Newshooks:

EC/ECOWAS troika meeting in Ouagadougu on Thursday 11 October
International Food Rights Day, October 16 2007

WHEN: Wednesday 11 October – Sunday 21 October

WHERE: Paris (11-12), Brussels (15-17), London (17), Madrid/Barcelona (18-21), Rome (18).

WHO: A delegation of representatives from African farmers, trade unions, private sector organisations and members of Parliament touring key capitals on EPAs.

WHAT: An African delegation will be touring Europe to urge national parliamentarians and ministers to send a political message to the European Commission to change direction in the EPA negotiations. The delegation will highlight the need to say STOP to EPAs as a negotiation process that undermines an African-led pro-poor development agenda, the human right to food and the role of African parliamentarians.

WHY: With less than 3 months to the scheduled deadline, EPAs are still far from delivering a positive conclusion that will support sustainable development in some of the world’s poorest countries. In spite of several signals that African countries are not in a position to sign EPAs, the EC is pushing ahead with its own agenda, overlooking these signals and bypassing key democratic governance steps. The recent decision by West African trade negotiators to postpone the signature of a new trade partnership with the European Union by up to 2 years is the inevitable consequence of the Commission’s unresponsive attitude to ACP demands. EU member states must act now to show responsible leadership and change the unilateral position chosen by the EC.

Selection of QUOTES from the touring delegation:
“As a small farmer in West African I am delighted that we have now taken a stand against the bully tactics of the European Commission,” says Sanogo Gariko from the West Africa Farmers Association, ROPPA. “Now we must look to the future and find real alternatives for a strong and unified Africa”.

“There is an urgent need to re-think the entire EPAs process,” says Hon J K Mugambe, MP from Uganda. “The EU has the political and economic muscle to maintain the current trade preference system until a fairer and more sustainable EU-ACP trade arrangement is agreed. It is a matter of political will.

“Our tomato canning industry has been decimated following tariff cuts,” says Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah from GAWU in Ghana. “Pushing African countries to sign up to trade agreements now will further destroy our livelihoods and undermine the right to food.”

“It is shocking to see Commissioner Mandelson driving for immediate entry into force of EPAs prior to ratification by our national parliaments,” says Elizabeth Mpofu, Chair of Eastern and Southern African Small Farmers Federation. “These actions undermine the very same democratic governance that the Commission is pushing in the EU’s new strategy for Africa.”

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS:

Spokespeople (available for interviews) -

1. EASTERN/SOUTHERN AFRICA: Ms. Elizabeth Mpofu – Chair of ESAFF - Eastern and Southern African Small Farmers Federation
2. WEST AFRICA: Ms. Sanogo Gariko – ROPPA – member of West African Farmers Network
3. GHANA: Mr. Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah – Deputy General Secretary of GAWU - General Agriculture Workers Union
4. NIGERIA: Mr. Ken Ukaoha – President of NANTS - National Association of Nigerian Traders
5. UGANDA: Hon J K Mugambe – Ugandan Member of Parliament – Chair of trade committee
6. THE GAMBIA: Mr. Buba Khan –Food Rights Campaign Coordinator, Actionaid The Gambia

To set up interviews with these spokespeople contact:

In Belgium: Robert Shaw - Actionaid EU Media and Advocacy Officer +32 496 205 447 or robert.shaw@actionaid.org
In France: Aldine Furio - Oxfam France/Agir Ici Media relations +33 1 56 98 24 45 or afurio@oxfamfrance.org
In Italy: Eleonora Tantaro - ActionAid Italy Press Officer +39 065782606 or e.tantaro@actionaid.org
In Spain: Tom Kucharz – Ayuda en Acción Press Officer +34 619 94 90 53 or agrocologia@ecologistasenaccion.org
In UK: John Coventry, Actionaid UK Senior Press Officer +44 7734 581 738 or john.coventry@actionaid.org