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Aid for trade

Programmes in ACP countries

For more on economic partnerships with the ACP region, see Economic partnerships

Trade-related assistance

Capacity-building for negotiations

To enhance the negotiating capacity of the ACP and strengthen regional integration within the ACP, a €20 million "Programme for Capacity Building in Support of the Preparation of Economic Partnership Agreements" was put in place. Under the all-ACP Investment Promotion Programme Pro€Invest, a complementary €2 million "trade and investment nexus" (TRINNEX) facility was created to enhance the involvement of the private sector in the preparation of the EPA negotiations. In parallel, a €10 million "Programme to Support the Integration of the ACP States into the World Trading System" was set up.

Support for ACP trade capacity

The EU has identified trade as one of the six priority areas for its development policy (Joint Council-Commission Statement on the European Union's Development Policy, 10 November 2000). Adequate funding for the trade and adjustment measures necessary as a consequence of the introduction of EPAs was earmarked in the framework of the programming exercise for the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) Programming. Guidelines were established and made available to all those involved in this exercise.

Under the 9th EDF around €522 million were earmarked for regional integration and trade-related assistance. This includes a €50 million all-ACP Institutional Trade Capacity Building Facility "Tradecom-ACPEU", up to €350 million programmed under the focal sectors of the regional indicative programmes and more than €122 million under the national indicative programmes.

Tradecom will run for a five-year period until 2010. It has three main components:

  1. A facility to reinforce local analytical and research capacity for trade policy formulation including stakeholder participation
  2. A facility to provide immediate assistance for ongoing negotiations through the recruitment of a pool of more than 55 ACP trade experts and training for negotiators;
  3. A facility to promote catalytic pilot initiatives for institutional reinforcement in the area of trade support services which can then be developed through other financing mechanisms, with particular attention being given to the enabling regulatory environment to overcome TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) and SPS (Sanitary, Phytosanitary and biotechnology) barriers to trade.

The Commission has already agreed, with individual ACP countries and ACP regions, a series of programmes tailored to meet trade capacity needs in the medium and long term. For individual ACP countries, activities cover a wide range of different areas such as strengthening the capacity of trade ministries, technical assistance for studies on trade-related subjects, helping to define national priorities and mainstreaming of trade in development policies, adjusting legislation, fostering scientific capacity to analyse trade issues, and assisting private sector actors and civil society. The Commission is also actively engaged in export promotion efforts in a number of ACP countries.

For more information on exporting to the EU, visit the Export Helpdesk

Further to this, there are also horizontal programmes, accessible to all ACP countries, which support supply capacity. Two major examples are the pesticides programme for the horticulture sector and the project to strengthen health conditions in the fisheries sectors, which are aimed at assisting the ACP to comply with the requirements relating to sanitary and phytosanitary standards for exporting these products. These important areas are of direct relevance for ACP exports and in particular for many small and medium sized enterprises in ACP countries. For the pesticides programme which was launched in July 2001 we have earmarked €29 million while for the fisheries programme, launched in 2003, €42.7 million has been made available.

Programmes by region:

All ACP

Trade related assistance (TRA) for the ACP is mainly provided under the 9th European Development Fund and amounts to some €650M. TRA to the ACP is provided at three different and complementary levels:

All-ACP Facilities:

At All-ACP level, facilities cover mostly short term needs or needs in specific trade related areas (e.g. sanitary and phytosanitary requirements). These facilities are accessible to all ACP countries and regional institutions upon submission of requests. Total amount: €150M.

  • Tradecom (€50M). It includes three components:
    • The Analytical and the Capacity Building Components, (managed through a PMU), helps ACP countries to identify their needs, strengthen local research capacity and implement pilot projects including the area of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements: TradeCom Facility website.
    • The "Hubs & Spokes" programme is a major general capacity strengthening measure which has put in place a network of some 55 regional and national trade advisors through out the ACP Governments and regional integration institutions.
  • Pesticides Initiative (€33,5M) assists ACP companies and professional organisations in the specific area of complying with EU rules on pesticides residues. Launched in 2003, it has extended assistance to more than 150 beneficiaries. The programme also helps to ensure that specific needs of ACP are taken into account in EU phytosanitary regulations. Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-Caraïbes-Pacifique.
  • Fisheries programme (€42 million) provides specific support to improve sanitary conditions of fish exports. Launched in 2003 it has already intervened successfully to help ACP fish exporters coping with sanitary requirements. Strengthening Fishery Products Health Conditions in ACP/OCT Countries website.
  • Strengthening Food Safety Systems through SPS Measures in ACP countries (€30million), launched in 2007, the purpose of the programme is that risk-based food and feed safety systems for exports products are established in ACP countries, in line with regional, international and EU SPS Standards.
  • All-ACP Agricultural Commodities Programme (€45M) launched in 2007, the programme envisages strengthening the capacity to develop and implement sustainable commodity strategies that improve farmers' productivity and livelihoods and reduce income vulnerability.
  • Microfinance Framework Programme (€15M) theprogramme seeks to improve the overall effectiveness of microfinance operations in ACP countries. Specifically the three main areas of intervention are:
    1. institutional strengthening
    2. microfinance ratings; and
    3. efficiency and transparency.
    EU-ACP Microfinance Programme website
  • The BIZ CLIM (ACP Business Climate) initiative (€20M), launched in 2006, is a private sector support programme that intends to improve legislation, institutional set up of and financial measures to create an enabling environment for the private sector in ACP countries and regions and addresses reform of state owned companies. ACP Business Climate website

