To prepare effectively for the negotiation of the WTO compatible economic partnership agreements (EPAs), the ACP Group have agreed on the implementation of a comprehensive package of preparatory activities aimed at establishing the baselines (safety nets) and modalities for negotiations. These will, on one hand, pave the way for making necessary decisions on the configuration of the negotiations of the future EPAs and the negotiations mandate and, on the other, enhance the negotiating capacities of ACP trade negotiators. The financing agreement for the Euro 20 million was signed in February 2001, paving the way for the establishment of a joint ACP-EC Steering Committee to, inter alia, oversee the implementation of this programme.

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