CSD on the Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) in support of negotiations with Angola to accede to the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement

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The EU-SADC EPA is a free trade agreement between the EU and six countries from the Southern African Development Community (SADC): Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa. Angola participated in the negotiations of the EU-SADC EPA, but eventually did not sign the Agreement in 2015. However, the future accession of Angola was already foreseen at that time and the EPA therefore contains a specific provision on Angola's accession (Article 119(3)).

In February of 2020, Angola officially requested to accede to the EU-SADC EPA. Pursuant to Article 119 of the EPA, the start of negotiations requires a decision from the EU-SADC EPA Joint Council. The adoption of such a Joint Council Decision is still pending.

The negotiations on the terms of Angola's accession to the EPA should, in accordance with Article 119(3) of the EPA, "be conducted on the basis of this Agreement, taking into account the specific situation of Angola". The negotiations should hence focus on Angola's market access offer for imports from the EU, given that the EU will offer Angola full duty free and quota free access, as it has done for the other EPA partner countries (except South Africa).

The other parts of the Agreement should not be renegotiated, but there are parts of the agreement that only apply to a sub-set of SADC EPA States and for which the application to Angola could be discussed. 

Further information on the EU-SADC EPA
In line with the standard practice, DG Trade has commissioned an independent contractor, BKP Advisors, to undertake a Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA), which will feed into the negotiations. The purpose of the SIA is to provide for a deep assessment of the potential economic, social, human rights and environmental effects of the anticipated new and comprehensive EPA. It will be based on a broad consultation of stakeholders and include recommendations for measures.

The purpose of this meeting is to present to the EU Civil Society Organizations the state of play of the negotiations with Angola, to present the draft inception reports of the Sustainability Impact Assessment and to exchange views on these topics.

Draft reports will be published on this page two weeks ahead of the Civil Society Dialogue. Registered participants will be informed of the publication.

Lead speakers
- Head of Unit - African, Caribbean and Pacific, Overseas Countries and Territories Unit, Directorate-General for Trade
- Study Coordinator/Team Leader of the consortium led by BKP Advisors

Moderator
Civil Society Coordination - Transparency, Civil society and Communication Unit, Directorate-General for Trade

Agenda
1. Presentation of the state of play of the negotiations;
2. Presentation of the draft inception report of the Sustainability Impact Assessment;
3. Open discussion with stakeholders.

The meeting will take place via WEBEX. Access code and password will be sent to registered participants. We would be grateful if participants could launch their WEBEX connection at least 30 minutes in advance of the meeting so that any technical problems can be arranged in time before the meeting.

Related documents

• Meeting report, 28/04/2021