Brussels, 14 May 2012/ ACP: Ambassadors from Samoa and Jamaica have called for unity and innovation amongst fellow members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, in view of the Group’s evolving relationship with the European Union (EU).

Suva FIJI, 14 May 2012/ PIFS: The Pacific bloc of the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping has urged the European Commission (EC) to officially respond to its proposals on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU).

Gerogetown, 14 May 2012/ ING/ ACP: The Guyana Parliament on Thursday evening, unanimously ratified the European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) and the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) states back in 2008, clearing the way for the country to highten its implementation of the trade pact for which the benefits and opportunities are yet to be capitalized on by Guyana.

Honiara SOLOMON IS, 10 May 2012/ SS/ ACP: On the occasion of Europe Day, 9 May, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Solomon Islands Government thanked the European Union (EU) for its support to many key activities in Solomon Islands.

Mr. Rence Sore, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Mines and Energy, commented: “EU funding has helped Solomon Islands Government and its partner SPC implement valuable projects in many sectors to help Solomon Islanders improve their quality of life.”

Brussels, 5 May 2012/ ACP: Poor infrastructure and high vulnerability to external shocks has meant low services exports amongst African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, says the ACP Group’s chief executive.

Brussels, 5 May 2012/ ACP: A commemoration to honour the estimated 800,000 to 1 million lives lost at the hands of genocidaires in Rwanda in 1994 was jointly held by the ACP Secretariat, the United Nations, and the Rwandan Embassy on Monday 30 April at the ACP House.

Former President of Tanzania Benjamin William Mkapa gives his insight on why Regulation 1528 will hurt the efforts of developing countries to successfully integrate into the world trade system. Article originally published in The Zimbabwe Mail, 02/05/2012

Brussels, 1 May 2012/ ACP/ CPTM: An afternoon of ‘Think Tanking’ discussions at the ACP House this Wednesday will tackle some of the difficulties in ACP-EU free trade, with a focus on how “smart partnership approaches” and higher quality standards can energise trade between nations.

Georgetown, GUYANA, 23 April 2012/ KNews: Guyana has started negotiations with the European Union (EU) for a major accord that will ensure only legally harvested timber enters that market. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), once signed, will see increased monitoring to ensure that timber harvesting is in keeping with international standards.