The purpose of this InBrief series is to provide a synthesis of the main elements and issues at stake for the 6 African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) groupings negotiating an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). Each InBrief offers an overview of the economic and regional integration dynamics influencing the structure, pace, and outcome of the EPA negotiation process for each region. It also focuses on the main issues and challenges to be tackled by each region in order to make the new trade arrangement a development oriented instrument. Each regional InBrief is complemented by an update on the ongoing EPA negotiation process. Every 6 months until the conclusion of the EPAs, a new update will be produced.

This EPA Development Support InBrief series concentrates on the reforms, institutional development, accompanying measures and financial support necessary to enable African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and regions to benefit from the potential opportunities that a new trade regime such as economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU) could offer for their sustainable development.

The aim of this InBrief series is to identify the key issues at stake within the various chapters of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) being negotiated between the European Union and six African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regional groupings. Each InBrief addresses one chapter, offering an overview of the trade or trade-related provisions, highlighting their relevance for the ACP and identifying a range of policy options for the negotiations. The EPA InBriefs are usefully complemented by the InBrief series Comparing EU free trade agreements (see below), which provide a synthesis of the relevant chapters of ten free trade agreements (FTAs) recently concluded by the EU with developing countries.

The aim of this InBrief series is to provide a synthesis of various chapters of the ten free trade agreements (FTAs) recently concluded by the European Union with developing countries, as well as other relevant trade agreements when appropriate. Each InBrief offers a detailed and schematic overview of a specific set of trade and trade-related provisions in these agreements. These publications were produced by ECDPM, with the collaboration on CTA on issues 6A and 6B and CFFA on issue 6J.