On 10 June 2026, the European Union (EU) and four States of Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA4) – the Union of the Comoros, the Republic of Madagascar, the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles – announced the conclusion of the negotiations to deepen the existing EU-ESA Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) into a modern and comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA).
The announcement was made jointly by the Minister of Economy, Industry, Investments, in charge of Economic Integration of the Union of the Comoros, Hon. Moustoifa Hassani Mohamed, Minister of Trade and Consumer Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar, Hon. Haingotiana Michela Angèle Andriamadison, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of the Republic of Mauritius, Hon. Dhananjay Ramful, Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Hon. Veronique Laporte of the Republic of Seychelles, and the Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency of the European Commission, Mr. Maroš Šefčovič.
Both sides welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations as a significant milestone in the EU-ESA partnership. They underlined that the Agreement is comprehensive, forward-looking and mutually beneficial, and will strengthen trade relations, enhance supply chain resilience, and support sustainable development.
As a modern and comprehensive FTA, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, it covers not only trade in goods but also services, investment, digital trade, and sectoral cooperation, while supporting local processing, industrial transformation and value addition in the ESA States.
Both sides underlined their shared objective of taking the necessary steps towards signature and entry into force of the Agreement as soon as possible, in line with their respective procedures. They also recalled that the Agreement will remain open to accession by other ESA States when they are ready to join.
