PACP and EC officials discuss EPA
Press statement (54/09)
24th September 2009
PACIFIC ACP OFFICIALS MEET EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO ADVANCE DISCUSSIONS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE EPA WITH THE EU
A Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) Meeting between the Pacific ACP (PACP) Trade and Legal Officials and European Commission Officials is being held in Brussels, Belgium from 23 September to 03 October, 2009.
The objective of this meeting is to advance discussions on a range of technical issues relating to a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Pacific ACP (PACP) region and the European Union (EU).
The Officials will seek to resolve outstanding issues and seek a way forward so that the EU and the PACP region can move forward as soon as possible to the all-important task of actually building the partnership through a comprehensive EPA, acknowledging the unique circumstances of the Pacific region to achieve the objectives set out in the Cotonou Agreement.
The resolution of a range of important outstanding issues including export taxes, infant industry provisions, the Most-Favoured-Nation provisions that will constrain these negotiations, the non-execution clause and inclusion in the EPA of duty-free access for fisheries products, including quota-free access and improved rules of origin for fresh chilled and frozen fish are expected to be discussed at the meeting.
The Officials will also be discussing the market access offers, conditional on the resolution of a number of issues under the trade in goods component of the EPA that some of the PACP States have made.
The PACP States continue to see the comprehensive EPA that is being negotiated as an instrument that will form the foundation of a long-term, evolving partnership based on economic and trade cooperation between Europe and the Pacific. With the positive, constructive assistance and support of the European Commission and EU Member States for capacity-building in the PACP States, PACP States are confident that the EPA partnership will strengthen and grow into a dynamic relationship that will generate great benefits for all partners.
The PACP region is negotiating the Comprehensive EPA with the EU, as a single region.
PACP Trade Officials will report back to PACP Trade Ministers at their next meeting on the results of the JTWG Meeting and seek directions on a way forward with negotiations.
ENDS.
For more information, contact Mr Shiu Raj, Acting Director, Economic Governance, on e-mail shiur@forumsec.org.fj
24th September 2009
PACIFIC ACP OFFICIALS MEET EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO ADVANCE DISCUSSIONS ON THE COMPREHENSIVE EPA WITH THE EU
A Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) Meeting between the Pacific ACP (PACP) Trade and Legal Officials and European Commission Officials is being held in Brussels, Belgium from 23 September to 03 October, 2009.
The objective of this meeting is to advance discussions on a range of technical issues relating to a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the Pacific ACP (PACP) region and the European Union (EU).
The Officials will seek to resolve outstanding issues and seek a way forward so that the EU and the PACP region can move forward as soon as possible to the all-important task of actually building the partnership through a comprehensive EPA, acknowledging the unique circumstances of the Pacific region to achieve the objectives set out in the Cotonou Agreement.
The resolution of a range of important outstanding issues including export taxes, infant industry provisions, the Most-Favoured-Nation provisions that will constrain these negotiations, the non-execution clause and inclusion in the EPA of duty-free access for fisheries products, including quota-free access and improved rules of origin for fresh chilled and frozen fish are expected to be discussed at the meeting.
The Officials will also be discussing the market access offers, conditional on the resolution of a number of issues under the trade in goods component of the EPA that some of the PACP States have made.
The PACP States continue to see the comprehensive EPA that is being negotiated as an instrument that will form the foundation of a long-term, evolving partnership based on economic and trade cooperation between Europe and the Pacific. With the positive, constructive assistance and support of the European Commission and EU Member States for capacity-building in the PACP States, PACP States are confident that the EPA partnership will strengthen and grow into a dynamic relationship that will generate great benefits for all partners.
The PACP region is negotiating the Comprehensive EPA with the EU, as a single region.
PACP Trade Officials will report back to PACP Trade Ministers at their next meeting on the results of the JTWG Meeting and seek directions on a way forward with negotiations.
ENDS.
For more information, contact Mr Shiu Raj, Acting Director, Economic Governance, on e-mail shiur@forumsec.org.fj
