Proposal for a Decision on the position to be taken in the EPA Committee established under the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Eastern and Southern Africa States

Summary:

Proposal presented on 7 February 2019 by the European Commission establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the Union regarding the amendment of certain provisions of Protocol 1 to the Interim Agreement concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation.

Further information:

The Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eastern and Southern Africa States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part aims to:

• enable ESA States to benefit from the improved market access offered by the EU;
• promote sustainable economic development and the gradual integration of ESA States into the world economy;
• establish a free trade area between the EU and the ESA States based on common interest;
• set up the appropriate dispute settlement arrangements; and
• set up the appropriate institutional arrangements.

The Agreement has been provisionally applied by Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zimbabwe since 14 May 2012.

The EPA Committee is to adopt a Decision regarding the amendment of certain provisions of Protocol 1 concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation. The purpose of the amendment is to update the provisions on rules of origin to the most recent developments and to provide the economic operators with simplified and more flexible rules of origin.

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