Africa-Press. Negotiations for the economic partnership agreement between Madagascar and the European Union have sparked widespread debate after nine organizations representing farmers and civil society condemned what they described as a “lack of transparency” in the ongoing negotiations between the two parties. They emphasized that the sixteenth and final round of talks is nearing completion without involving the relevant stakeholders or informing them about the details of the agreement.
These organizations sent a joint letter to the EU ambassador and the Minister of Agriculture in Madagascar, demanding the disclosure of negotiation details and the availability of information regarding the agreement’s terms to the public and farmers.
The economic partnership agreements aim to regulate trade relations between the European Union and several African countries, including Madagascar. However, civil society organizations have stated that they have not received any information regarding the negotiation process, despite the talks approaching their final stage.
The concerns of these organizations focus on the possibility of Madagascar being required to join the “UPOV 91” agreement on the protection of plant varieties, which grants expanded intellectual property rights related to seeds. The organizations believe that this agreement could negatively impact farmers’ rights to freely save, select, exchange, and reuse seeds.
Zo Randriamaro, head of the “CRAAD OI” organization advocating for food sovereignty and farmers’ rights, stated that the adoption of the agreement could lead to serious repercussions for food security in the country, considering that the issue of seeds is a fundamental element in farmers’ independence and their ability to produce.
She added that the primary responsibility lies with the Malagasy authorities, asserting that the government must clarify the commitments it undertakes on behalf of its citizens, especially regarding matters related to the agricultural sector and farmers’ rights.
The coalition of organizations is calling for the publication of the text concerning the seed provisions before signing any final agreement, to allow for public discussion and feedback from the relevant parties.
In contrast, the EU delegation defended the agreement’s provisions, explaining that the plant variety protection system aims to provide legal protection for plant developers and breeders, while also contributing to the availability of more productive and climate-resilient agricultural varieties that meet local needs.
The European Union confirmed that the agreement includes an optional exemption allowing each country to establish its own rules regarding seed preservation and reuse within farms, taking into account the uniqueness of its agricultural conditions.
The Ministry of Agriculture in Madagascar has not yet issued any official comment regarding the criticisms directed at the negotiations or the demands related to publishing the agreement details.
