IOC
IOC – MMCS
Towards the end of 2007 it became apparent that the EPA negotiations with the ESA group (among others) would not be concluded by the deadline and Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles were assisted with financing from RTFP to meet and discuss their way forward.
The MMCS group (which, with the addition of Réunion, make up the Indian Ocean Commission) recommended the formation of a sub-group within the ESA for the negotiation of a text which could be signed before the deadline.
The text was to take into account the specific needs of their island economies - conclusions and recommendations in English and in French.
Since the IOC member Réunion is a Department of France (known as a région ultrapérifique), a study was commissioned to identify a negotiating position for the ESA Group which would take into account Réunion’s complex, legal position (available only in French)
At the end of 2007, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles initialled an ESA Interim EPA and had a market access offer accepted by the EC. The interim EPA includes a WTO-compatible market access schedule, provisions on development co-operation, fisheries and other issues and is considered by both parties to be a framework to be used in the completion of a comprehensive EPA by December 2008.