The agricultural dimension of the ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreements

The African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries are facing several major sets of closely interlinked forces that are likely to have significant impact on the development of their agriculture (including fisheries) sectors and their food security situation. The possible conclusion and outcome of both the negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) under the Cotonou Agreement (with the EU) and the WTO Doha Round pose serious concerns on the future of their agricultural trade and development of the sector. Furthermore, the ongoing CAP reform which will determine the nature of EU agriculture over the next few years, and the process of EU enlargement have also created concerns for ACP States as to how to address these multi-faceted forces so as to reap the maximum benefits for their mostly agrarian economies.

Report edited by Suffyan Koroma and J.R. Deep Ford.