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The risks and dangers of liberalisation of services in Africa under EPAs

The risks and dangers of liberalisation of services in Africa under EPAs

SOMO Briefing paper

Publication

M. Vander Stichele

1 June 2006

This briefing paper by SOMO points to the risks and dangers of liberalisation of services in Africa under EPAs. The European Union (EU) is negotiating with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries for a new free trade agreement: the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The liberalisation of services and therefore opening the market for foreign investors is part of these negotiations. But experience shows that the liberalisation of services can have a negative impact on poverty eradication. With the EPA negotiations, the EU is pushing African countries to even legally bind themselves to this unfavourable path of development, giving European multinationals more opportunities to make profits.