Parliament calls on EU to recognise ACP countries as equal partners

The text, which was adopted by 340 votes to 225, with 13 abstentions, differs from the version approved by the development committee last December, two points having been withdrawn at the request of the international trade committee. The replacement resolution, drafted by Jürgen Schröder (EPP-ED, Germany), with the backing of the UEN, no longer says that the compatibility of EPAs with WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules relates only to trade in goods (and so not necessarily to services). Also removed from the text is reference to the parliamentary body from the Joint ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly, which was to monitor the implementation of the EPAs. The PES, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL groups voted against the replacement resolution, having themselves unsuccessfully proposed an alternative text closer to the original. In a press release published on the eve of the vote, the Socialists said that Conservative and Liberal MEPs were “ganging up on the poorest countries”, pushing them to conclude dubious trade agreements which would open up their economies to EU exports.
While negotiations are on-going on full EPAs with most regional groups, Parliament has called on all parties to do their utmost to restore a climate of confidence and constructive dialogue, after the damage done during negotiations. It also called for ACP countries to be recognised as equal partners in the negotiation and implementation process. Concerned by the effects of the world financial crisis on Official Development Aid (ODA), MEPs called on member states to meet their commitments. They also recommended increases in aid for trade, through, for example, ancillary measures at regional level for the implementation of EPAs. They said that EPAs were a development tool that should reflect both the national and regional interests and needs of ACP countries in poverty reduction, realisation of the Millennium Development Goals and respect for basic human rights, such as the right to food and the right of access to basic public services. Noting that signing EPAs with individual ACP countries or with groups of countries that did not include all the countries of the region could have a harmful effect on the process of regional integration, MEPs called on the Commission to recalibrate its approach. The Commission also had to ensure that ACP negotiators had sufficient time to allow them to consider the agreement and make suggestions before it was adopted, taking account of WTO timetables. MEPs also called for a five-yearly review clause to be included in the EPAs, with scrutiny by national parliaments, the European Parliament and civil society. Calling on the Commission and the ACP countries to make better use of aid for trade funding to support the reform process in areas that were essential for economic development, MEPs also expressed their hope that there would be a strengthening of good governance in the countries of the South. This was particularly the case in public administration, including the management of public finances, collection of customs duties, the system of tax revenues, and tackling corruption and poor management. Parliament called too, for greater transparency in negotiations, and for development criteria to be included in EPAs so that their socio-economic impact in key sectors could be measured.