EC/Ghana stepping stone Economic Partnership Agreement

PURPOSE: to conclude the stepping stone Economic Partnership Agreement between Ghana, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: the Partnership Agreement between the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, calls for the conclusion of WTO-compatible Economic Partnership Agreements.

On 12 June 2002, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements with members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

Negotiations for a stepping stone Economic Partnership Agreement have been concluded with Ghana and the Agreement has been initialled on 13 December 2007.

The Agreement was signed on 28 July 2016 subject to its conclusion at a later date. It has been provisionally applied pending its entry into force. It is now necessary for it to be approved.

CONTENT: the draft Council Decision aims to approve on behalf of the Union the stepping stone Economic Partnership Agreement between Ghana, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part.

It is noted that the Agreement shall not be construed as conferring rights or imposing obligations which can be directly invoked before Union or Member State courts and tribunals.