Lome and Cotonou
Negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements between African sub-regions and the European Union
Background to the Economic Partnership Agreements
Authors:
; ILEAP
Publisher:
International Lawyers and Economists Against Poverty , 2004
This background brief explores several issues associated with the preparations for and the negotiation of EPAs which will bring together the EU and four sub-regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It:
- examines the trade negotiation objectives that may be derived from Africa’s development goals and strategy
- relates these to the two trade negotiations in which many African countries are currently involved (i.e. Doha and EPAs)
- discusses the coherence between the development strategy and negotiation objectives, and between Doha and EPAs
- outlines the the key principles and objectives of the EPAs
- explores the content and substance of EPA negotiations, and suggests how African interests and options in the Doha Development Agenda negotiations may be alligned with and supplemented by the EPA negotiations
