Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the timetable within which negotiations on the Economic Partnership Arrangements are taking place; when these negotiations will be completed; his view of the interpretation that these negotiations and the Economic Partnership Arrangements offer a real opportunity to developing countries to assess the impact of liberalisation of their economies; the circumstances in which he would seek an extension to already published deadlines in respect of the conclusion of the talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6773/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are trade agreements currently being negotiated between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states.

The mandate for the negotiation of EPAs comes from the legally-binding Cotonou Agreement, the central objective of which is that of "reducing and eventually eradicating poverty, consistent with the objectives of sustainable development and the gradual integration of the ACP countries into the world economy".

Negotiations began in September 2002 and the agreements are required to enter into force by 1 January 2008. For the purposes of EPA negotiations, the ACP states are organised into six regional groupings. The concept of regional integration is fundamental to the EPA process.

On their own, the small segmented markets of the ACP countries are poorly positioned to take advantage of the global trading system. I believe that stronger regional integration will facilitate an increase in production and competitiveness. This is the critical first step toward greater participation in international trade, with all the benefits of new markets which this promises.

I realise, however, that if the ACP States are to take full advantage of the trading opportunities afforded by EPAs, greater and more effective trade-related assistance will be required to be made available to them.

In this regard, EU Ministers for Development and the European Commission have already pledged to ensure that a substantial share of EU and national trade-related assistance will be devoted to the needs of ACP states, with the collective total allocation rising to some €2 billion per annum by 2010.

In Ireland's case and in line with the priorities outlined in the recent White Paper on Irish Aid, we have committed to increase substantially our funding for Aid for Trade initiatives in the coming years. I hope that the deadline envisaged under the Cotonou Agreement will be met and that the question of an extension will not arise.

The Government will continue to follow the negotiations closely and insist that they be conducted at all times in a manner sensitive to the development needs of the ACP states and their poverty reduction efforts.