The European Commission (EC) and tralac organised a Southern African Development Community (SADC)/EC Workshop on Trade in Services and Investment in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiations from 20 to 22 February 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa.

This provided a useful opportunity to take stock of where the SADC region stands with respect to the ongoing negotiations. The process up to now has been burdened with a number of challenges and there are complications related to the second phase of the negotiations.

Namibia had reservations regarding certain provisions in the IEPA and the initialling of the agreement was done on the understanding that its concern would be addressed through the negotiations towards a comprehensive EPA. In response, the EU confirmed that a two track approach will be followed to tackle any unease about the agreed provisions: the first track will deal with the signing, ratification and implementation of the IEPA; the second track will run parallel and concentrate on negotiating a comprehensive EPA in which the Namibian concerns can be addressed.

A selection of presentations from the workshop is available below.