1st PACP-EC Negotiating Grp Mtg
First PACP-EC Negotiating Group Meeting
3 Oct 2005 23:51:20
The Joint Pacific ACP-EC Negotiating Group (NG) Meeting at the senior official's level was held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Suva, Fiji, on 29-30 July 2005. In the evening of 29 July, a video conference was held between Meeting participants and Mr Karl Falkenberg, Deputy Director-General of Trade, in the European Commission and other EC officials in Brussels. The Meeting was co-chaired by Mr Isikeli Mataitoga Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Lead Spokesperson for the PACP NG and Mr. Martin Dihm, Acting Head of Unit EC DG Trade.
The overall objective of the first negotiating session was to exchange views on a range of issues fundamental to the negotiations. The main issues discussed included the following:
-the overall objectives and principles of the PACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA);
-how best the EPA might be structured to achieve the development objectives of the Pacific ACP States (PACPS); and how best to include investment, fisheries and tourism in an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Both sides reconfirmed the commitment to move ahead with the negotiations and reaffirmed the fundamental principles and objectives to be included in the EPA as already set out in the Cotonou Agreement and reflected in the PACP-EU Joint Road Map (JRM) that had been agreed to by both sides at the formal launch of PACP-EU EPA negotiations in September 2004.
There was a useful discussion of the need for flexibility in addressing the special needs of the Pacific Islands in a possible structure that the EPA might take. There was agreement on the need to build meaningful flexibility into an EPA.
Both sides emphasised the need for EPA to further contribute to Pacific regional economic integration and the recognition of the close link between trade and development that would need to be reflected in the EPA.
The two sides also discussed the establishment of a Regional Preparatory Task Force (RPTF), its aim being to reinforce the close link between EPA negotiations and development co-operation as mandated by the Cotonou Agreement.
In discussing the above issues, both sides agreed on the way forward in line with the JRM in further developing their common position on the various issues. Actions to be taken would include the following:
-The EC will provide the PACP States for their consideration a paper setting out its thinking on the proposed EPA architecture. The PACP side will provide the EC with papers covering issues relating to Fisheries, Investment and Tourism to be considered in the context of an EPA; and Both sides will meet at the technical level in October to prepare joint papers for consideration at the Ministerial level in November to move the negotiating process forward.
Forum Secretariat, Suva
30 July 2005
3 Oct 2005 23:51:20
The Joint Pacific ACP-EC Negotiating Group (NG) Meeting at the senior official's level was held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Suva, Fiji, on 29-30 July 2005. In the evening of 29 July, a video conference was held between Meeting participants and Mr Karl Falkenberg, Deputy Director-General of Trade, in the European Commission and other EC officials in Brussels. The Meeting was co-chaired by Mr Isikeli Mataitoga Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Lead Spokesperson for the PACP NG and Mr. Martin Dihm, Acting Head of Unit EC DG Trade.
The overall objective of the first negotiating session was to exchange views on a range of issues fundamental to the negotiations. The main issues discussed included the following:
-the overall objectives and principles of the PACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA);
-how best the EPA might be structured to achieve the development objectives of the Pacific ACP States (PACPS); and how best to include investment, fisheries and tourism in an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Both sides reconfirmed the commitment to move ahead with the negotiations and reaffirmed the fundamental principles and objectives to be included in the EPA as already set out in the Cotonou Agreement and reflected in the PACP-EU Joint Road Map (JRM) that had been agreed to by both sides at the formal launch of PACP-EU EPA negotiations in September 2004.
There was a useful discussion of the need for flexibility in addressing the special needs of the Pacific Islands in a possible structure that the EPA might take. There was agreement on the need to build meaningful flexibility into an EPA.
Both sides emphasised the need for EPA to further contribute to Pacific regional economic integration and the recognition of the close link between trade and development that would need to be reflected in the EPA.
The two sides also discussed the establishment of a Regional Preparatory Task Force (RPTF), its aim being to reinforce the close link between EPA negotiations and development co-operation as mandated by the Cotonou Agreement.
In discussing the above issues, both sides agreed on the way forward in line with the JRM in further developing their common position on the various issues. Actions to be taken would include the following:
-The EC will provide the PACP States for their consideration a paper setting out its thinking on the proposed EPA architecture. The PACP side will provide the EC with papers covering issues relating to Fisheries, Investment and Tourism to be considered in the context of an EPA; and Both sides will meet at the technical level in October to prepare joint papers for consideration at the Ministerial level in November to move the negotiating process forward.
Forum Secretariat, Suva
30 July 2005
