EPA.
He did say, however, that there were contentious issues in the interim agreement which needed to be addressed in order for those countries who had not signed to do so and come on board. EC Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that the European Community was committed to negotiate services and investment with flexibility, “with reciprocal but asymmetrical commitments, gradual and effective opening of markets”. He said that the move was consistent with regulations from the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Mandelson said that his delegation was in Zambia for discussions with the ESA under COMESA in order to further what has been achieved in previous years. “He said the interim agreement had to be signed so that it became a legally safe text that WTO recognised and which all the parties could implement in full.” According to him, the interim deal had allowed for non-least developed countries (LDCs) such as Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe to secure and improve their preferential access to the European markets.
He also said that the logic of the EPAs in terms of trade, growth and regional integration remained compelling, where opting out of a deal would not help the regional integration process. He said he remains confident about the agreements because the long term and ‘good ideas’ prevailed over the alternatives.
Ten out of 16 ESA members have thus far initialled the interim EPA. Although Zambia was one of them, the country has yet to fully table a market access offer.
Mandelson said that the EU could help Africa build effective regional cooperation by signing into the agreements in order to realise the vision of regional integration. He said that the other way the EU could help was through financial support.