Negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreementsbr

Joint Declaration of the Second ACP-EC Meeting at Ministerial Level

Having met in Brussels on 2 October 2003 on the occasion of of the second joint meeting at Ministerial level on the negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements, the ACP Council of Ministers and EC Commissioners for Trade and Development declare as follows:

  • The results of the first phase of the EPA negotiations, which were launched in September 2002 at all-ACP – EC level, have been satisfactory with regard to the high degree of convergence reached

  • The Joint Report on the all-ACP – EC phase of EPA negotiations, reference ACP/00/118/03 Rev.1 – ACP-EC/NG/NP/43 dated 2 October 2003 including its annexes, and attached herewith, which we have adopted shall serve as a point of reference, and provide guidance, for the negotiations to be conducted at regional level.

  • The second phase of EPA negotiations will be launched in October 2003, with regional negotiations in Central Africa on 4 October and in Western Africa on 6 October 2003


    • Brussels, 2 October 2003