Expatica news

“Accords threaten ACP nations”

12 November 2007

BRUSSELS –  Across Flanders volunteers of the international development organisation 11-11-11 were out and about collecting funds for projects in the developing world on Saturday.
 
This year’s campaign highlighted free trade agreements that the European Union wants to conclude with a whole series of developing countries including many African nations. The countries in question are the ACP or African, Caribbean and Pacific nations.

The organisation 11-11-11 says that these European partnership accords or EPAs form a threat to the future of 600 million poor farmers in the Third World.

11-11-11 is the umbrella of Flemish non-governmental international development organisations.

Across the globe the trend is towards trade liberalisation. The EPAs also hope to achieve this.

By opening up developing economies to greater competition these accords are supposed to create stronger economies.

In Europe EPAs are seen as a lever that can help to stimulate greater development in ACP countries.

The international development NGOs believe that Europe is using these agreements to create extra profit at the expense of the peoples of developing countries.

Farmers in developing countries fear their products will have to compete with produce from the West.

The plight of these farmers is an unenviable one. Development workers fear that if the EU plans go ahead, these farmers will not be able to sell their own produce.

[Copyright Flanders news 2007]

Subject: Belgian news