ISDS Case Map
Africa
During the past several years, an increasing number of differences have arisen in the strategic partnership forged between China and the European Union. Among the many critical issues clouding the mutual agenda are differing policy approaches towards Africa.
Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal's president, said at the closing of the Africa-Europe Summit: "It was said several times during the plenary session and it was said again this morning: African states reject the EPAs."
A row over new trade rules risks souring the mood at this weekend's EU-Africa summit and underlines the problems Europe faces in forging new relations with its former colonies, according to analysts.
European and African civil society organizations will meet in Lisbon on 8 to 9 December, in parallel with European Union / African Union Summit.
The Head of Programmes of Third World Network, Mr Tetteh Hormeku has said that the European Union tactics of demanding from individual countries to sign the Economic Partnership Agreements on their own instead of doing so as a bloc was a major affront to regional integration.
Union leaders who met in Palapye for a two-day economic workshop on trade and related issues on Friday likened trade agreements that Botswana and other African countries are entering into with Europe as a new form of colonisation.
Full text of a statement issued recently by Church leaders concerned about new trade agreements being negotiated between Europe and developing countries
It feels great to watch those who once colonised Africa shift and fidget uneasily as they build up a case for “partnership” -- if only the rules of the game were clear and genuine. But there is also the nagging thought: Will Africa play it right this time round?
Africa is in a catch-22 situation. The Economic Partnership Agreements will ensure continued tariff-free exports to Europe, but may kill domestic production.
The Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana has voiced out that its relationship with Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa based on preferences and commodity trade has largely failed to deliver development and it was time to take the bold step to try something new, the Economic Partnership Agreements.
