Complete procedures, EPA signatories urged

HEAD of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) units at the European Commission in Brussels, Jacques Wunenburger has urged the countries that signed the interim EPA to complete internal procedures in order to quicken its implementation.
Wunenburger spoke during a seminar of SADC EPA stakeholders aimed at discussing benefits of the SADC-EU EPA in Maputo last week. He urged Swaziland, Mozambique, Botswana and Lesotho to quickly finish their internal procedures so that the  EPA could enter into force as soon as possible.
“I also invite Namibia to take a bold decision on its role in the EPA process, as further delaying signature to the EPA it initiated two years ago is creating a very shaky legal situation,” he said.
So far, amongst Southern African Customs Union (SACU) members, South Africa and Namibia have refused to sign the EPA with the EU. Angola, though not a member of SACU, have also not signed too.
It has been explained that together with South Africa, Angola are negotiating a broader regional agreement. African, Carribean and Pacific (ACP) countries who signed EPAs, said Wunenburger, enjoy free access to EU markets but there is a requirement to take legally binding commitments.
“Those such as Namibia, who initiated but did not sign the interim EPA enjoy the same free access without any legal binding commitments, which is inconsistent and in fact contrary to both EU law and World Trade Organisation rules,” he said. Glauco Calzuola, who heads the EU’s delegation in Mozambique said his organisation believes development is at the heart of the EPA process and hopes businesses in Southern Africa will make the most of it.
Participants at the seminar addressed all issues at stake in the EPA process, including the state of play of negotiations and the way forward, taking into consideration the different scenarios.

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