Sunday Williams
10 July 2009
Abuja — The European Union does not have an offensive commercial interest in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) rather, it is part of its strategic plan and policy to capture the African market, the Special Adviser to the President on New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Amb. Tunji Olagunju has said.
Speaking in Abuja at a sensitization workshop on the EPA organised by his office, the Special Adviser said while most West African and ACP countries consider EPA as a tool for development, EU's area of concern was basically centred on trade and competition.
He said, "EU's concern particularly took care of their export cartels thereby impacting on their own markets to the detriment of developing countries that are vulnerable to anti-competitive practices as a result of their products."
Represented by Dr. Dele Gege, the NEPAD Adviser said the Economic Partnership Agreement must be based on flexibility taking into consideration the multiple constraints of the ACP countries and their capacity to adapt to the new trading environment.
He said to cushion the impact on the fragile West African Economy, changes have to be phased in and flanked by measures designed to make sure the region enjoys the benefits of liberalization.
Amb. Olagunju said the position taken so far by Nigeria in the last Ministerial Monitoring Committee meeting is to make sure that substantial deliverables on development, gaps on competition, financing the adjustment cost and fiscal dislocations in the EPA is addressed by the EU.
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