The Economic Partnership Agreement is in no way tied to any development funds from the European Union.

In a statement clarifying the need for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to go into a partnership with the EU, they revealed that the Agreement was initialed by Fiji and Papua New Guinea for continued access into overseas markets after 2015 which will see the lowering of import tariffs for the ACPs and to help cushion any fiscal losses made through tariffs.

The EU had also clarified that that the revenue received by the ACP countries could then be used to assist in development but assures these countries that this is totally different from any aid given by the EU.

Last week interim Minister for Immigration Ratu Epeli Ganilau chaired the meeting of all finance ministers from the ACP region to finalize talks on the EPA, as the deadline for agreement talks is the end of this year.