Assembly/AU/Decl.5 (II) Page 1 DECLARATION ON THE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (EPA) NEGOTIATIONS We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, meeting in Maputo, Mozambique from 10 to 12 July 2003 in our Second Ordinary Session, Having considered the Report of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Trade under the Specialized Technical Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration; the Mauritius Declaration on Preparations for Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiations; and the Report of the Third Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on this issue, Reaffirming our determination to take up the multifaceted challenges that confront our continent and people in the light of the social, economic and political changes taking place in the world, Determined to promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to our continent and peoples, Concerned over the slow evolution of Phase I of the EPA negotiations and the persistent divergence of views between the EU and ACP in the context of and the preparations underway for the commencement of Phase II of the negotiations which is scheduled for September 2003, Noting that some Regional Economic Communities have indicated to the European Union their readiness to negotiate the EPAs, as from September 2003, Aware of the various activities undertaken by some of the Member States within the context of the Regional Economic Communities in preparation for the Phase II of the negotiations: 1. REAFFIRM the negotiating Guidelines of the ACP and the need to preserve the unity and solidarity of the Group; 2. ENDORSE the Mauritius Declaration on Preparations for EPA negotiations and the report of the Third Ordinary Session of the Executive Council on this issue; 3. REGRET the deadlock and lack of progress registered in Phase I of the EPA negotiations and URGE quickening of the pace of the negotiations; 4. REITERATE that Phase I of the ACP-EU negotiations should be expeditiously concluded with an agreement covering the principles, objectives and cross-cutting issues in EPAs as provided for in the Guidelines; 5. FURTHER REAFFIRM the unity and solidarity of Africa throughout the EPA negotiations; 6. FURTHER REITERATE that the development dimensions, with emphasis on the provision of additional resources for the removal of production, supply and trade constraints, must be adequately addressed in the negotiations to make EPAs truly development-oriented; 7. DIRECT African negotiators to ensure that EPAs are compatible with the objectives and principles of the Constitutive Act, the Abuja Treaty and the African Union ProgrammeNEPAD; 8. MANDATE the Commission to coordinate, monitor and harmonise the efforts of the concerned RECs and Member States in the negotiations of EPAs with the EU; and