THE EUROPEAN UNION BETWEEN
JO'BURG FOLLOW-UP AND CANCUN POLITICS

Public Hearing, March 6, 2003; Brussels, European Parliament: The EU between Jo'burg follow-up and Cancun politics -- How to set the right framework for investment rules

This public hearing, organised by the Heinrich Boell Foundation in collaboration with the European Parliament and with suport from Friends of the Earth Europe and WEED, Germany, will assess the outcomes of World Summit no Sustainable Development on globalisation, trade and corporate accountability, and public-private partnerships in the field of water. It will further address some of the sustainable development-related aspects of the EU's services liberalisation (GATS) and investment agenda in the WTO and elaborate on alternatives to trade and investment liberalisation and possibilities for developing binding rules for corporations at the European and international level.

The European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament as well as NGO representatives and the general public will benefit from this dialogue. Invited will be MEPs, in particular of the Trade/Industry and Environment Committee; the Permanent Representations in Brussels of the EU member states, accession countries and developing countries; the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Environment Ministries; representatives of key NGOs dealing with WTO, WSSD matters and corporate accountability issues; other stakeholders; and the media.