Vol. 533 No. 2
49 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government intends to take to promote the Everything but Arms initiative agreed by the EU, which provides for duty free access to EU markets for goods other than arms from 48 of the world's poorest countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8410/01]
Ireland has supported the Everything but Arms initiative from the outset. The initiative, which provides for enhanced market access for the world's 48 poorest countries – those classified by the United Nations as least developed countries – was agreed by EU Ministers at the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 26 February. Under the proposal imports from the LDCs will gain duty and quota free admission to the Community market. In three sensitive commodity sectors – rice, sugar and bananas – the liberalisation will be progressive. Full liberalisation for imports of LDC bananas will be achieved in 2006. Full liberalisation for imports of rice and sugar will begin immediately and will take place in stages up to complete liberalisation in 2009.
Last November, the EU Council of Ministers adopted an overall policy statement on development which states that the principal aim of EU development policy is poverty reduction. The statement identifies the integration of developing countries, particularly least developed countries, into the world economy as a necessary condition for their growth and sustainable development. Currently, the LDCs account for only 0.4% of world trade. The decision by EU Ministers is an important step in helping the LDCs to improve their trading opportunities significantly. Poor economies need better market access for the goods they are efficient at producing if they are to achieve long-term development.
The Everything but Arms initiative also represents a significant improvement on the undertaking on LDC market access given in the new ACP-EC Partnership Agreement on Trade and Development, which was signed at Cotonou in Benin in June of last year. Under the terms of the agreement 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific States, including the LDCs, will also benefit from 13.8 billion euros of EU assistance in the five years to 2005 to help them to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development.
A key element of the implementation of the initiative will be helping the LDCs to develop their capacities to take advantage of the new trading opportunities offered by the agreement. The Cotonou agreement provides for EU development assistance to be used both to strengthen capacity in productive areas, and to improve trade development, including the promotion of fair trade. At EU level, we will continue to press for the swift and efficient delivery of EU development assistance to support these activities. We are also looking at ways that the Ireland Aid programme could support trade capacity building in developing countries. We will continue to work with the LDC countries to help them take full advantage of the new trade opportunities which the Everything but Arms initiative offers.
