European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht has appeased leading European civil society organisations about the negotiations for a Southern African economic partnership agreement (EPA), promising "not to put undue pressure" on countries.

According to Marc Maes, trade policy officer at 11.11.11, the move signals an "EPA-fatigue" in Europe. 11.11.11, the Flemish North-South Movement working against poverty, protested about the European Commission’s treatment of Namibia. "The EU has no intention to put undue pressure on Namibia to sign and implement the interim EPA," de Gucht wrote in a response to a Jun 18 letter by 30 influential European civil society organisations (CSOs). Read more.