PRESS STATEMENT
17th May 2007

EPA MUST OFFER BETTER PREFERENCES

Pacific Island Countries need to be strategic and develop not only intelligent but technically sound demands and offers in negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU).

“But for an EPA to be beneficial to Pacific ACP States (PACPS) it has to offer better preferences than in the alternative options and assured terms and conditions,” Peter Forau, Deputy Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat said at the opening of the Joint Meeting of Pacific ACP (PACP) Trade Ministers, National Authorising Officers (NAOs) and the Regional Authorising Officer (RAO) in Nadi, Fiji today.

Mr Forau told the Ministers that to secure these advantages was not a matter of just making demands.

“The PACPS are required to account for the interests of the EU as well, and that compels the submission of offers. This is what is called reciprocity. That’s why we need to be strategic and develop not only intelligent but technically sound demands and offers as well,” Mr Forau said.

“At the same time, it is also important to bear in mind that we have a track record of cordial partnership with the EU founded on the Lome Convention and recently extenuated under the Cotonou Agreement. Let’s also find lessons in that partnership that perhaps might succour the region’s efforts to secure a beneficial EPA.”

Mr Forau said the PACP States and other ACP regions are challenged by a binding deadline to conclude an EPA at the end of this year.

“This deadline is mandatory, but we owe our people, whose mandate this work is relevant, an EPA that promises tangible returns that exceed what might be considered modest.”

Some of the key issues being discussed at the meeting include:

    - Update on EPA negotiations since November 2006;
    - The report of the PACP Ministerial Mission to Europe;
    - EPA Development Needs and Adjustment Costs for PACPS;
    - Programming of EDF 10 Regional Indicative Programme (RIP);
    - EPA Adjustment Facility;
    - EPA related studies; and
    - Pacific ACP-EU Goods and Services Offers and Demand.

The meeting will also discuss the Pacific Island Trade Agreement (PICTA), an update on World Trade Organization issues, and the position of Chief Negotiator for the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER) negotiations with Australia and New Zealand.

The two-day meeting is being chaired by the Fiji Interim Government’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

The meeting observed a moment of silence to remember the Head of State of the independent State of Samoa, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, who passed away last week.