92000E1754

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1754/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(31 May 2000)

Subject: Regional Economic Partnership Agreements

In view of the signing of the Suva Convention in June and the undertaking to begin negotiations by 1 January 2002 on WTO-compatible regional economic partnership agreements or other WTO-compatible arrangements, which should take account of the level of development and the socio-economic impact of trade measures on ACP states, will the Commission indicate the composition and working methods of the bodies that have been, or will be, established to prepare and carry out these negotiations?

In particular, what will be the relationship between the DG for Trade and the DG for Development in this process, and how will responsibilities be allocated?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2000)

The Commission is presently examining an action plan for the preparation and the negotiation of regional economic partnership agreements.

Without anticipating the results of the deliberation of the Commission, it is obvious that the preparation and the negotiation of these agreements will require a close cooperation between the relevant services of the Commission, in particular between Directorate general Trade and Directorate general Development. The Commission is indeed convinced that, as provided in the partnership agreement between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the Community, trade cooperation and development cooperation must be interlinked and mutually supportive so as to create the most favourable conditions for the ACP to adapt to the new trading environment.