The EU negotiated Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and regions between 2002 and 2014. For future negotiations, foreseen under the “rendez-vous” clauses of these Agreements, the existing Council Negotiating Directives from 2002 need to be updated in order to align their wording and content with recent developments and policies, in particular the Trade for all Communication of the European Commission from 2015.