Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 97: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on correspondence (details supplied); if he is in agreement with the thrust of the submission; if so, the action he will take to ensure that the sentiments of the submission are upheld and supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12589/08]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, 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. The original intention was for the European Union to conclude comprehensive EPAs with six regional groupings of the ACP States. Following protracted and difficult negotiations, only one of the regional groupings, CARIFORUM (the Caribbean Forum of ACP States) representing the 15 countries of the Caribbean, signed a full EPA with the European Commission.

Twenty other ACP countries have so far initialled interim agreements in smaller sub-groups of the original regional groupings. All the agreements have full duty and quota free market access on the EU side and a flexible and asymmetric liberalisation schedule on the ACP side. It is envisaged that the interim agreements, which already define much of the framework for negotiations, will act as building blocks to full EPAs. This has to be done by agreement on both sides. Increased EU market access and support for regional integration through the EPAs is intended to bring real trade growth and broad based economic development in the ACP countries.

The Government have consistently maintained that the EPA negotiations should result in agreements that are supportive of ACP countries' development needs and their poverty reduction efforts. The Taoiseach made the point at the EU-Africa summit in Lisbon last December that the EU approach should be one of goodwill, flexibility and partnership.

I believe that it should be a matter for the ACP countries themselves to decide whether or not to sign comprehensive EPAs with the European Union in the future. I will continue to monitor developments with a view to supporting a partnership approach between the European Commission and ACP countries in further negotiations. It is vitally important that whatever arrangements are put in place do not disadvantage the developing countries. That will continue to be the core of our approach.