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Also of consequence is the fact that EPAs may contain WTO-plus provisions(such as government procurement; competition; investmentrules.), which could in theory contribute to positive developmentoutcomes, but most African countries lack sufficient institutional andregulatory capacity in these areas. Equally critical is the feeling thatEPAs will have significant adjustment costs and impact negatively onalready low intra-African trade.Over the last four years ECA has presented various studies on EPAsat continental meetings in Mombasa (2005); Cairo (2006); and Nairobi(2007); in addition to similar work at country and sub-regionallevel. We have also made recommendations to you through the AfricanUnion Ministers of Trade conferences on how the EPAs couldbe used as development tools and also how the agreements couldtackle some of these fears (Cairo (2005); Nairobi (2006); Addis Ababa(2007 and 2008)).Let me therefore spend some time addressing some of the issuesraised in the EPAs debate before concluding with some suggestionson how Africa could take the process forward. From the outset, it isimportant to recognise that there is a very strong relationship betweenAfrica and Europe, which is why an Africa-EU strategy hasbeen discussed and agreed at the highest level. Trade and developmentare important pillars in this strategy and the EPAs should beseen in this light—a partnership within the context of long-term cooperationstrategic framework.There is also another important given, and that is, despite the currentturmoil in the world economy occasioned by shocks emanatingfrom what is characterised by the 3F’s—food, fuel and finance crises—bilateral,regional and multilateral trade negotiations will continue.The international community is in agreement that trade has animportant role to play, including in resolving some of the challengesarising from the current crises. EPAs are one of several trading agreementsthat will be negotiated, and the key issue is how Africa, withits regional integration agenda, and weak integration in the globaleconomy and trading system, will want to use these various routesto achieve its overall development objectives.On the issue of regional integration, there is no doubt that both theconfiguration of the negotiating groups and the situation resulting94 Part Two