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March 11, 2016
ACP Group decides to take a second look at EPAs
Accra, Oct. 3, Ghanadot/GNA - The Sixth
African-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP) States Summit has resolved
to take a second look at Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
with the European Union (EU) with a view to making them more
inclusive and to foster integration within the Group.
To this end, the Heads of State and Government would engage
in high-level consultations on the EPAs with a number of
European Union (EU) member states.
This formed part of a three-point decision taken at the end
of their two-day meeting in Accra on Friday.
They directed the President of the Council and
Secretary-General of the Group to explore by the end of
October 08, modalities for conducting the high-level
engagement with key stakeholders in the EU.
The Leaders also instructed the Council of Ministers to work
on the creation of an ACP Free Trade Area (FTA).
President John Agyekum Kufuor, Current President of ACP,
said they wanted the Agreements to reflect a strategic
partnership that would be a win-win for all and not one of
continued dependence on Europe.
He said the Summit, held under the theme; "Promoting Human
Security and Development" took short and long term views of
the current global challenges - climate change, soaring
crude oil and food prices.
The deliberations, he noted, were going to significantly
contribute to the shaping of the destiny of the globe.
President Kufuor underscored the need for member countries
to continue to interact and maintain their close relations
and contacts.
About 2,000 delegates including Heads of State and
Government of the 79-member-nation Group attended the Accra
Summit. It came off at a critical time of turbulence on the
global financial market.
GNA
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