Brussels, 17/04/2007
On 4 April, the Commission announced that the "EU offers full market access to Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations".
Indeed, the negotiations that will lead to the conclusion of EPAs entered into their final phase in 2007.
The Cotonou Agreement, the framework for negotiation of the EPAs, calls on the trade union organisations from the ACP and European countries alike to participate actively in their development (principle of active participation).
Significant structural reforms of working and living conditions in ACP countries will follow. The trade union organisations will therefore play a fundamental role in ensuring that the agreements, which seek to integrate the ACP states into the world trading economy, respect certain compulsory criteria concerning the promotion of employment, the strengthening of social and economic rights, and respect for workers' rights.
The Confederation of Workers' Unions of Togo (CSTT), on behalf of all trade union organisations in the ACP states, and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), with the support of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), have therefore implemented a project aimed at "building the capacities of trade union organisations in the ACP countries in the context of the Economic Partnership Agreements".
The ETUC, ITUC and CSTT developed the guide for trade unions as part of the capacity-building project. The trade union organisations intend to ensure wide dissemination of the publication and hope to see it used in all negotiation regions. The idea is to assist workers from the ACP states and their trade union representatives to achieve the Cotonou Agreement objectives of the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and gradual integration into the world trading economy.
For more information:
Patricia Grillo
Head of ETUC Press and Communications service
Tel.: + 32 (0)2 224 04 30 - GSM: + 32 (0)477 77 01 64
E-mail: [email protected]
Matieu Debroux
Head of ITUC press service
GSM: +32(0)476 62 10 18
E-mail: [email protected]