By the end of 2007, only eighteen African states had initialled interim EPAs, as well as two Pacific countries. The Caribbean countries went a step further and agreed full EPAs.

• What have they agreed to? • What is needed to respond to development prospects? • What is needed to avoid the creation of new barriers to intra-regional trade? • What are the development red lines? • What flexibility is provided to ensure any further commitments stimulate development? • What are the main implementation challenges? • What is foreseen in terms of development support? • What are the different scenarios for ways forward? • What is needed to right past wrongs and create common understanding and approaches?

ECDPM, ODI and Aprodev organised an one-day stocktaking session on the interim and full EPAs and a discussion on its development content and ways forward. In the morning, they analysed what was signed up to in terms of market access and its implications for the future. In the afternoon, they looked at services and investment and the options to reach development objectives, ending with a discussion on ways forward.

The discussions were based on recent analysis, in particular a study, "The new EPAs: comparative analysis of their content and the challenges for 2008", (www.ecdpm.org/pmr14) that was undertaken by ODI and ECDPM which attempts to provide a comprehensive analysis of outstanding questions, particularly focusing on Africa. The findings were critically commented and complemented with studies and assessments by experts from the South Centre, ICTSD, Oxfam and others.

> Final agenda: EPAs: What has been agreed so far? What is on the table for development? Implications and way forward
> Presentation by Christopher Stevens, Mareike Meyn and Jane Kennan: Comparative analysis of liberalisation schedules and other commitments of the African interim EPAs

> Presentation by Mr. San Bilal: The dynamics of EPA negotiations and possible way forwards
.