in the novads of Apes, the pagasts of of Gaujienas, Trapenes and Apes,

28. Takes note of the provisional application of a first economic partnership agreement (EPA) with a group of African countries; encourages the Commission to take stock of the lack of progress so far in concluding other EPAs which take full account of the development interests of DCs; calls on the Commission to harness this momentum in order to relaunch the ongoing negotiations on EPAs between the EU and interested DCs, in order to gradually integrate their markets in the multilateral trade framework; stresses the importance of establishing a firm and fair legal and commercial framework for promoting EU investment in ACP countries in a form that is mutual ...[+++]ly beneficial; calls on the Commission to take into account Parliament‘s recommendations concerning preference erosion and the flexibility and scope of tariff dismantling, and to pay particular attention to implementing the EPAs;

28. Takes note of the provisional application of a first economic partnership agreement (EPA) with a group of African countries; encourages the Commission to take stock of the lack of progress so far in concluding other EPAs which take full account of the development interests of DCs; calls on the Commission to harness this momentum in order to relaunch the ongoing negotiations on EPAs between the EU and interested DCs, in order to gradually integrate their markets in the multilateral trade framework; stresses the importance of establishing a firm and fair legal and commercial framework for promoting EU investment in ACP countries in a form that is mutual ...[+++]ly beneficial; calls on the Commission to take into account Parliament‘s recommendations concerning preference erosion and the flexibility and scope of tariff dismantling, and to pay particular attention to implementing the EPAs;

28. Stresses that both the IEPA and the comprehensive EPA should incorporate a review clause envisaging an independent global impact assessment that includes the economic, social and environmental impact and the costs and consequences of implementation, which should be carried out within three to five years of the signature of the agreement; stresses that the review clause of the IEPA – and, subsequently, that of the EPA – should contain the provision that all signatories are entitled to invoke it on the basis of the aforementioned impact assessment; requests that the European Parliament and the parliaments of the Pacific states be inv ...[+++]olved in any review of the agreement;

31. Considers that taking into account the special and differential treatment provisions included in Article 5 of the EPA and, in view of achieving the goal of poverty reduction, suitable EPA development indicators should serve three key purposes: to trigger implementation of EPA commitments by Cariforum States or to qualify them for exemptions; to monitor the impact of EPA implementation on sustainable development and poverty reduction; and to monitor the implementation of EC commitments, in particular disbursement and effective delivery of pledged financial and technical assistance;

35. Stresses that the focus of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) must remain on their promised development dimension, contributing not only to increased participation and integration in international trade, but also to the promotion of regional integration and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); emphasises that additional funds are needed in order to finance accompanying measures so as to offset the impact of the EPAs on developing countries, as provided for in the Cotonou Agreement; stresses that flexible transitional periods must be allowed for sensitive products and services; supports the reopening ...[+++]of negotiations on full and interim EPAs where necessary; call for contentious EPA issues to be renegotiated before any deals are signed and stresses that both it and the ACP parliaments must be fully involved in negotiations and the monitoring process concerning EPAs;