On 10 June 2026, the European Union and four Eastern and Southern African states — the Union of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles — announced the conclusion of negotiations to deepen their existing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) into a modern and comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA). The announcement was made jointly by ministers from the four ESA states and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič.
The deepened agreement, described as the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, extends beyond trade in goods to cover services, investment, digital trade, and sectoral cooperation. Both sides said it aims to strengthen supply chain resilience, support sustainable development, and promote local processing and industrial transformation in the ESA states. The parties committed to taking steps toward signature and entry into force as soon as possible, and the agreement remains open for accession by other ESA states.
The deal builds on the existing EU-ESA EPA, which has governed trade relations since its provisional application. The negotiations to deepen the agreement were launched in 2019, with the aim of modernising the trade framework to reflect contemporary economic realities. The conclusion marks a significant milestone in EU-Africa trade relations, potentially boosting trade flows and investment between the regions.
For EU businesses, the agreement opens new opportunities in services and digital trade, while ESA states gain improved market access and support for value addition. However, the deal may also increase competition for local producers in the ESA region, particularly in sectors where EU firms have a competitive edge. The agreement's focus on sustainable development could impose additional compliance costs on exporters, but also aligns with EU regulatory standards. The European Commission will now prepare the text for signature and ratification by the European Parliament and Council, while each ESA state follows its own ratification procedures.
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