EC/Eastern and Southern Africa States (ESA) agreement: interim agreement establishing a framework for Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of the Interim Agreement establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement between Eastern and Southern Africa States, on the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, on the other part.

The committee recommends that the European Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the agreement considering that the signing of the agreement is a necessary step towards sustainable growth in the region. It also underlines the importance of the continued negotiations with a view to a full agreement for encouraging increased trade, investment and regional integration in the region.