The new 'Trade & Investment' strategy of the European Union will see Member States delegations in the countries of the South promote fairtrade with small producers and the implementation of a "European capital of fair and ethical trade".

The new strategy was made public on Wednesday 14 October 2015 by EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström at the European Parliament, where a series of proposals to support the fairtrade movement was announced. This was welcomed by Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg, in its reflection of a willingness to encourage fairtrade at an EU-wide level.

European Commissioner of Trade Cecilia Malmström stated that the new agenda would "Not only reflect our interests, but also our values", with the Commission citing fairtrade as a tool in creating a favourable environment for producers in the South. EU delegations in Southern countries will therefore be encouraged to promote fairtrade with small producers under the new strategy, which will aim to engage citizens, businesses, small producers and local communities in the creation of greater equality in international trade.

"We thank Commissioner Malmström for the spirit of dialogue demonstrated with the fairtrade movement and the support measures for fairtrade announced in her new strategy," commented Sergi Corbalán, Executive Director of the European Fairtrade Advocacy Office (FTAO).

Speaking on the need for governments to consider the interests of disadvantaged producers and workers when negotiating trade agreements which could directly impact vulnerable producers, Corbálan added that "Equity in all international trade still remains a distant goal. It is a long process which remains to be done".

"In sharing the affirmation of the European Commission that 'trade should not be an end in itself', we call on the EU to place the human and the environment at the heart of all its policies," continued Jean-Louis Zeien, President of Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg.  

Fairtrade Suisse also welcomed the step taken in the promotion of fairtrade at the European level, whilst warning that without coherence in EU trade policy parallel actions could thwart attempts to establish equity in international trade.

In this context, Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg claimed that the TTIP free trade agreement between Europe and the US currently in the process of negotiation could threaten fairtrade progress in Africa, Latin America and Asia. It also cited the free trade agreement between the EU and Colombia, Peru and Central America as contradictory to fairtrade in its violation of the interests of Central American people and human rights protection.

In the Luxembourg context, the new European strategy could provide an opportunity for policymakers to acquire the necessary means in ensuring policy coherence for development.

 

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