The European Parliament endorsed the EU's first economic partnership with an African region deal that grants Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zimbabwe duty- and quota-free access to the EU market.

The Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA) with the Eastern and Southern Africa region that will enable the four countries to sell their goods (most importantly coffee, sugar cane and tobacco) in the EU without paying tariffs or quotas, was endorsed by the European Parliament in plenary session. This first Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU and an Africa region started to be applied in May 2012.

Thanks to this economic partnership, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zimbabwe will get duty- and quota-free access to the EU market. The EPA is intended to help integrate the four countries into the world economy, promote their sustainable development and reduce poverty. The four countries have also agreed to cooperate closely among themselves to foster regional integration.

In addition, the agreement was accompanied by the adoption of a resolution stating MEPs concerns that certain policies present a threat to future economic relations between the Union and Zimbabwe.They condemn abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Zimbabwe, and in particular harassment of human rights defenders, journalists and members of civil society. MEPs fear that Zimbabwe might not be ready for such agreement and stress that the EU should never be flexible on human rights issues.