The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

 

Sir John R. KAPUTIN

Secretary-General of the ACP Group of States
Mr. Chairman, Honourable Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, Participants,

I welcome you all to this Workshop on EPAs, which has been organized for all the Members of the ACP Consultative Assembly. I am glad that the seminar is finally being held today. Unfortunately, we could not hold it in Edinburgh, as the Working Group on EPAs would have desired. I seek your understanding on this issue and also seek your indulgence for any shortcoming in the organization of the present workshop.

Mr. Chairman,

As you are all aware the negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements commenced on 27 September 2002 and should be concluded by 31 December 2007.

Prior to the launch, the ACP Group undertook various measures and conducted many preparatory activities for the negotiations. Seminars were held in all the ACP regions – the Caribbean, Eastern Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, Western Africa and the Pacific.

The objective was to discuss with stakeholders - government officials responsible for trade matters, officials of regional economic integration organizations, private sector and civil society - the critical issues the ACP Group would be confronted with during the preparation for the negotiation of EPAs with the European Union. Parliamentarians from very few ACP countries participated in these seminars.

In addition, studies were commissioned to assess the compatibility of trade policies of current regional economic integration processes. Other studies examined the preliminary impact of EPAs on regional economic integration and possible adjustment scenarios.

On the basis of inputs from seminars, preliminary studies and other internal consultations, ACP guidelines for the

negotiation of EPAs were developed, and adopted by the ACP Council of Ministers in Punta Canha, Dominican Republic and endorsed by the 3rd ACP Summit of the Heads of States and Government (Fiji, July 2002).

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to mention that in order to establish their legitimacy in ACP States, particularly as regards their contribution to sustainable development, the ACP negotiating guidelines provided for the involvement of all stakeholders in the negotiation process. This was necessary so as to generate public support for the negotiations and outcome of EPA negotiations. In this regard, public scrutiny of the negotiations, including follow-up by parliamentarians would be expected.

Therefore, it is crucial that Parliamentarians continue to be informed of the developments in the negotiations process.

Mr. Chairman,

EPAs are now in the second phase and are being conducted at the regional level. In the first phase, the ACP Secretariat was more directly involved. In the second phase, the Secretariat occasionally participates at the regional meetings when invited.

However, ACP Secretariat is still engaged through the Technical Follow-up Group on EPA negotiations as well as the ACP Ministerial Trade Committee, both of which convene at the all ACP level.

At the joint ACP-EC level, formal meetings take place and the Technical Monitoring Committee and the Joint Ministerial Trade Committee. But other ACP fora for discussing EPAs exist. The JPA and the Council of Ministers have EPAs negotiations, as a standing item on the agenda. 

Mr. Chairman,

EPAs are the most complicated and complex set of negotiations that the ACP countries have ever been engaged in.

You need to garner consensus at the national, regional and all ACP levels before meeting with the EC on each of the subject areas to be negotiated. The situation is worsened by the fact that negotiations are taking place at parallel with those of the WTO.

In most, if not all cases, the same players are involved in the two sets of negotiations. This exercise has been draining the scarce financial and human resources of the ACP that we require for negotiations.

As Parliamentarians, you will need to discuss how you can support and strengthen the negotiators by providing them with adequate financial resources and back up research facilities.

Mr Chairman,

As discussions proceed to cover the real content of the negotiations, you Parliamentarians will continue to be regularly informed and briefed. Your advice and guidance will always be most welcome.

I do not wish to take up much of your time since you have many issues to cover. Allow me, therefore, to convey to you my best wishes for a fruitful and enjoyable workshop.

I thank you for your attention.