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Editorial
The relationship between African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the European Union (EU) is at a crossroads. In a changing global environment marked by increased regionalisation and rapidly emerging world powers, the year 2010 was one of transformation for EU-ACP relations. First, one could argue that the new Barroso Commission with Commissioner Karel De Gucht…
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News and publications in brief
European Commission launches a consultation on development How can the EU ensure the impact of its development policy, facilitate more inclusive and sustainable growth in developing countries, and achieve tangible results in the area of agriculture and food security? These are the questions the European Commission invites its stakeholders, notably its partners in developing countries,…
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An interview with H.E Dr. Mohammed Chambas, Secretary General of the ACP Group of States
After a few months as Secretary General of the ACP group, what is your priority action plan regarding trade issues, notably when it comes to ACP-EU trade issues? The first most important action is to resolve the impasse in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) process. The EPAs negotiations have gone on for close to ten years…
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An interview with EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht
In the new EU trade strategy, what are your main priorities? In November, I presented a Communication on the future of EU Trade Policy. Our priorities include: completing a series of ambitious trade agreements, both at the multilateral level through the WTO and bilaterally with a number of key trading partners; deepening our trade and investment…
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An interview with H.E. Mr Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission
What are in your view the main challenges and drivers for regional integration in Africa? How can the AUC best support the Regional Economic Communities and the pan-African integration process? From a supra-national level, the context is such: a continent regrouping one billion people in 53 markets. Opportunities are obvious given the resource endowment of…
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The Joint Africa-EU Strategy: Quo vadis after Tripoli?
This article draws on a publication and Agenda for Action of the Europe-Africa Policy Research Network (EARN).1 It looks at the main challenges to EU-Africa relations in light of the recent EU-Africa summit held in Tripoli, Libya 29-30 November 2010. Speaking at the Africa-EU Summit held in Tripoli in November, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso…
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Can the EPAs save us from the food crisis?
Very recently, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group, reminded us again that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) should be a development tool for the ACP countries. The EPA negotiations have been underway for nearly ten years now. Throughout this time, however, the world has kept on turning –…
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Engaging with business to make the most of AfT spending
One of the primary objectives of the aid for trade agenda is to reduce the supply-side constraints that limit developing countries’ ability to access markets for their exports. At the heart of this agenda are the actors who actually engage in trade, which in many instances are the private sector companies that produce goods and…
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Aid for Trade: Is it working? We want to know
It has been five years since the December 2005 WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, China and there is no denying that Aid for Trade has earned its place in the lexicon of international trade and development. As funding levels rise, questions about Aid for Trade are changing from “Aid for Trade: What is it for?” to “Aid…
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The great cotton stitch-up
Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali – four of the least developed countries on Earth – rely on cotton more than any other commodity for their export revenues. These countries, collectively known as the Cotton 4 or C-4, produce cotton more cheaply than anywhere else – a competitive advantage that should place them in a…
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Vacancy announcement, ECDPM
The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) wishes to strengthen the quality and impact of its activities in the context of ACP-EU development cooperation and seeks to recruit a Policy Officer in Political Economy of Reforms and Development. The Policy Officer should have practical experience in economic governance and equitable growth strategies, domestic resources…
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WTO Roundup
Lamy on Doha: It’s the Final Countdown WTO members are set to launch an intensive series of negotiations as they seek to bring the long-overdue Doha Round of global trade talks to a close by the end of 2011. Pascal Lamy, director-general of the multilateral trade body, said Tuesday that the Group of 20 leading economies and…
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EPA Update
A joint declaration adopted at the Africa-EU summit, held in Tripoli on 29 and 30 November, commits governments to concluding Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) that support socio-economic development, regional integration and the integration of Africa into the global economy. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso told journalists at the summit that Africa’s EPA concerns had…
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Events
December 11/30-5 20th ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Kinshasa, DRC 1-2 EP INTA meeting to discuss SADC-EU EPA, EU investment policy, GSP and the effects of the Treaty of Lisbon on International Trade, Brussels, Belgium 3-4 …
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Resources
Options to address contentious issues in EPA negotiations: A question of political will, Bilal, S. and I. Ramdoo, ECDPM Briefing Note 20. Maastricht: European Centre for Development Policy Management, November 2010, www.ecdpm.org Beyond Development Aid: EU-Africa Political Dialogue on Global Issues of Common Concern, Europe Africa Policy Research Network (EARN) E-book, November 2010, www.ecdpm.org…