" GDS Special issue on EPAs : Why, how and with whom ? Presentation, analyses, viewpoints"

Grain de sel, Inter-réseaux, november 2007

40 pages dedicated to a single subject. Including an eight-page supplement jointly published with the Network of farmers’ and agricultural producers’ organisations of West Africa (Roppa), presenting the position of farmers’ organisations from five ACP regions. (Also available in French)

Caribbean : Fissures Appear Over EU Trade Deal

IPS, 21 February 2008

It was not supposed to be so. Soon after beating the Dec. 31 deadline last year, Caribbean leaders were patting themselves on the backs for having reached a “far reaching” Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe that they said would help ensure the future socio-economic development of the region.

EU EPAs could inhibit South-South trade integration, Brazil alleges

Bridges, 8 February 2008

Brazil has alleged that a clause in the EU’s recent trade agreements with several former colonies could discourage these countries, among the world’s poorest, from pursuing deeper trade integration with other developing nations.

Michel on EPAs : ’I do not accept these excuses’

Eux.tv, 18 March 2008

Continued opposition to new economic partnership agreements for Europe’s former colonies is too often based on “simplistic” arguments that are not acceptable to the European Commission. “I do not accept these excuses,” says European Development Commissioner Louis Michel in an interview with EUX.TV. “If they really want to profit from globalization, they have no choice.”

EPAs must serve as a wake up call for Ghanaians

Bilateral.org, 8 May 2008

The Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA), Dr Joe Abbey has challenged Ghanaians to take advantage of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to raise their production capacities. He explained that the EPAs must serve as a wake-up call to the country instead of thinking of creating barriers to stop the entry of European goods. “The status quo of sitting down and only repeating our story of how we have been colonized must be stopped. Let us look at the hard facts and deal with it,” he said.

Africa leaders must unite against EPA agreements

The Statesman, 24 April 2008

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, South Africa Rob Davies has called on African leaders to ignore the Economic Partnership Agreement proposed by the European Commission since the continent is presently not ready for it.

MPs want Uganda out of EAC-EU trade deal

East African, 5 May 2008

Parliamentarians are pressurising Uganda to revoke the interim trade agreement signed between the European Union and the East African Community.

Africa : Conflicting Views Over EPAs in French Government

Inter Press Service, 24 April 2008

As it prepares to assume the presidency of the European Union in July one of the main issues on France’s agenda will be the economic partnership agreements (EPAs). But with less than three months to go, France’s official position concerning EPAs is still surprisingly unclear.

The new EPAs : comparative analysis of their content and the challenges for 2008

ECDPM, April 2008

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the trade regimes for Africa that on 1 January 2008 replaced the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA), the negotiations that remain to be completed and the challenges facing Africa in implementation, some of which require support from Europe.

Nigeria ‘‘Threatens’’ Neighbours in Wake of Bilateral EPAs

IPS, 2 June 2008