NGO letter: Undue pressure on Namibia to sign an interim EPA

June 21, 2010

In a joint open Letter to Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht, 30 NGOs expressed their concern over the undue pressure on the government of Namibia to sign the interim EPA. The negotiations on the “SADC” EPA are still ongoing and contentious issues still remain outstanding. The NGOs urged the Commissioner to stop the pressure on Namibia, but to engage positively with the “SADC EPA” countries, and show policy flexibility in addressing the outstanding issues in the negotiations.

Full text of the letter: Namibia NGO letter 100618

Answer: De Gucht reply to NGO letter on Namibia 100712


“EPAs in (times of) crisis”: Presentations and Reports

May 3, 2010

Invitation: “EPAs in (times of) crisis”

April 15, 2010

invitation et le programme en français: invitation séminaire APE FR

The purpose of the seminar is to take stock of the EPA negotiations and implementation and to assess the EPAs in the light of the global crises.

The seminar will take place at The International Auditorium; Boulevard du Roi Albert II, N° 5/2, B-1210 Brussels on Thursday 29 April 2010 from 9:00 to 17:00.

The following civil organisations are contributing to the organisation of the event (preliminary list): ActionAid, African Trade Network, APRODEV, Africa Groups Sweden, Caribbean Policy Development Centre, ENDA, Forum Syd, ICCO, Oxfam International, Pacific Network on Globalisation, Partnership for Change, SOS Faim, Third World Network Africa, Transnational Institute, Traidcraft, and 11.11.11.

Programm: Read the rest of this entry »


Yash Tandon: “Impose an Embargo on the EPA Talks”

April 14, 2010

In an Interview with IPS, Yash Tadon, Ugandan political economist and former Director of South Center, called for a moratorium on the EPA negotiations. Read the rest of this entry »


Ablassé Ouédraogo: Five reasons to suspend EPA negotiations

April 12, 2010

Ablassé Ouédraogo, former Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and former special advisor to the President of ECOWAS for trade negotiations, explains five reasons to supend EPA negotiations. Read the rest of this entry »


Promoting Southern African Solidarity

April 12, 2010

SAPSN STATEMENT, WINDHOEK, 25 MARCH 2010

The Southern African Peoples Solidarity Network (SAPSN) is a regional network embracing a wide range of civil society organizations, labour and social movements from all the countries of the whole Southern African region.

Amongst many concerns common to all the countries and peoples of our region, we also have to deal with the economic and political relations between the governments of our region and the European Union (EU). These have most recently been expressed in their negotiations over so-called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). Read the rest of this entry »


Stop EPA Day 2009 – International press release

September 24, 2009

Activists and campaigners in 30 countries demand turnaround in EPA negotiations

(Brussels, 25 September 2009): Through a collective mass fax and e-mail action, more than 80 organisations in 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Pacific have today called on decision-makers to fundamentally change the course of the ongoing negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and ACP countries. The EU approach to these negotiations is the main problem, activists say. Read the rest of this entry »


Stop EPA Day activities around the World

September 24, 2009

On the occasion of Stop EPA Day 2009, supporters of the StopEPA Campaign around the world inform about the consequences of EPAs and call for a turnaround in the negotiations. Activities include mass fax and e-mail actions, marches, workshops, meetings with policy makers, public forums and many more.

The activities take place at least in the following countries and regions and are supported by several organisations

Read the rest of this entry »


Public protest in Kenya on Stop EPAs Day

September 23, 2009

Media Advisory

Friday, 25th Sept 2009

Civil Society in 30 Countries Demand Turnaround in EPA negotiations
Public Protest Against EPAs

On 25th September 2009, hundreds of farmers, traders, students, women groups and civil society from across Kenya shall congregate at Uhuru Park to proclaim their concerns about the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) currently under negotiation between the European Union (EU) and African countries. The protesters shall deliver a petition to the Ministry of Trade as well as Trade committee of the Kenyan parliament.

Read the rest of this entry »


Stop EPA Day 2009: Take Action!

September 22, 2009

Almost two years beyond the 2007 deadline,  the EPA negotiations are far from over.  Actually, negotiations are at a critical stage. While ACP countries try to put contentious  issues back on the negotiation table, the EU continues to put pressure on these  countries to sign agreepas-stop_webements which would oblige them to liberalise their market further and faster than is wanted or is appropriate to these economies.

Therefore, many NGOs in several European and African countries call for a turnaround in the negotiations. And you can support them!

What can you do? Read the rest of this entry »