Oxfam response to Open Letter on EPAs from Commissioners Mandelson and Michel
(27 September 2007)

"We are pleased that Commissioners Mandelson and Michel are responding to the concerns raised by campaigners about the proposed Free Trade Agreements with the ACP. However, we still have fundamental concerns about the Commission's proposals that this letter fails to dispel. The EC's claim that they are being flexible is belied by their behavior in the negotiations, where they continue to insist on the deadline and reiterate demands in areas such as services, investment and government procurement that would have negative implications for development. Many ACP regions will not be ready to sign an EPA by the end of the year, and must not be coerced into doing so. Viable alternatives must be considered, at least for an interim period while negotiations are concluded, because this is what was promised at the beginning of this process."