Notes de l'Ifri - Economic Partnership Agreements: an Essential Step on the Path Towards Regional Integration and Trade Liberalisation Note de l'Ifri, November 2008

Summary: Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA)are presented by the European Union as a remedy, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, to issues such as the Weakness in size of Markets or the Trade weaknesses between the different African economies. However, this new tool is far from receiving a fervent support from African leaders and within civil societies. Jean-François Sempéré reviews the delicate processes surrounding the adoption of EPAs and also looks at the advantages and the predictable inconveniencies of these agreements.

Jean-François Sempéré, Researcher and Head of a Program at IRAM (Institut de Recherche et d'Application de Méthodes de Développement)