Trading down: How the EU locks African countries into Poverty

galway | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Monday December 03, 2007 14:42 by Comhlamh - Comhlamh

Talk by Colin Roche (Oxfam Ireland)

Thursday, 6th of December, 7:30 Pm

Galway One World Centre, Bridge Mills, Dominick Street, Galway

An event organized by Galway One World Centre, Comhlamh, Trocaire, Oxfam Ireland and Christian Aid Ireland.

The deadline by which poor countries have to accept EU free trade rules is rapidly approaching. The deals Europe is trying to push on 75 of its former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific are called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). Research and the experience of partners in the South indicate that, in their present form, these deals will be disastrous for poor countries.

The EU is effectively forcing the countries to open up their markets to European companies. Even though many countries have serious concerns about the deals the EU is not listening.

The evening will highlight how these free trade agreements will threaten livelihoods and the ability of poor countries to manage their economies in the public interest and what actions we can take to support the countries.