The European Union (EU) is currently negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), with 77 states of Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP).

And for the past three decades, ACP countries have had preferential access to European markets through the Lome and Cotonou agreements.

EPAs are likely to change this relationship. They will essentially be a free trade agreements (FTAs), creating a free between the EU and the ACP countries, with no duties or quotas on substantially all trade between the regions.

Thus, in order to continue enjoying duty free access into Europe’s markets, Africa has been told to open its own markets in return.

According to the schedule for negotiations, EPAs are supposed to take effect on January 1st 2008. EPAs will be reciprocal and legally binding agreements with no end date; they represent a point of no return.

Information from United States of Africa during the AU summit, the major debate included the formation of the Union of the African Governments (UAG).

The Union Government of Africa is proposed to be a transitional structure and mechanism for attaining Africa’s long standing aspirations of a self reliant united Africa.

A united Africa will enhance Africa’s dealings with the international community and increase its clout, and negotiating power.

It will also harmonize Africa’s own internal affairs, which will greatly improve the equality of African states’ decisions, and improve the standards of living of the African peoples.

The UGA is a progression from the current Africa Union, and it intends to be an interim mechanism, paving the way to a United States of Africa, a vision of long held by Africa’s champions such as Nkwame Nkurumah and Julius Nyerere.

The proposal of reaching the United States of Africa, spans 8 years  ago and seeks common policy standards, harmonized approaches and joint global negotiations within 16 areas, including essential social services, agricultural, industrial development, trade, governance, democratization and external relations.

This bold project of attaining African unity is threatened, however, by EPAs. Regional integration is likely to be set back if African governments sign an EPA with the EU, undermining all the efforts put in place, thus difficult to achieve the AUG’s agenda.

African countries, Caribbean and Pacific countries are also working hard to stop dependence on developed world. Eroding regional integration, Africa has a long history of regional integration. To attain a united Africa, protectionism will have to stop as it has no room in the current world of globalization.

Ends