Tanzania asked to delay the signing of the EPAs
Realising that time is not on their side as far as the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU) is concerned, the Tanzania government has been asked to delay the signing of the agreement.
Instead, the government should take ample time for consultations with other members of the East Africa Community (EAC) or with the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) members.
Making the observations in Dar es Salaam last week, some executives of the Tanzania Civil Society Trade Coalition (TCSC) said that it was important for the government to extend EPA negotiations beyond the December 31, 2007 deadline to have a fairer deal instead of being rushed yet the contracts touch key lives of the citizens and their country's economy.
Mr. Bonaventure Joseph from the Accord Pan African Programme on Food Sovereignty, Mr. Silas Olang’ from the joint Oxfam Livelihood Initiative in Tanzania and Mr. Mussa Billegeya from the Tanzania Association of NGOs said the country ought to consider EPA implications before signing the deal.
They said EPA negotiations lacked transparency, consultations and informed debate on many issues, adding the process has limited political and public participation, which the government should ensure it fulfils in consultations with other stakeholders.
“We hope the debate would involve government officials from the ministries of Industry, Trade and Marketing; Finance and Foreign Affairs where the trade ministry would be required to give a feedback on the status of negotiations because we hope Tanzanians are wiling to know where the negotiations have reached and where they are going,” Joseph said.
He said the public should be precisely required to know how signing the EPAs would help them economically instead of rushing.
A study commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat estimates that 76 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries will require assistance in order to adjust when the EPAs kick off.
The adjustments would help the countries pay for costs associated with setting up new institutions, reforming legislation, enacting new legal frameworks, enforcing EPA obligations and assisting productive sectors that would be exposed to greater EU competition.
Resources to cover the implementation and restructuring costs of EPAs will come from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) which will be implemented in 2008-13, where EU member states have agreed to commit Euros 22.6 billion for the fund.
EDF is the main known financial instrument for the deployment of EU support to ACP countries in areas such as health and education.
A recent publication by a Geneva-based South Centre, an Intergovernmental Organization, notes that by externalising EPAs assistance through the EDF, the EU does not mean to shift funds from other EDF headings of health or education.
Source: UN News Centre
Instead, the government should take ample time for consultations with other members of the East Africa Community (EAC) or with the Southern Africa Development Corporation (SADC) members.
Making the observations in Dar es Salaam last week, some executives of the Tanzania Civil Society Trade Coalition (TCSC) said that it was important for the government to extend EPA negotiations beyond the December 31, 2007 deadline to have a fairer deal instead of being rushed yet the contracts touch key lives of the citizens and their country's economy.
Mr. Bonaventure Joseph from the Accord Pan African Programme on Food Sovereignty, Mr. Silas Olang’ from the joint Oxfam Livelihood Initiative in Tanzania and Mr. Mussa Billegeya from the Tanzania Association of NGOs said the country ought to consider EPA implications before signing the deal.
They said EPA negotiations lacked transparency, consultations and informed debate on many issues, adding the process has limited political and public participation, which the government should ensure it fulfils in consultations with other stakeholders.
“We hope the debate would involve government officials from the ministries of Industry, Trade and Marketing; Finance and Foreign Affairs where the trade ministry would be required to give a feedback on the status of negotiations because we hope Tanzanians are wiling to know where the negotiations have reached and where they are going,” Joseph said.
He said the public should be precisely required to know how signing the EPAs would help them economically instead of rushing.
A study commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat estimates that 76 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries will require assistance in order to adjust when the EPAs kick off.
The adjustments would help the countries pay for costs associated with setting up new institutions, reforming legislation, enacting new legal frameworks, enforcing EPA obligations and assisting productive sectors that would be exposed to greater EU competition.
Resources to cover the implementation and restructuring costs of EPAs will come from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) which will be implemented in 2008-13, where EU member states have agreed to commit Euros 22.6 billion for the fund.
EDF is the main known financial instrument for the deployment of EU support to ACP countries in areas such as health and education.
A recent publication by a Geneva-based South Centre, an Intergovernmental Organization, notes that by externalising EPAs assistance through the EDF, the EU does not mean to shift funds from other EDF headings of health or education.
Source: UN News Centre
