Kenya urges EU to drop duty on flowers

By Luke Anami in Brussels

Kenya is lobbying the European Union (EU) to drop an amendment that will see flowers attract duty in the European market, Musikari Kombo, President of the African Pacific and Caribbean (ACP) countries said.

"Kenya will pursue a political solution to unlock the current impasse over Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) negotiations with the European Union," Kombo said at the ACP Members of Parliament Joint Forum meeting in Brussels.

"We must persuade the European Community (EC) to recede ultimatum in enforcing amendment 1528 before negotiations for the EPAs are over."

The meeting comes amid reports that Kenya’s flower exports to the EU will be subjected to duty should a proposal to impose a deadline on EPAs negotiations with the East African Community sail through the European Parliament June this year.

Political solution

"It is time for a political solution following the failure by the technocrats and experts to prevent an amendment that will see Kenyan flower exports attract duty even before negotiations are concluded and implemented," Kombo, who is leading Parliamentarians from Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in Belgium, said.

The proposed amendment to the European Commission imposes a deadline of up to December 31, 2013, when all negotiations for the EPAs must be concluded.

Once passed, 18 African Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) countries including Kenya will be removed from the quota free agreement.

contentious clause

The MPs expressed concern on the consequences of ratifying the current text of EPAs, which contain contentious clauses skewed in favour of Europe.

Kombo told the EU to reconsider their position until such a time as the two parties will agree to grant flower exports duty free quota market access.

"Just like the Doha Round Table negotiations are still on, it is not known when the EPAs will be signed between the EU and the East African Community," he explained.

"We are equal partners and therefore no need for threats.

"These are talks which should not be subjected to any conditions," Kenya’s head of delegation, Dr Joyce Laboso said, terming the EU decision as skewed against regional integration.

"We are negotiating the EPAs as part of the EAC. We cannot deviate from negotiating as a block simply because Kenya does not fall under the Least Developed Countries," she said.

Laboso, a member of the Speakers Panel & ACP-EU said Kenya should be allowed to negotiate as a block and not as an individual country.

Affey Mohamed is also in the Kenyan delegation.