An Overview of the Economic Partnership Agreement
What is the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)?
The Economic Partnership Agreement, commonly referred to as the EPA, is a partnership between the European Union and the CARIFORUM side of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping. The CARIFORUM-EU Partnership Agreement is a trade and development partnership that replaced the non-reciprocal trade component of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement. So far, this EPA is the only comprehensive agreement of its kind the EU has managed to conclude with the beneficiaries of the previous Lomé and Cotonou Conventions. These Conventions served to define the relations of the EU with some of its members’ former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP countries) in the last decades of the 20th century.
EPA Research Hub
The Economic Partnership Agreement Research Hub, is a research center which seeks to strengthen the knowledge base of civil society by:
- Providing a regional NGO perspective of the Economic Partnership Agreement;
- Highlighting opportunities and challenges presented within the Economic Partnership Agreement; and
- Increasing the information and resource materials available to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
CARIFORUM-EU EPA Objectives
- Reduce and eventually eradicate poverty through a trade partnership;
- Promote regional integration, economic cooperation and good governance;
- Promote the gradual integration of the CARIFORUM states in the world economy;
- Improve the CARIFORUM states capacity in trade related issues; and
- Promote increased investment, economic growth and improve private sector capacity and competitiveness in the CARIFORUM Region.
The below resources identify a range of thematic areas displayed throughout the EPA. It includes a number of documents and links on each of the below areas:
