As the contracts between the European Unions (EU) and African nations (AU), the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) creates a significant shift in the trading aspects within two parties, aiming at boosting the economic development in Africa and promoting the regional integration (“Economic Partnership Agreement with West Africa”). Regional integration covers the increase in economic, the institutional, and political linkages between the different countries sharing the same geographic proximity (“REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND THE EPAS”). It, therefore, creates a move towards the greater interdependence between countries thereby eliminating barriers to ease cooperation and reducing the trade barriers. However, the benefits of regional integration largely depend on internal …show more content…
From earliest European projects of colonization to the structural adjustment program, Africa has proved remarkably resistant to a range of externally imposed projects that have aimed to bring it into conformity with Western or “global” models in order to avoid losing effective authority (Ferguson 27). However, EPAs are very ambitious agreements, requiring trade liberalization through opening up the African markets. Many weaker states would have to seek to be protected from being overwhelmed by the stronger countries within a region through the various kinds of liberalization (Powell). Since these weaker countries may not be prepared to cede powers to the supranational body for fear of losing independence, they would have less commitment to the regional integration without an effective mechanism for balancing the benefits and compensating weaker states. As a result, it will arise tensions between poorer least developed countries and the more advanced countries in a political