Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the implementation of economic partnership agreements currently being negotiated between the EU and regional groupings of the 77 ACP countries could be linked to specific development indicators being met as opposed to being timebound in view of the fact that EPAs are to be operable from 2008 and are required to be fully implemented within 12 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33922/06]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Cotonou Agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the European Union (EU) provides for the negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the Parties. The EPAs are first and foremost instruments for development that are intended to foster the smooth and gradual integration of the ACP States into the world economy, thereby promoting sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication.

I am aware of the questions raised about the impact of EPAs on developing countries. Ireland's position, as repeated at the recent General Affairs and External Relations Council of 16 and 17 October last, is that development concerns must be to the fore in these Agreements.

The need for a set of development benchmarks to monitor the EPA process has been raised by our ACP partners as well as a number of EU Member States, including Ireland, but to date no agreement on a formal set of evaluation criteria has been reached.

The review of the EPA negotiations, mandated by article 37.4 of the Cotonou Agreement, is now underway. I welcome the valuable opportunity this review will provide for reflection on both the process and substance of the EPA negotiations, including the question of development benchmarks.

I urge all stakeholders in the EPA process to take full advantage of this review. A thorough and comprehensive evaluation is in the interests of all of us committed to a truly pro-development outcome to this process. I look forward to the results of the review, which are expected at the end of the year.