EPAs for Development

TECHNICAL WORKSHOP ON ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ACCOMPANYING PROGRAMMES: “EPA FOR DEVELOPMENT” IN AFRICA

A technical workshop on the developmental window of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) took place on AFD premises in Paris on 24 October 2008.

This event gathered about 50 participants from various horizons: European Parliament, European Commission, European Development Institutions, Experts from ACP countries and from African Regional Institutions, (ONUDI), Think Tanks,  sector). The aim was to respond to the European Parliament’s need for information on this sensitive issue. In fact, the trade dimension of EPAs has so far often been given the priority over the developmental dimensions.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Debrat, Deputy Director General of AFD, and Mr Schroeder, APE rapporteur for the Development Commission of the European Parliament. It was the occasion for experts, practitioners and political decision-makers to discuss extensively on EPA accompanying measures and programmes and to stress the importance of regional integration processes and aid for trade.  

The plenary session of 24 October was prepared, the day before, by a meeting of experts mobilised by AFD through the Practitioners’ Network.

The participants have welcomed such a still rare initiative which gathered, in an informal way, various actors, decision-makers, experts and beneficiaries, involved from different perspectives and to various extents into this issue, critical for ACP countries.