Lominda Afedraru
9 October 2008
Kampala — Members of Parliament from the East African Community (EAC) and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on October 3 overwhelmingly recommended to reject the European Partnership Agreement (EPAs) framework initiated between EAC and the European Union (EU).
The legislators' views are contained in a joint communiqué which sealed a three-day 4th inter-parliamentary seminar in Kigali, Rwanda. The event brought together EALA and National Assemblies from the member states of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
"The EPA framework agreement initiated between EAC and EU is perceived to be a raw deal. It was poorly negotiated," the legislators said in the statement.
They recommended to "respective national parliaments, EALA and other stakeholders to engage EPA negotiators, ministers and technocrats and register their respective concerns before the final signatures."
According to the legislators, the areas of concern in the EPA framework agreement between EAC and EU include among others a development chapter, flexibility and exceptions in market access provisions, periodic reviews, specific reviews and dispute settlements.
The engagement activity, the legislators agreed, should be undertaken before June next year. Earlier on during the plenary session, several members had expressed total opposition to the EPAs, with some terming the partnership "a trade manipulation meant to make Africa a dumping ground and market for European goods."
"These are manipulative trade negotiations meant for exploitation, capital repatriation and another form of neo-colonialism," said Dr Michael Bayiga, a Member of Parliament from Uganda.
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