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Douala: Final Declaration Print E-mail
Written by AEFJN   
Saturday, 28 July 2007
An information and consultation seminar of Central African Non State Actors held in Douala – Cameroon from the 4th – 5th July 2007. This seminar saw the participation of about forty participants from Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.

1. This meeting was aimed at making up for the lack of information and participation of the sub-regional civil society in the EPA negotiation process

2. Participants followed-up presentations and exposés on the origins of the negotiations, clarifications on key questions, the present situation of negotiations, and shared experience from other EPA negotiating regions. These presentations brought clarifications on the stakes of different questions and positions of both parties in negotiation.

3. Considering the information provided by experts involved in the EU and Central African negotiations in particular, participants raised the following observations:

a. The existence of a serious imbalance of institutional, human and financial capacities between negotiating parties;

b. The absence of a clear vision in terms of development which could be operational through appropriate sectorial policies both at the national and regional levels.

c. The ineffectiveness of regional integration which constitutes a determinant condition so that countries in the sub region may benefit from a free trade area with the EU, particularly with regard to the setting up of a functional community framework and the coordination capacity of the regional integration process.

d. The ongoing negotiations within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on article XXIV of the GATT with its multiple interpretations render compatibility between EPAs and the WTO rules unrealisable at the present stage of negotiations.

e. The civil society in many countries has been so far poorly involved in the negotiation process. This affects its contribution in the elaboration of national and regional positions on the issues of negotiation.

f. Contrary to the development objective assigned to the ACP/EU partnership within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement, the negotiations are fundamentally oriented towards trade issues as testified by the premature dissolution of the Technical Group N°5 on Capacity building in Sao Tome in June 2007.

g. In conformity with engagements registered on the road map, the negotiation calendar and on the basis of the technical work still to be accomplished, the conclusion of negotiations on the December 31st 2007 is premature.

4. Considering these observations, participants concluded that it is too risky to envisage the signing of EPAs on the 31st of December 2007. To this effect, participants recommend Governments and Regional Institutions (CEMAC and ECCAS) to:

a. Make arrangements in order to fund local production, capacity building, research/innovation and basic infrastructures.

b. Concentrate their efforts on further development and effectiveness of the regional integration process.

c. Give privilege to the conclusion of the Doha Round in such a way that a multilateral framework is laid out in order to bring clear answers to the preoccupations of developing countries and to which EPAs could finally be put in conformity.

d. Create and make operational political space in view of the elaboration and the implementation of public policies based on regional and national needs and priorities of development.

e. Involve the contribution of Non State Actors on positions related to issues in the negotiation in conformity with article 6 of the Cotonou Agreement.

f. Organise popularisation campaigns on the stakes of EPAs

g. Organise a national debate on the draft text of the negotiated EPAs

h. Organise a national consultation meeting for the ratification of EPAs

5. To EPA negotiators:

a. Respect the development objectives of EPAs registered in the Cotonou Agreement and reaffirmed in the road map of European Union and Central Africa negotiations.

b. Insure the protection of sensitive products and agriculture in particular.

c. Ensure reciprocity in the free movement of persons between the European Union and Central Africa

d. Abstain from every engagement in the negotiations concerning investments, competition and public contracts in conformity with the Cairo declaration, given that these issues are still being discussed at the multilateral level.

e. Request substantial additional fund for the financing of capacity building and costs of adjustments related to EPAs.

6. In support to these recommendations, participants created a regional platform of civil society organisations in order to facilitate quality participation in the EPA negotiation process.

7. Participants engage in:

a. Using the platform to mobilise necessary resources for capacity building

b. Establishing partnerships with other non state actors and platforms of other ACP regions through shared experiences and in view of building positions which are development-oriented for Africa.

c. Reinforcing synergies with the Central African private sector

d. Building alliances with parliamentarians so as to obtain their membership

e. Building alliances with European civil society organisations in view of exercising necessary influence on the negotiators at the level of Europe.

f. Circulating and spreading the present declaration in view of sensitising the Central African population and parliamentarians on the stakes related to EPAs and to insure a wide appropriation by the civil society organisations of represented countries.
Last Updated ( Friday, 27 July 2007 )