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Experts debate proposed EU-ECOWAS partnership agreement

By Emeka Anuforo (Abuja)
28 July 2015   |   2:49 am
The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the European Union (EU) are negotiating the EPA. One of four candidates currently vying for the influential post of the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Sir. Ronald Sanders is expected in Nigeria, at the invitation of Africa Today, a leading pan-African newsmagazine.
ECOWAS Commission Headquarters

ECOWAS Commission Headquarters

EXPERTS from Nigeria and the international community would converge on Abuja this week to chart a course for the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA).

The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the European Union (EU) are negotiating the EPA. One of four candidates currently vying for the influential post of the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Sir. Ronald Sanders is expected in Nigeria, at the invitation of Africa Today, a leading pan-African newsmagazine.

Sir Sanders is to deliver the keynote address at the international conference on the EU-ECOWAS Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The conference organized by Africa Today will take place, July 28 to 29, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

The renowned diplomat and scholar, who is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, is expected to share and give his insight into international trade negotiations, most especially as they pertain to the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries, with members of the Nigerian business community and government officials.

Sir Sanders has considerable experience in international trade negotiations especially with the European Union (EU). He was a member of the Caribbean team that negotiated with the EU on their EPA. Aside that he was also a former Ambassador to the old European Economic Community (EEC) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The Caribbean region has since signed their EPA with the EU. Justifying inviting Sir Sanders to Nigeria, publisher of Africa Today, Mr. Kayode Soyinka, said in Abuja: “I sit with Sir Sanders on The Round Table – the Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, which has been publishing since 1910.

And I have been very privileged from that close quarter to know and respect his views on the EPA, which are very progressive and I would like my people here in Nigeria, in particular, and ECOWAS and Africa in general to listen to him. That is why we are bring him to Abuja for this EPA conference as the Keynote Speaker.”

Soyinka added that “Nigeria, most especially members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANT) NACCIMA – the chambers of commerce, and of course the consumers, can get the benefit of the Caribbean experience from someone like Sir Sanders close to the center of the negotiations.

Sanders has a progressive view about the EPA and his views will be beneficial, insightful and an eye opener for Nigeria, ECOWAS and the AU. His contribution to the discussion in Abuja will go a long way in deciding whether it is helpful for and beneficial to Nigeria, ECOWAS and Africa as a whole to sign the EPA or not”.

As Africa’s economic powerhouse, other countries on the continent will certainly take their cue from Nigeria’s decision. The EPA, a controversial issue over the years, is a reciprocal preferential trade agreement being promoted by the EU to create a Free Trade Area [FTA] between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States [ACP] through six regional economic communities into which the ACP is divided.

The ECOWAS Commission, one of the six regional economic communities, negotiated agreement on behalf of the 16 countries in West Africa, including Nigeria. The agreement was concluded in July 2014 after 11 years of negotiations. Nigeria has expressed reservations on the agreement’s current form due to the perceived economic implications to its economy.

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