EU open to talks over EPA, affirms envoy

Dodoma. The Head of European Union (EU) Delegation to Tanzania and East African Community (EAC) Mr Roeland van de Geer has said that the EU is open for dialogue with the government on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

Speaking at a cocktail party to mark the Europe day at the National Assembly grounds on Wednesday evening Ambassador van de Geer Tanzania as a sovereign country has all the rights to have its opinion on the agreement and EU are waiting for the official government response on the matter.

“What is important is that we have dialogue. You (Tanzania) have your convictions; we (EU) have our convictions, we are all human beings. Tanzania is a sovereign country and should take its own decisions,” he said adding “Let’s talk and let us continue our dialogue, and I’m really looking forward to it. I have all confidence in a robust reply from the Tanzanian side,” he said.

Addressing the gathering which included some Members of European Parliament (MEPs), National Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr Tulia Ackson said what they did as the House in EPA was to advise the government on how best to deal with the treaty.

“We have a constitutional duty to advice the government on issues of national importance. We our position as a Parliament on EPA and we have advised the government on what we think is the best,” said the Deputy Speaker adding: “As the Ambassador is aware of, practically the Parliament hasn’t said no to EPA but there are a number of issues that have been raised and the Parliament would want those issues ironed out before the government makes firm commitment.”

Four EAC member states, Kenya Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda are required to sign the treaty for EPA to become operational. The deadline for the East African countries to append their signatures on the trade agreement was October 1, 2016 and by that time only Kenya and Rwanda had signed the treaty.