EU's first Economic Partnership Agreement with an African region goes live

Brussels, 14 May 2012 – The trade and development agreement concluded by the EU and four Eastern and Southern African states Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe will take effect today.

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said: "Today, our first interim Economic Partnership Agreement with an African region is applied. This is excellent news and I salute the hard work of negotiators and colleagues on all sides. With this trade deal we hope to accompany the development of our partners in Eastern and Southern Africa and open up better and lasting business opportunities."

The interim Economic Partnership Agreement provides duty and quota free access to the EU market for exports from Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe. These countries will gradually open their markets to European exports over the course of 15 years, with exceptions for certain products the countries consider sensitive. [...] It is therefore an improvement for Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe on the unilateral duty and quota free regime they enjoyed so far because it encourages regional integration and strengthens a partnership approach with the EU. Regional integration brings economic and political benefits that individual countries cannot achieve alone.

Read the full press release here.