EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has told EU Trade and Development Ministers that the EU's Economic Partnership Agreements with African Caribbean and Pacific countries can replace an "eroding lifeline" of tariff preferences with stronger regional markets and integration into the global economy.
Mandelson said that the EU was highly conscious of the difficulties involved in regional integration for some ACP states and that the EU can and would show the maximum flexibility in helping ACP countries make the transition to sustainable economic development.
He said that the EU would come forward with substantial development assistance commitments, but he insisted that the EU and the ACP could not "substitute development assistance for policy when it is the right policies that will drive economic growth and development".
He stressed once again that the EU had no commercial agenda for ACP markets, and no aggressive liberalisation agenda.
Mandelson told Ministers: "Economic Partnership Agreements will fundamentally change our relationship, from one that offers tariff preferences - an eroding lifeline, to one that builds lasting regional and international markets for the ACP."
"In short, we aim to create prosperous trading partners out of development aid recipients, moving progressively, over time, from dependency to opportunity".
Mandelson said: "The EPA negotiations are entering a crucial phase, so inevitably the politics will become more difficult. We need to manage this intelligently, not stir it politically."
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