Press Release: European Commission sets out negotiating strategy for new Economic Partnership Agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries

The European Commission paved the way on 9 April 2002 for the negotiation of a new type of trade partnership between the EU and 76 countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) by adopting a negotiating strategy for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). EPAs are an innovative type of accord, which will combine trade and development issues in ways tailored to national and regional conditions in this group of developing countries. The strategy will now be submitted to the 15 member states for their approval. Under the Cotonou Agreement, negotiations are scheduled to get underway in September 2002.

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