Council Decision (EU) 2020/13Show full title

2. Nature and Scope of the EPAs

The purpose of the negotiations is to conclude EPAs between the European Union and its Member States of the one part, and the countries and regions of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific of the other part. EPAs shall aim at fostering the smooth and gradual integration of the ACP States into the world economy, with due regard for their political choices and development priorities, thereby promoting their sustainable development and contributing to poverty eradication in the ACP countries.

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 36(1) of the Cotonou Agreement and the relevant provisions of its successor agreement, once applicable, negotiations shall aim at establishing and, where applicable, deepening EPAs with ACP sub-groups defined in accordance with the provisions of Article 37(3) of the Cotonou Agreement and the relevant provisions of its successor agreement, once applicable, taking into account the regional integration process within the ACP.

EPAs shall be directed at fostering closer economic integration between the parties, by removing progressively barriers to trade between them and enhancing co-operation in all areas relevant to trade, in full conformity with the provisions of the WTO.

EPAs shall be based on the objectives and principles of the Cotonou Agreement, and in particular with its essential and fundamental elements, and the provisions of Part III, Title II thereof, and the relevant provisions of its successor agreement, once applicable. Negotiations of EPAs shall therefore notably take account of the different levels of development of the parties, as well as of the particular economic, social and environmental constraints of the ACP countries and of the capacity to adapt and to adjust their economies to the liberalisation process.