16 April 2004

South Africa has welcomed the finalisation of ratification procedures for the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) by European Union (EU) member states.

The government said the move heralds a new era in the relations between South Africa and the EU.

This follows an EU-South Africa ministerial meeting in Dublin last week involving South Africa, Ireland, the Netherlands and the European Commission for Development and Humanitarian Affairs.

Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma attended the meeting, with the EU Troika comprising Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, the Netherland's Minister for Development Cooperation, Agnes van Ardenne, and EU Commission member Poul Nielson.

According to SA's department of foreign affairs, the provisional application of the TDCA has resulted in a 50% growth in trade between South Africa and the EU.

"South Africa expressed its confidence that the enlargement of the EU would strengthen and deepen the already excellent relations between South Africa and the EU", said spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.

Mamoepa said the EU welcomed the progress made by the African Union in establishing protocols to enforce peace and security on the continent.

The EU ministers also met with representatives of the African Union in Ireland, where they agreed on a co-operative approach towards the successful completion of negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda, which seeks to reduce trade barriers.

The Doha Development Agenda seeks to promote an open, equitable, rule-based and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system that would benefit all countries.

Source: BuaNews

	South African trade with Europe

	Department of Foreign Affairs  Department of Trade and Industry

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