Addis Abeba — African group of ambassadors who on Friday met in Brussels expressed satisfaction at declaration of the AU assembly of heads of state and government on EPA negotiations The Ambassadors met to take cognizance of the Decisions and Declarations of the January- February Assembly of the African Union, particularly the Declaration on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) which are being negotiated between the European Union (EU) and the different African Regions.

After commending the dynamism with which the African Union has committed itself to ensure the building of a united, interdependent and integrated Africa, the Group expressed satisfaction at the Declaration on the EPAs, particularly the appeal made to the European Union to reopen discussions immediately, in conformity with the conclusions of the Africa-EU Summit held in December 2007 in Lisbon.

The Group noted with satisfaction, the letter which the Chairperson of the African Union addressed on 6 February 2008 to his European Commission counterpart, to draw his attention to the need to act diligently to re-open the negotiations.

The Chairperson expressed the hope that, as a response to that letter, the European Commission would favour the re-opening of the negotiations on new bases, which take into account the development and economic integration strategies adopted by the continent through the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

Africa wants the EPAs to focus on the AU Agenda for African integration.