Kenya’s negations for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union present a new hurdle, as the Union is wary that South Africa could use Kenya as a transit point for goods that have restricted entry into its market.

In her key-note speech at the event organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for the presentation of its opinion "Maritime piracy: strengthening the EU response" on Thursday 24 January, Commissioner Damanaki Commissioner Damanaki indicated that the European Commission was currently drafting a new "EU security strategy for the global maritime domain".

The ACP Group is satisfied with the vote in the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on 23 January 2013 last week, which supports the extension of the current sugar quota provisions until 30 September 2020.

At the last Council meeting on Agriculture and Fisheries held in Brussels on Monday 28 January 2013, there was a large support amongst member states reaching a political agreement on the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform package by the end of June 2013.

At the last Council of the EU meeting on Agriculture and Fisheries held in Brussels on Monday 28 January 2013, the Presidency presented its work programme and priorities on agriculture and a roadmap for common agricultural policy (CAP) reform to the Council.