Commonwealth meeting explores development dimensions of ACP-EU trade relations

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma hosted a meeting on ‘Realising the Development Dimensions of the Economic Partnership Agreements’, between high level representatives of the European Commission and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) on 27 January 2009 at Marlborough House in London, UK.

The European Union was led by EU Commissioner for Trade Baroness Ashton, while the ACP was represented by 12 ministers from the regions that are still negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU, as well as ACP Secretary-General Sir John Kaputin. Senior technical trade negotiators from the concerned ACP regions also attended.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Mr Sharma said that the Commonwealth enjoys a close and trusted relationship with members of both organisations, with 40 of its 53 member states belonging to the ACP, and 3 to the EU.

“The Commonwealth also has a respected record in facilitating intergovernmental and inter-institutional dialogue, to move key global issues in a positive direction,” he said.

The Secretary-General said that the objective of the meeting was to provide a platform for sharing views, concerns and vision regarding the future of trade between ACP countries and the EU, with a view to promoting understanding and establishing common ground.

In the past the Commonwealth has arranged high-level interchanges on EPAs between ACP representatives and European ministers – notably with the French Foreign Trade Minister, the German Minister for Economic Development, and the UK Secretary of State for Trade.

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