Negotiations for the EPA between the EU and SADC were concluded last year.
At a recent meeting held between Botswana’s Trade Minister, Vincent Seretse who is also Coordinator of the SADC EPA Group, and his counterpart in the European Union, Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, the two parties recognised the vast amount of work done thus far.
The SADC EPA group consists of seven SADC member states out of the 15. These are the five Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) member states Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa, plus Angola and Mozambique.
In a statement, the Trade Ministry recently noted that both Minister Seretse and the EU Commissioner have reiterated their full commitment to conclusion of the process leading to the signing, ratification, and enforcing the EPA.
Also on the agenda was the conclusion of the processes towards the signing and ratification of the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, the upcoming World Trade Organisation 10th Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, and other trade issues of mutual interest to the two parties, according to the ministry.
Commissioner Malmstrom did mention that the EU has set aside funds to assist SADC states in implementing the EPA upon its coming into effect.
