Regional strategy programmes focus on preparations for EPAs
20 May 2004
The European Commission has signed three
regional co-operation strategy agreements with African countries.
On 19th November it signed a regional strategy document for a
€223
million programme for 2002-2007 with the Eastern, Southern African
and Indian Ocean region. Under the focal area of 'economic integration
and trade' emphasis is placed on the 'fostering of the free-trade
area and the future creation of a customs union'. This is seen as
important for enhancing the region's competitiveness and attracting
investment. It also signed a similar regional co-operation strategy
with the Southern African Development Community worth
€101
million, again focussing on economic integration and trade. On the
same day a regional co-operation strategy worth €55
million was also signed with Central Africa.
Editorial comment
The new regional indicative programme for Southern Africa signed
with SADC shows a decline in the aid allocation to the region and
an increased emphasis on economic integration and trade, with around
40% of the total allocation being earmarked for this sector. This
reflects the shift in the EU's emphasis from support for functional
programmes of regional co-operation towards integration in preparation
for the introduction of EPAS. It remains to be seen whether the
regional institutional structures are strong enough to carry through
successfully the new policy responsibilities implicit in this new
focus for EU regional aid.