ESA-EU: Exemption Obtained for the Export of 2000 Tones of Canned Tuna

Two directors of the European Commission, Peter Thomson and Francesca Mosca, and representatives of Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe participated in the meeting. They have welcomed the Waiver of 2 000 tonnes of canned tuna in Mauritius. This derogation concerns mainly produced from canned tuna obtained outside the Mauritian economic zone. Both Mauritian tuna processing plants exporting annually about 50,000 tons of semi-finished products or finished canned and employ some 4,500 people.

This file was among those who were raised this morning by representatives of the European Commission at a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Arvin Boolell. He also discussed the meeting of two subcommittees of the EPA in Mauritius.

The meeting this week has enabled stakeholders to renew their commitment to the EPA as a tool for market access on a stable and predictable legal basis.

Representatives of the European Commission and ESA have stressed the importance of exchanging information on tariff reduction and modification of the Harmonized System.

Representatives of ESA emphasized the challenges they are to overcome compared to exports to the European market. European officials have promised to consult with European partners on how best to solve them. He also discussed the measures taken for the "errors and omissions". An agenda has been arrested for their regulation. Changes that could result in the admission of Croatia to the EU IEPA were also mentioned. It was agreed that the ESA countries will be informed about the possible implications of the accession customs.

In addition, the parties have agreed on the creation of a fund EPA and agreed to work on the details of how to support the needs of countries in the framework of the implementation of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement .

The European Commission has agreed to expedite the provision of assistance to ESA countries for their short-term needs.

The Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and four countries in Eastern and Southern Africa (Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe) in August 2009 was ratified by the European Parliament on 17 January 2013.