Advisory: Director-General of Foreign Affairs Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba and the counterpart from the European Union, Director-General for Development Stefano Manservisi to Brief the Media

The Director-General of Foreign Affairs Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba will together with the counterpart from the European Union, Director-General for Development Stefano Manservisi, officially launch the negotiations for the Review of the Trade Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) between South Africa and the European Union at the Diplomatic Guesthouse, Pretoria on Thursday 29 March 2007.

The Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) is the legal basis for overall relations between South Africa and the EU. The Agreement was signed in October 1999 after five years of negotiations. It was provisionally applied - but only partially - from 1 January 2000, and fully entered into force on 1 May 2004 after ratification by all signatory parties in April 2004.

The Agreement basically covers five areas of cooperation, namely: Political Dialogue, Development Cooperation, Cooperation in Trade and Trade-related areas, Economic Cooperation and Cooperation in other Areas. Articles 103 and 18 of the Agreement calls for a Review "within five years of entry into force".

Media are invited to a joint press conference to be addressed by Directors-General Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba and Stefano Manservisi on conclusion of these discussions as follows:

DATE : Thursday 29 March 2007

TIME : 12h00 noon for 12h30

VENUE : Diplomatic Guesthouse
201 Matroosberg Road
Waterkloof Heights
Pretoria East

ENQUIRIES/RSVPs : Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

29 March 2007