Government, EU discuss EPA implementation

The government of Cameroon and the European Union (EU) will in the days ahead hold a working session to seek ways of better implementing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which among others entails a free movement of goods among signatory countries.

The Head of the European Union delegation in Cameroon, Françoise Collet, and Cameroon’s Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, held discussions on Wednesday November 19 in Yaounde on the issue among others.

“Our discussions focused on the development of Cameroon but more precisely on the EPA implementation and we are planning to hold a first EPA committee before the end of this year. I was happy to receive from the Minister the regulation about this committee,” the EU diplomat said.

She added that they also touched on insecurity in the northern parts of the country owing to Boko Haram insurgency and what development projects could be carried out there. “We evoked projects in the rural development sector which could be available we hope, in 2015 or 2016 worth over 50 million euros (about FCFA 32.8 billion).

Meeting on the heels of the recent signing of the 11th EDF programme through which the European Union funds socio-economic projects in the country, Françoise Collet said she and Minister Nganou Djoumessi also discussed projects that could be funded within that framework.

“We discussed precisely which projects will be implemented first, what the needs of Cameroon are and how we can partner with Cameroon to accomplish its own policies. Rural development is one of the sectors we are thinking in the 11th EDF and our intention is to have a very big project in this sector as early as possible,” the EU delegation leader told reporters.