EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements: Taking Them Forward

Abstract

This article aims at looking at the current state of play of the EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and explore the best way in which they can be taken forward. In this regard the article will try to evaluate the EPAs in a collective fashion, first by looking at their present state of play and then by evaluating the best options for the future. Further to the latter element, the article will note that the options should come in the form of three actions, namely: (1) implementing the current agreements better; (2) widening their membership; and (3) deepening them from a subject matter perspective. At the end the article will also briefly note a main flanking measure that would need to be pursued in tandem with these three actions. This measure would constitute helping African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries develop their productive capabilities so that they can exploit the opportunities that the EPAs offer and will offer in the future. The article will then try to draw a number of conclusions for a way forward. EPA, ACP, EU, development, Africa, Caribbean, Pacific, economic, partnership, agreement