EU-Africa trade partnership negotiations stalled

The upcoming deadline imposed by the European Commission to revise the EU's preferential trade agreements with former colonies in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region was raising concern among African countries, according to EurActiv on the 12 December 2013.

From 1 October 2014, ACPs would have to switch to new interim economic partnership agreements with the EU. But as the deadline approaches, negotiators are still not close to renewing the agreement, over which they have stalled for years. Until December 2013, seventeen ACP countries had failed to ratify or implement the agreements, concluded with the EU in 2007.

The next EU-Africa summit was scheduled for April 2014.

ESO: Background information: Economic partnership agreements take centre stage at ACP-EU assembly in Kigali http://www.europeansources.info/record/economic-partnership-agreements-take-centre-stage-at-acp-eu-assembly-in-kigali/

EurActiv, 28.03.14: West African states close to trade deal with EU http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/west-african-states-close-trade-deal-eu-301206

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