Press Release: EU’s first Economic Partnership Agreement with an African region goes live

The trade and development agreement concluded by the EU and four Eastern and Southern African states Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe will take effect from 15 May 2012.

The interim Economic Partnership Agreement provides duty and quota free access to the EU market for exports from Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe. These countries will gradually open their markets to European exports over the course of 15 years, with exceptions for certain products the countries consider sensitive. Furthermore, the Agreement covers provisions on rules of origin, development cooperation, fisheries, trade defence instruments and dispute settlement. It is therefore an improvement for Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe on the unilateral duty and quota free regime they enjoyed so far because it encourages regional integration and strengthens a partnership approach with the EU. Regional integration brings economic and political benefits that individual countries cannot achieve alone.