During April this year, a small group of representatives from European, African, Caribbean and Pacific economic justice organisations met in Brussels because of a shared concern about the direction of the "economic partnership agreements' being negotiated between the European Union and the African Caribbean and Pacific Group.

With EPA/FTA negotiations in the second year, we agreed that the 'economic partnership free trade' negotiations are driven predominantly by European corporate interests and those of a few privileged business elites in ACP countries.

The benefits for most ACP citizens are at best uncertain, and at worst, extremely detrimental. Europe has everything to gain and nothing to lose; the large majority of small producers in ACP countries have everything to lose and little to gain. And yet it is being claimed that the EPAs are instruments for development.

Worst of all, the negotiations are taking place far away from public scrutiny and debate, whether in Europe or in the ACP countries themselves.

This short statement reflects our common perspectives on the free trade area negotiations between the EU and the ACP Group. It is our starting point for mobilising public debate and opinion on these negotiations. It is important to denounce the use of development rhetoric to the agendas of European corporations.

We invite groups and individuals who share our views and want to do something to sign on to this statement . As citizens - on both sides - we have a responsibility to press their governments for accountability as to why such agreements are being signed in the name of 'development' and 'poverty eradication' with no evidence to support their development benefits.

The statement will be presented formally at different official gatherings starting from June onwards.

www.stopepa.org will be our common site to share ideas, information and opinions on this campaign.

Go to Sign-on