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During April 2003, CTA and the Commonwealth Secretariat had organised a joint meeting on the “ACP-EU Fisheries relations: towards a greater sustainability” in Brussels. About 180 trade and fisheries experts who attended the meeting examined ACP-EU fisheries relations as they relate to sustainable management of resources, development cooperation, international trade including fisheries subsidies, the role of private sector and fisheries code of conduct. In addition, case studies on the experience of some of the ACP countries that have concluded bilateral fisheries agreement with the EU were also considered.
In the context of the Phase II of the negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements between the various ACP regions and the EU and to continue dialogue among the various stakeholders, including further analysis of some of the key issues, a two-day follow-up meeting will be organised by CTA and the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the ACP Secretariat in Brussels on 13-14th of December 2004. The main objective of this meeting is to provide a platform to exchange information, share experience, identify issues of common interest and strategise on main issues affecting the ACP-EU fisheries relations in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement and ongoing EPA negotiations.
In preparation of the meeting, a steering committee will meet in October. The steering committee responsible for assisting the organisers in the technical preparation of the meeting will be composed by representatives of the following organisations:
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