Monthly update on Trade and FTA's from ACP

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Monday November 05, 2007 18:59

by C Murray

and UN Commission to focus on Gender Financing

The Lisbon Treaty is at this time according to the Irish Times, 'In doubt' due to a big drop off
in support for the re-negotiated Reform Treaty which sees the EU member states dropping
the article on rights (article 3.3) and retaining for the most part the main body of the rejected
Nice II Treaty. The next thing on the EU agenda is a meeting with the African nations in Lisbon
toward the end of the year which aims to set in pace the economic architecture for further
bi-laterals and free trade agreements which undercut these nations and have brought
quality of life issues into the community airwaves and NGO's;-
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84739

Isis Clipart

The ACP {African, Carribean, Pacific} negotiators say that the EU have breached the Contonou
Treaty of 2000 and are forcing bi-lateral agreements which will effect quality of life and
community structures, the details of the complaint are at link (second comment). The EU
has also imposed pressures including reduction of aid to developing nations, the economic
imperatives involved in forcing a new treaty on these areas will also effect farming methods
and prices on goods for export (whilst forcing the ACP to be an open market for EU
produce through imposition of higher duties). http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84739 .

The EPA 's are due to be enforced in 2008, with agreement expected at Lisbon by end of 2007.
There is then, a huge drop in support for the idea of the EU amongst developing Nations who are
feeling squeezed by the EU.

Backround to some of the Problems with Bilateral and Free Trade Agreements:-

http://www.grain.org/article/?id=29
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83814
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84470

The previous head of the EU, Angela Merckel signed a bilateral with George Bush in January
2006 , which got no Irish media coverage and made the US dailies and the FT.

Some Links on UN and Gender financing;
http://www.isiswomen.org/index.php?option=com_content&t...d=204
http://www.isiswomen.org/index.php?option=com_content&t...mid=1

Updates on Asean/Nepal/FTA's/CAFTA at:- http://www.isiswomen.org

[The banner is part of a global campaign to increase the voice of women in getting what
they need in terms of equal representation and gender parity in relation to decisions that
are often made without consultation and effect communities in a negative fashion- one of the
groups involved in this movement is radiofeminista which had covered the Costa Rican
opposition to the CAFTA- Central American Free Trade Agreements}

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EU-Africa Summit opened today

Sat Dec 08, 2007 19:22

Gordon Brown is the only member of the EU bloc who did not attend, neither did David Miliband.*
A British baroness with experience in development did attend on behalf of the UK.
Guardian editorial focusses on the issue of Brown's non-attendance, which is in relation
to his opposition against Mugabe. Mugabe is in Lisbon making great political capital on
'Empire'. Mr Ahern attended.

NGO's want focus on Dharfur.
The African nations want focus on sustainability and trade.

Gordon Brown will be meeting Nicholas Sarkozy tomorrow to discuss military intervention in
Dharfur , amongst other things.

All the Mainstream media are watching the summit and most of the civil society
and NGO representatives are too. the build up to the summit is on:-

http://www.isiswomen.org

and links in the above article.

*David Miliband is the UK spokesperson on Foreign Affairs.

Brown and Mugabe

by -

Tue Nov 27, 2007 18:52

Gordon Brown will not meet Mr Mugabe , who has accepted the meeting invite to Lisbon.
The Trade talks are fraught with difficulty with the Africas stating that the EU are in breach of Cotonou
and that imposition of % rise in export duties along with free-trade agreements are reducing
sustainability. The meeting is scheduled for early December in Lisbon and agreement is sought
by the EU. ACP and the African Nations want expostition of the difficulties and agreement on aid.

Mr Brown's refusal could reel media emphasis on a non-issue, whilst creating detriment
to the very serious ACP platform. BBC are covering.

Meanwhile last Sunday's Observor did an expose of the EU Parliament and of Mr Sarkozy's
decision-making which included the move from 'Nice II' to 'Reform Treaty', its well worth
the read, despite the reporter's obvious admiration for the 'Sarkozy Effect'-deftly balanced
of course with a lot of derision by the French who think he is
'Thatcher in Trousers'.

EU-Africa Summit.

Tue Nov 06, 2007 19:05

The 8th-9th of December EU-Africa summit has caused the Political consternation of Gordon Brown, Pictured today with the Saudi King...Mr Brown who is extending the terror laws to a possible
56 day incarceration without charge is refusing to meet with Robert Mugabe who is also invited
to Lisbon. The summit is to iron out difficulties in relation to free Trade Agreements between the
EU and the African states which Africa claims are effecting their rights in relation to
sustainability (and that the EU is in Breach of the 2000 Cotonou Treaty). Ghana is now
diplomatically asking Brown to meet with Mugabe and Merkel has asserted that she will
meet him.The 2008 trade agreements between the ACP and the EU are reliant on the issues
being sorted to the satisfaction of the communities that are agigtating on quality of life
and environment impact of the EU FTA's.[The Links to the ACP objections on Trade are
in the article above].

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20071031/tpl-uk-africa-eu....html

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Monthly update on Trade and FTA's from ACP

Comments (3 of 3)