CHANGING THE BALANCE OF TRADE
SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT OF EU TRADE POLICIES

Seminar co-organised by WWF, MEP Caroline Lucas and the Brussels Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation
Date: July 9-10, 2002
Venue: European Parliament, Brussels; Eastman Building, Rue Belliard 135

This seminar will focus on how to change the current balance of EU trade policies towards sustainable development through the use of Sustainability Assessments (SA). SA is an innovative policy tool which is increasingly being used to shed light on the environmental and social impacts of trade liberalisation. The EU is in the process of undertaking Sustainability Assessments for its major trade negotiations, including the Doha round at the WTO and bi-regional trade agreements with Mercosur, ACP countries and non-EU Mediterranean states.

The seminar will bring together delegates from Member States and accession countries, the European Commission, the European Parliament, representatives from NGOs, delegates of third country Missions to the EU, SA practitioners and other stakeholder groups. High level speakers from various EU institutions, Civil Society and EU trading partners will address this important seminar. Among them will be the Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom; the President of the PES (Socialist) Group in the European Parliament, Enrique Barón Crespo; the Head of Cabinet of the Trade Commissioner, Pierre Defraigne; and the Brazilian Ambassador to the EU, H.E. Jose Alfredo Graça Lima.

A key aim of the Seminar will be to advance thinking on how Sustainability Assessments should fit in the policy-making mechanisms in the EU. The role of the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament will be discussed, as well as the involvement of civil society stakeholders in influencing negotiations of trade agreements through SA.

Notes: If you would like to participate in this seminar, please register online at the WWF web site, by emailing to balancedtrade@wwfint.org or faxing the pdf reply form to +32 2 7438819. Further information can be obtained from Keith Tyrell, WWF's Sustainability Assessment Coordinator in Europe, on ktyrell@onetel.net.uk or phone +44 1903 207484.