EU and
Caribbean states launch final phase of EPA negotiations
(Brussels,
30 November 2006 )
On 30
November EU Trade Commisisoner Peter Mandelson met Ministers from the
Caribbean region as part of the EU-Cariforum Ministerial. The talks
focussed on the Economic Partnership negotiations between the EU and
the Caaribbean, which are now entering their critical final year.
Both sides
renewed the commitment to complete the negotiations in time, and in a
way that would not require a further WTO waiver. Ministers endorsed a
frank joint review of negotiations showing significant progress in
many areas including competition policy and transparency in government
procurement, innovation and the environment.
Ministers
agreed that regional integration is a powerful tool towards
sustainable development and underscored the sensitivities and
complexity of Cariforum's regional integration. They instructed
negotiators to examine where Cariforum commitments will be region-wide
or national with the objective of going as far as possible in the
direction of regional market building. However, Ministers noted the
political and other constraints including possible adjustment costs of
the process.
The
Ministerial ended with negotiating teams mandated to step up
negotiations on market access for goods and services. Both sides will
submit negotiating proposals early in 2007.
Ministers
also discussed the important issue of development cooperation for the
implementation of the EPA, stressing the need to specify priorities
and making the link with aid from the European Union and other donors.
For
more information on EPAs please visit:
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/acp/index_en.htm
