REPA Booklet - Stop Epa

Sector Impacts - Gender
“Without dealing with
broader issues of
power relations
between the North and
South – raising
questions about the
policies of the EU as
much as we question
ACP governments –
can this dialogue gain
the credibility that
would merit the
participation of
citizens?”
(Nancy Kachingwe,
MWENGO, 2003)
in a way that deliberately blurs the boundaries of class, gender, race and power. Cotonou’s Objectives are to
promote social cohesion, a democratic society, a market economy and an active and organised ‘civil society’, as
if these co-exist harmoniously. The involvement of non-State actors is essential to the ‘partnership’ illusion that
the negotiations, and the policies they promote, are developmental, democratic and empowering.
How are non-State actors supposed to participate in the process?
Each region operates its own national and regional level consultations through the relevant regional economic
integration organisation (in the Pacific, the Forum Secretariat) with funding from the European Commission. The
national governments get to chose who is invited, supposedly based on the extent to which groups address the
needs of the population, their specific competencies and whether they are organised democratically and
transparently. Their input is supposed to help inform the national and regional negotiating teams, who are also
meant to submit progress reports on the nature and level of consultations. But this is usually reduced to a
summary and there are few signs that if finds its way into decisions on negotiating positions and strategies.
What is the attitude of ACP governments to participation by ‘non-State actors’?
In theory, very positive. Paragraph 32 of the ACP Negotiating Mandate 2002 says:
EPAs will have to establish their legitimacy in ACP States, particularly as regards their contribution
to the sustainable development of those countries. In this regard, it will be, as a matter of principle,
essential that the negotiation process be paralleled by concerted efforts to generate within the ACP
and EU States:
- involvement of all stakeholders in the negotiation process and public support for the negotiations
and outcomes of those negotiations;
- public scrutiny of the negotiations, including parliamentary follow-ups;
- creation of a level playing field in terms of capacities to negotiate (including leveling the costs of
the negotiation process);
- negotiation procedures which are inclusive and transparent.
What has been happening in practice with the NSA consultations?
Experiences vary across and within ACP regions according to the willingness of governments and the
awareness, resources and activism of social movements, trade unions and NGOs. Not surprisingly, trade
unions have been the most marginalised, even though the livelihoods of their members are most directly affected
and their level of transparency and democracy is far greater than the private sector and most NGOs. In other
cases, especially in Eastern and Southern Africa, well-organised and highly skilled NGOs have taken the
initiative and are running training programmes for officials, media and social movements. But they say the lack
of documentation still makes it very difficult to engage effectively with the decisions. Secrecy remains a major
barrier. While a few governments have circulated their negotiating proposals for discussion among ‘non-State
actors’ before final decisions have been taken, they are the exception; most governments and regional
organisations operate under a shroud of confidentiality that makes informed and effective participation impossible.
So what purpose is served by the ‘non-State actor’ process and is there any point in participating?
Some groups have kept a distance from the process so they can speak out strongly, clearly and critically in
opposition to the European Union’s agenda. But it has also been important for people with an informed and
critical perspective to attend the meetings, analyse the documents they are allowed to access, educate others
who are involved about what is really going on. Depending on their political situation, they can challenge and/
or support their governments. Yash Tandon from SEATINI, who was invited to participate on the Eastern and
Southern Africa negotiating team, explains how he has approached the role:
A small voice of conscience can, at times, restrain the mighty. If nothing else, SEATINI can at least
blow the whistle if things go wrong. Above all, it can help the COMESA Secretariat to look for
potholes on the roadmap to integration through negotiations with the EU. As any driver on African
roads would know, driving along a potholed road is never a straight trajectory. …
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A People’s Guide To The Pacific’s Economic Partnership Agreement