The bulk of the TRA support is provided under regional indicative programmes in line with the ACP EU priority attached to regional integration. Total amount: €350M.

Finally at the national level, several ACP have earmarked additional funding for projects complementing those funded under the all ACP and regional programmes mainly focussing on technical assistance and capacity building related to trade.

West Africa

For information on trade negotiations with the West Africa region, see Negotiations and agreements

1. All-ACP Facilities:
  • Facility to support EPA negotiations (€20M + €4M):
    • Eleven countries have benefited from impact studies on EPA and various seminars and workshops, such as the workshop on SPS issues in Gambia
  • Facility to support ACP countries in WTO negotiations (€10M + €2M):
    • Training in WTO negotiations and implementation in Benin, Mauritania and Cape Verde
  • Tradecom (€50M):
    • Regional advisers under the "Hubs & Spokes" Component of the Tradecom Programme, in place by June 2005 and most countries will have national advisers by September 2005
  • Pesticides (€29M), Livestock Disease [€72M] and Fisheries (€42M) Programmes:
    • The fisheries programme is active in West Africa, helping countries such as Sénégal, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire comply with EC regulation. Regional fisheries programmes are prepared or underway in Benin, Cameroon, Togo (€2 million), Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone (€1 million) and Guinea, Mauretania and Senegal (€0.8 million). The PACE (Pan African Control of Epizootics) programme has a €0.9 million component in Mali. West Africa also benefits from support in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) under the ACP pesticides initiative.
2. Regional programmes

At a regional level the focus of the €235M regional indicative programme is regional integration and trade with €118 million to support related programmes including building an ECOWAS customs union and common market and €82M for transport facilitiation. The €65M PARI (Programme d’Appui à l’intégration) upport for UEMOA customs union is ongoing. Other relevant regional programmes include €15M support to accreditation, standardisation and promotion of quality under the PARI private sector programmes.

3. National Programmes:

Several Central African countries are funding TRA projects complementing those funded under the All-ACP and regional programmes. Ongoing or planned projects include:

  • €3.7 million to support EPA negotiations in Mali
  • €2 million for EPA preparation and € 15M private sector support in Nigeria
  • €3 million to support for capacity building in trade policy and regulation, Senegal
Central Africa

For information on trade negotiations with the Central Africa region, see Negotiations and agreements

1. All-ACP Facilities:
  • Facility to support EPA negotiations (€20M + €4M):
    • Studies and support for CEMAC meetings and negotiations and impact studies in 6 countries, support for attendance at ACP events. Further sectoral impact studies are planned
  • Tradecom (€50M):
    • Regional advisers under the "Hubs & Spokes" Component of the Tradecom Programme, in place by June 2005 with country advisers in place by September 2005
  • Pesticides (€29M), Livestock Disease [€72M] and Fisheries (€42M) Programmes:
    • The fisheries programme is active at the regional and national level in Central Africa, helping countries such as Cameroon [€0.8M] comply with EC regulation. The PACE (Pan African Control of Epizootics) programme has a € 3.3 million component in Central Africa and Gabon [€0.6M]. Central Africa also benefits from support in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) under the ACP pesticides initiative.
2. Regional programmes

At a regional level the focus of the €16M PAIRAC (Programme d’Appui à l’intégration Régionale) is regional integration and trade support for related programmes. This includes building a customs union, common market and supporting regional institutions [€1.9M]. The regional Technical Co-operation Facility has also financed export and trade related studies [€1.3M] with more planned. There are related regional activities such as transport infrastructure [€20M].

3. National Programmes:

Several Central African countries are funding activities that are indirectly in support of trade development complementing activities funded under the all ACP and regional programmes. Ongoing projects include transport infrastucture in Cameroon [€75M].

Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)

For information on trade negotiations with the ESA region, see Negotiations and agreements

1. All-ACP Facilities:
  • Tradecom (€50M):
  • Pesticides Initiative (€33,5M):
  • Strengthening fisheries products health conditions (€42M):
  • BIZ CLIM (ACP Business Climate) initiative (€20M):
    • Several countries like Zambia, Burundi and Sudan are already benefiting from the programme others like Uganda and the regional organisation COMESA have presented requests.
    • ACP Business Climate website
2. Regional programmes

At a regional level several programmes assist the ESA region in the area of trade. The overall envelope available toESA & Indian Ocean Regional Indicative Programme is €302.6 Million.

Regional programmes support economic Integration and trade, Transport and Communications, participation of the region in the EPA process, Management of Natural Resources and capacity building. The main programmes are the following:

  • Regional Integration Support Programme (RISP) (€30M)
  • Regional Information and Communication Technologies Support (€21M)
  • Infrastructure projects (€63.3M)
  • Regional Integration Support Mechanism (RISM) (€78M)
3. National Programmes:

Several ESA countries have earmarked additional funding for TRA projects complementing those funded under the all ACP and regional programmes. These are ongoing or planned projects:

  • Burundi: SPS project under STABEX
  • Ethiopia: Trade Capacity Building
  • Kenya: TRA funded out of STABEX KEPLOTRADE Programme
  • Madagascar: Funding for technical assistance
  • Rwanda: Funding for technical assistance
  • Uganda: TRA funded out of STABEX
  • Zimbabwe: Trade Capacity Building for private sector
South African Community Development (SADC)

For information on trade negotiations with the SADC region, see Negotiations and agreements

1. All-ACP Facilities:
2. Regional programmes

At a regional level several programmes assist the SADC region in the area of trade. The overall envelope available to SADC Regional Indicative Programme is €171 Million.

Regional programmes support regional trade and economic integration, participation of the region in the EPA process, Agricultural-Food Security and capacity building. The main programmes are the following:

  • SADC EPA Negotiations Support Facility (€7,5 M)
  • Support to SADC Regional Integration and Multilateral Trading System (€1,09M)
  • Development of SQAM Infrastructures in SADC Region (€14,2M). Standards, Quality Assurance, Accreditation & Metrology
  • ESIPP Programme (€18,3M) To encourage Private investments in the Region
  • Technical Cooperation Facility (€1.9M) It provides some flexibility to take on board some Trade activities
3. National Programmes:

Several SADC countries have earmarked additional funding for TRA projects complementing those funded under the all ACP and regional programmes. These are ongoing or planned projects:

  • Tanzania: Project to support NAO covers a trade advisor to the Ministry of Finance
  • Namibia: Trade Integration Programme (€3M)
Pacific

For information on trade negotiations with the Pacific region, see Negotiations and agreements

1. All-ACP Facilities:
  • Tradecom (€50M):
    • Under the "Hubs & Spokes" Component of the Trade.Com Programme, several Pacific countries (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Federal States of Micronesia and Samoa) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat have benefited or are benefiting from national and regional trade advisors respectively.
    • Tradecom Facility website
  • Strengthening fisheries products health conditions (€42M):
2. Regional programmes:

At a regional level several programmes assist the Pacific region in the area of trade. The overall envelope available to the Pacific Regional Indicative Programme is €39 Million.

Regional programmes support economic Integration, fisheries and plant protection. The main programmes are:

  • Pacific Regional Economic Integration Programme (€11,2M) aimed at supporting regional economic integration, EPA and WTO negotiations mainly through technical assistance.
  • DEVFISH (€3M) aimed at promoting the development of domestic tuna fishery.
  • PROCFISH (€12,5M) programme aimed to contribute to long term sustainable management of fisheries resources of the Western & Central Pacific Ocean and costal fisheries development.
  • Plant Protection Programme (€5.8M) provides support for quarantine services and local laboratories that will have a direct impact on the capacities of the Pacific countries to deal with SPS measures.
3. National Programmes:

Several Pacific countries have earmarked additional funding for TRA projects complementing those funded under the all ACP and regional programmes. These are ongoing or planned projects:

  • Vanuatu: Funding for private sector support
  • Solomon Islands: Allocation for Institutional Support
  • Papua New Guinea: Support to Trade and Capacity Building
  • Technical Cooperation Facilities are foreseen in the various Pacific countries and will allow financing request on trade issues

Development

Making sure trade benefits the poorest

EU trade policy aims to ensure that developing countries are able to benefit from access to its own markets and from the openness of the global economy.