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{
    "id": 896072,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/896072/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 258,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Saku, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ali Rasso",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13473,
        "legal_name": "Dido Ali Raso",
        "slug": "dido-ali-raso"
    },
    "content": "On the EPAs, from 2002, the European Union and individuals as well as groups of countries that make up the ACP group of states have been negotiating for free trade. The general framework of negotiating EPAs is found in Cotonou Agreement. The overall objective of EPAs is to ensure sustainable development of ACP countries and smooth and gradient integration into the global economy and eradication of poverty. Specifically, EPAs are promoting sustained growth, increasing production and supply capacity, fostering the structural transformation and diversification of the ACP economies and providing support for regional integration by being tailor-made to suit specific regional circumstances. On EPAs, some of the key features include that they are WTO compatible agreements, but go beyond conventional Free Trade Agreements focusing on ACP development taking account of their socio-economic circumstances and including cooperation assistance to help countries to benefit from the agreement. They open up EU markets fully and immediately, but allow ACP countries long transition periods to open up partially to new imports while providing protection for sensitive sectors. Kenya ratified the instruments of ratification. In our region, it is only Kenya and Rwanda that have ratified EPAs while other countries of the East African Community (EAC) have not. This in itself challenges the EPAs. Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing or are the objectives not good? If the EAC is going to negotiate with the EU as a region, then we have to have a stronger position to negotiate, but if we are going to negotiate with the EU, then, one of the concerns is that it is going to be negotiation of unequals with Kenya being one country or Kenya and Rwanda against 27 or 28. That may not be desirable. The EU is the second largest development cooperation partner after the World Bank. Similarly, the EU is the second largest destination of the Kenyan products after the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) contributing a third of the total exports. Therefore, we believe that for Kenya to be in EPAs, it is a positive thing because there are many areas of cooperation and understanding. By cooperating with the EU, we will be able to look at areas of combating terrorism on the issue of refugees and supporting regional peace and stability. Today, the EU is the largest supporter of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Any time the EU may feel constrained or burdened, it is going to weaken the AMISOM peace keeping force and also progression towards a stable and peaceful Somalia. For Kenya, there is a lot that we need to look at in terms of our cooperation, governance and trade The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}