1.
EU COMMISSIONER FOR TRADE MEETS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY
European
Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, met with a wide range of
civil society and business representatives, as a part of the
ongoing structured dialogue between the European Commission and
civil society and business organisations on WTO issues on 23
November in Brussels. One of the main aims of the meeting was to
review the dialogue process and discuss the next steps in the
development of the dialogue. The meeting also discussed
sustainable development and the current situation for the launch
of a WTO Round.
On
the discussion on the dialogue process, the meeting received a
statement co-signed by about 20 NGOs and NGO networks from a
number of sectors (health, social, development and the
environment) including Eurostep, CIDSE and
CLONG. The statement, which aimed at enhancing the dialogue
process and ensuring broad participation, proposed, inter alia,
the following:
Ø
To ensure mutual accountability between the Commission and civil
society, the Commission should write up reports following each of
the 6-monthly Issue Groups meetings, summarising what lessons it
has drawn from the dialogue, and outlining how it has used this
information in formulating or modifying its trade policy.
Ø
To ensure broader representation in the dialogue, senior
representatives of Commission Directorates, other than DG Trade,
should attend and co-chair meetings when the issues under
discussion require it. The Commission and NGOs should also
explore possibilities for funding NGO attendance to dialogue
meetings. In the medium term, the Commission could put
forward a modest budget to support the travel expenses for NGOs
attending the dialogue meetings (this is already the case in some
consultations undertaken by the Commission such as the
Transatlantic Environment and Consumer Dialogues).
Ø
To ensure better provision of information, the Commission should
make a commitment to systematically disseminate information
(including information on the state of play in the negotiations
and other consultation processes run by the Commission) to all
stakeholders
Ø
To allow for sustainable timing and spacing of the meetings,
Issue Group meetings should last one-whole day, and could be held
every other month (instead of every month). General meetings
lasting only a few hours, should be avoided whenever possible.
The
Commissioner, in response to these requests, stated that on
provision of information, the Commission was ready to do more and
put out agendas for meetings in a more timely fashion. However he
argued that the Commission could not make information from
committees made up of EU Member State representatives, such as
the Article 133 Committee, more available. Regarding the funding
of NGO participation, Mr Lamy, while stating that he had no
funds available, expressed his openness to the idea. He also
accepted the principle of holding daylong Issue Group meetings
every other month. The Commissioner also announced that the next
4 issues to be discussed next year will be: Investment, TRIPs,
Reform of the WTO, and Competition
In
the discussion on sustainable development, the Commissioner
informed the meeting that the President of the Commission, Mr
Romano Prodi, will produce a paper in the Spring of 2001 on the
three pillars of sustainable development, i.e.: social
development, economic growth, and environmental issues. Mr Lamy,
himself, also presented a paper to the meeting, on the issue,
titled “Sustainable Trade”. According to the
Commissioner, this paper is supposed to be a background paper on
sustainable development. He welcomed comments on the paper from
civil society. For more information contact [email protected]
On
the current state of play on launching a new WTO round, Mr Lamy
said it was clear at the moment that there was a lack of momentum
on the issue. But he said there was more political support for a
new round from some Asian countries. On issues of substance, the
EU continues to believe that a comprehensive round is best. He
said the outcome of the March 2001 review meeting on the
‘built in agenda’ would provide more information as to
when the new round will be launched.
2.
JOB ADVERTISEMENT
Oxfam
International is looking for an advocacy officer to head up its
newly established Brussels office and lead Oxfam’s lobbying
of the institutions of the EU. Trade and humanitarian issues
will be the major focus. The successful applicant will be an
experienced NGO advocate with strong lobbying, media and policy
skills. Applications close 8 December 2000. Send a CV of no more
than four pages to Brussels Vacancy, Oxfam International,
Washington DC, fax +1-202-7835547, or email [email protected]
Position description available on request.
3.
EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY MEETING ON
EUROPE-ACP COOPERATION
East
African and Southern African civil society organisations will be
meeting to discuss the challenges of the new ACP-EU Partnership
Agreement, with particular reference to the Eastern and Southern
African regions on 26-28 November in Gaborone, Botswana. The
meeting also hopes to create a regional framework for NGOs and
their civil society partners to engage with each other and
governments on issues relating to the implementation of the
Cotonou Agreement.
The
meeting will take place just before the fourth SADC-EU
Ministerial meeting, where Eastern and Southern African civil
society organisations hope to submit a civil society declaration.
(See below)
4.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
| 26-28
November, Gaborone Botswana |
East
And Southern Africa Regional Civil Society Meeting
Europe-Africa Cooperation: Mapping Out A Civil Society
Agenda – (See Above) |
| 27-29
November, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia |
EU
Development Commissioner – Poul Nielson –
visits |
| 28
November, Brussels |
Commission
Symposium on The Challenges of Globalisation: The
EU’s Market Access Strategy |
| 29
November, Gaborone Botswana |
EU-SADC
Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting |
| 1
December, Brussels |
WWF
launches Agenda for Accession Contact: [email protected] |
| 4
December, Brussels |
Swedish
Permanent Representation Meeting on The Swedish
Presidency: Enlargement and Environment Contact: [email protected] |
| 7-9
December, Nice |
EU
Heads of State meet |
| 12
December, Brussels |
The
Priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of
the EU - Seminar organised by the Centre for European
Policy Studies and KREAB Communication Contact: +32
2 737 69 00 |
5.
IN BRIEF
The ACP-EU civil
society electronic discussion on a common programme for
monitoring the Cotonou Agreement organised by Eurostep, in
collaboration with the Liaison Committee of EU NGDOs, will begin
discussions on strategies for advocacy and monitoring of trade
and agricultural aspects of the Cotonou Agreement on 4
December. Civil society representatives interested in joining
the debate should contact [email protected]