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

Or:FR/Tr;Rev:AM

Distinguished representatives of international organisations, Representatives of the European Commission

Representatives of ACP subregional organisations, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me take this opportunity, first of all, to welcome you to ACP House and thank you for having responded positively to our invitation despite your extremely busy schedules at such a critical period in the negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA).

I also wish to thank the European Commission, in particular, for having accepted our invitation to give a presentation on the state-of-play regarding efforts to reform the rules of origin of the Generalised System of Preferences.

As you have reiterated on numerous occasions, the rules of origin are the essential conditions that must be satisfied in order to benefit from the preferences envisaged in the framework of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA). It is vital, therefore, that these rules be prepared as quickly as possible and, most certainly, before the EPAs come into effect.

Many studies have highlighted the fact that the rules of origin are one of the principal elements that have prevented the ACP countries from benefiting from the preferences offered under the Lomé Conventions and the Cotonou Agreement. It is necessary, therefore, that special attention be paid to this issue in the framework of the EPA negotiations.

Furthermore, the multiplication of regional trade agreements, as well as the gradual liberalization of international trade require that the rules of origin be revised so as to adapt them to the changes in the international trade arena.

At your previous meeting, you called for a draft protocol of the rules of origin to be prepared and made available for use as a common basis in the six (6) negotiating regions, with a view to ensuring a certain degree of harmonisation of these rules at the All-ACP level.

The aim of this meeting is to examine the outcome of the work done on the draft text with a view to adopting it.

There are several ways of defining the rules of origin and each has its advantages and disadvantages. It will be very difficult to reach agreement on one single method of determining the rules of origin that will satisfy everyone.

In my opinion, our role ought to consist in finding a compromise between the different positions that will enable the regions to press ahead with the negotiations for the rules, especially in view of the considerable delay experienced in the process.

I urge you, therefore, to work in a spirit of openness so as not to prevent the process from moving forward.

I wish to sincerely thank all who helped to organise this meeting, particularly the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme for Southern Africa, which provided financing that has enabled participants to be here today. I wish to also express my gratitude to Mr. Mark PEARSON, the Director of the Programme, who did everything possible to ensure the completion of the draft protocol and the organisation of this 5 th meeting.

With these few words, I now wish you fruitful discussions and a successful meeting.

Thank you.