The Attorney-General and the Minister for Industry and Trade (middle) with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade (left) and Vanuatu’s Minister for Trade, Marcellino Pipite, during a press conference at the conclusion of the Pacific ACP (African Caribbean Pacific Trade Ministers Meet in Nadi yesterday. The meeting was held at the Tanoa International Hotel. Photo: LITIA MATHEWSELL
By JYOTI PRATIBHA
The European Union head of delegation, Andrew Jacobs, has responded to Pacific criticism of the European tactics in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations.
Mr Jacobs said: “The Pacific side has not shown flexibility on including in the agreement any specific commitments on European Union access to fisheries resources.”
Mr Jacobs said the Pacific have argued that any such commitment should only appear in separate fisheries agreement.
He went on to say the European Union continued to have considerable doubts about the effectiveness of fish conservation and management measures.
“Given these problems, the European Union has not been in a position to submit a proposal on fresh and frozen fish,” Mr Jacobs said.
His comments came following the opening of the two-day Pacific ACP (African Caribbean Pacific) Trade Ministers meeting in Nadi on Thursday.
The meeting was held at the Tanoa International Hotel in hopes of progressing the Economic Partnership Agreement which has been in discussions for almost 10 years.
It is supposed to replace the Cotonou Agreement, the Aid Trade and Development Agreement between Europe and African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) States.
Tuiloma questions EU
However, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s Secretary General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade questioned Mr Jacob’s definition of flexibility.
“That assertion of non-flexibility works the other way. You would find that first of all, we are in the process of negotiation that’s what the Europeans said,” he said.
“You would find that on the side of the Pacific island countries, they can with absolute justification make exactly the same assertion and we can point with facts to support such an assertion from outside.”
Tuiloma said extraordinary efforts have been made on market access offers, amongst other issues, such as fisheries.
“To date, we are still awaiting responses. So, tell me what is flexibility?” he asked.
Attorney-General and Acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said that issues Pacific faced were not as same as those faced by Africa or Caribbean.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum chaired the two-day meeting.
He said it was ‘rich’ that talks of flexibility was coming from the European Union.
Rewards from fisheries
Tuiloma said rewards would be high if fisheries issues are negotiated well in the Economic Partnership agreement.
“Issues relating to fisheries remain as one of the most complicated in the negotiations, but the potential for rewards are high if the fisheries aspects in the comprehensive EPA are negotiated successfully,” he said.
Tuiloma noted that the region is therefore seeking support from the European Union in providing the Pacific region development assistance which would help the region in implementing the agreement.
“My understanding is the region has provided the European Commission with the necessary information on management and conservation aspects of the fisheries resources,” he said.
“Also that we have requested the commission to revert with a revised fisheries chapter and global sourcing proposal.
“Unfortunately, a satisfactory European Commission response remains outstanding.”
Tuiloma said the lateness of the European Commission’s submission on fisheries, as well as other proposals on the legal text, was a matter of concern.
He said this added pressure on the Pacific ACP States in their preparations to ensure meaningful negotiations in what is intended to be the final technical round of negotiations.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said fisheries remained one of the key resources for Pacific Island countries.
“It is a matter of great concern for them, not only from the commercial trade perspective, but also in terms of sustained livelihoods,” he said.
“We have to ensure that whatever future negotiations take place, it includes this valuable resource.”
Strict deadline
With the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations continuing in June in Brussels, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the Pacific island countries were working with strict deadline.
“We believe the next round of negotiations would be very critical as far as timelines are concerned,” he said.
“We have also heard the EU head of delegation say last night that there are certain things cannot be rushed.
“So there is a bit of a paradoxical situation there. But that is something we will address through the subsequent negotiations at the end of June/July.”