Explanatory Memorandum to COM(2016)63 - Signing and provisional application of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the East African Community Partner States - Main contents
Please note
This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2016)63 - Signing and provisional application of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the East African Community Partner States. |
|---|---|
| source | COM(2016)63  |
| date | 11-02-2016 |
1. CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL
• Reasons for and objectives of the proposal
The attached proposal for a Council Decision constitutes the legal instrument for the signing and provisional application of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the East African Community (EAC) Partner States, of the one part, and the European Union and its Member States, of the other part (EAC EPA). The EAC Partner States are Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
The negotiations were completed at the level of the Chief Negotiators in Brussels on 14 October 2014. The Agreement was initialled on 16 October 2014 in Brussels.
Kenya currently benefits from the scheme contained in the Market Access Regulation (MAR). The other countries of the region currently benefit from the Everything But Arms initiative, since they are classified among the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
The Agreement will provide a uniform access regime for the EAC Partner States as soon as it enters into force.
• Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area
This proposal implements 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 1 (‘ACP-EU Partnership Agreement’), which calls for the conclusion of WTO-compatible Economic Partnership Agreements.
• Consistency with other Union policies
The EAC EPA is a development-oriented trade agreement. It offers asymmetric market access to the EAC Partner States, which allows them to shield senstive sectors from liberalisation; it provides a large number of safeguards and a clause for infant industry protection; it contains provisions on the rules of origin that facilitate exports; and it eliminates the use of export subsidies in trade between the Parties. These provisions contribute to the objective of Policy Coherence for Development and are consistent with Article 208(2) TFEU.
2. LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY
• Legal basis
The legal basis for this Council decision is the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular its Articles 207(3) and i and 209(2), in conjunction with Article 218(5), thereof.
• Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)
The common commercial policy, in accordance with Article 3 of the TFEU, is defined as an exclusive Union competence.
• Proportionality
This proposal is necessary in order to implement the Union’s international commitments, as set out in the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement.
• Choice of the instrument
This proposal is in accordance with Article 218(5) TFEU, which envisages the adoption by the Council of decisions on international agreements. There exists no other legal instrument that could be used in order to achieve the objective expressed in this proposal.
3. RESULTS OF EX-POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
• Ex-post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation
Not applicable.
• Stakeholder consultations
Not applicable.
• Collection and use of expertise
Not applicable.
• Impact assessment
A Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) of the EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements was carried out between 2003 and 2007. The terms of reference for this project were published by the European Commission in 2002 under a competitive call for tender. As a result of this call for tender a five-year framework contract was awarded to PwC France in August 2002. A draft version of the SIA’s final report was presented to stakeholders in Europe during the EU Civil Society Dialogue meeting organised by the European Commission on 23 March 2007 in Brussels, Belgium.
• Regulatory fitness and simplification
The EAC EPA is not subject to REFIT procedures; it does not imply any costs for the Union SMEs; and it does not raise any issues from the viewpoint of the digital environment.
• Fundamental rights
The proposal does not have consequences for the protection of fundamental rights in the Union.
4. BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS
Four out of five EAC Partner States are LDCs benefitting from the Everything But Arms initiative which offers them duty-free quota-free market access into the EU. Kenya benefits from the Market Access regulation which also offers duty-free quota-free market access into the EU. Therefore, there will be no budgetary implications given that the Agreement will continue their market access into the EU on the same terms.
5. OTHER ELEMENTS
• Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements
The institutional provisions of the EAC EPA foresee the establishment of an EPA Council, responsible for supervising the implementation of the EPA. The EPA Council shall be composed of the representatives of the Parties at ministerial level and will be assisted by a Committee of Senior Officials.
A Consultative Committee will assist the Committee of Senior Officials with a view to promoting dialogue and co-operation between representatives of civil society, the private sector and social and economic partners. Finally, the EAC EPA shall be reviewed after every five years from the date of its entry into force.
• Explanatory documents (for directives)
Not applicable.
• Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal
The EAC EPA contains provisions on trade in goods, customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and agriculture and fisheries.
The provisions concerning cooperation for the implementation of the development dimension lay down the priority areas of action for the implementation of the EAC EPA, which are set out in the Regional Indicative Programme for 2014-2020.
The EAC EPA contains commitments relating to regional integration, which will support the implementation of the EAC custom union.
The EAC EPA also provides for negotiations to be continued at the regional level on services, competition policy, investment and private sector development, environment and sustainable development, intellectual property rights, and transparency in public procurement.