EU and ESA4 seal landmark free trade deal |11 June 2026
The EU and ESA4 representatives in a souvenir photograph at the conclusion of negotiations: (L to R) Haingotiana Andriamadison (Madagascar); Maroš Šefčovič (EU); Dhananjay Ramful (Mauritius); Veronique Laporte (Seychelles) and Moustoifa Hassani Mohamed (
EU and ESA4 seal landmark free trade deal
The European Union (EU) and four Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA4) States – the Union of the Comoros, the Republic of Madagascar, the Republic of Mauritius, and the Republic of Seychelles – announced the conclusion of 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:
- Moustoifa Hassani Mohamed, Minister for Economy, Industry, Investments, in charge of Economic Integration of the Union of the Comoros
- Haingotiana Michela Angèle Andriamadison, Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar
- Dhananjay Ramful, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of the Republic of Mauritius
- Veronique Laporte, Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation of the Republic of Seychelles
- Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency of the European Commission
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