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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2023)0791 – C9xxxx/2024 – 2023/0464(NLE))

On the proposal for a Council decision on the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part

INTA-PA-758849

Committee on International Trade · Rapporteur: Samira Rafaela

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The Committee on International Trade's draft opinion supports Parliament giving consent to the Council decision on the Samoa Agreement between the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. It says the Agreement should boost intra-African trade and African economic integration through the AfCFTA, and that Economic Partnership Agreements should help reach this goal. It welcomes the Agreement's pathway to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, and says EU trade tools should be mutually reinforcing. It calls for EPAs that reduce poverty and benefit the African population, for balanced trade and investment benefits, and for EU capacity building and engagement on new trade legislation. It welcomes the Agreement's human rights commitments and says its implementation should be gender mainstreamed.

Committee position. The Committee on International Trade calls on the Committee on Development, as the committee responsible, to recommend that Parliament gives its consent to the draft Council decision on the Partnership Agreement.

Key points

  1. The Samoa Agreement, signed on 15 November 2023, replaces the Cotonou Agreement and covers six priority areas including democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility.
  2. The Agreement should benefit intra-African trade and African economic integration through the AfCFTA, with Economic Partnership Agreements as useful instruments to reach this goal.
  3. The Agreement's pathway to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, and the UN principle on free, prior and informed consent, are welcomed.
  4. The Agreement should foster sustainable development in both regions, with the EU trade toolbox, including EPAs, GSP, Aid for Trade, CBAM and the Anti-Deforestation Regulation, mutually reinforcing.
  5. EPAs between the EU and African countries should contribute to long-term sustainable development, reduce poverty, boost regional integration and benefit the African population and intra-African trade.
  6. The Agreement's trade and investment provisions should benefit all parties, and the EU should be mindful of a potential misbalance of benefits, especially related to sustainability.
  7. The EU should engage in capacity building where necessary and support science, technology, research, innovation and digital transformation in OACPS countries.
  8. The EU should engage with OACPS countries about new and existing EU trade legislation, including CBAM and the Forced Labour Ban.
  9. The Agreement's strong human rights commitments are welcomed, and it should help fight inequalities.
  10. The Agreement's implementation should be gender mainstreamed, including gender equality and trade-related aspects and gender chapters in trade agreements.
  11. The Committee on International Trade calls on the Committee on Development, as the committee responsible, to recommend that Parliament gives its consent to the draft Council decision on the Partnership Agreement.

Who is affected

  • African, Caribbean and Pacific countries: the Agreement sets the framework for EU relations with them.
  • African countries: EPAs should contribute to sustainable development, reduce poverty and boost regional integration.
  • OACPS countries: the EU should support capacity building, science, technology, research, innovation and digital transformation.
  • EU and OACPS parties: trade and investment provisions should benefit all, with attention to balance.

Figures and deadlines

  • 15 November 2023: date the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States signed the Samoa Agreement.
  • 2000: year the Cotonou Agreement was signed for a 20-year period.
  • six priority areas: democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility.