FROM RIO VIA DOHA TO JOHANNESBURG
PUBLIC HEARING, APRIL 17, 2002, BRUSSELS

The World Trade Organisation with its powerful enforcement measures has given rise to a new type of global governance, while UN agreements on environment, development, human rights, labour, women and children lack adequate implementation measures.

Currently, a number of international as well as EU policies that promote sustainable development are threatened by WTO rules. The decision at the 4th WTO Ministerial in Qatar in November 2001 to expand the WTO agenda by launching new trade negotiations raises further concerns. These new negotiations are predicted to have widespread effects on environmental sustainability, development, and democracy in both industrialised as well as developing countries.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF) and Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE), in co-operation with Caroline Lucas, MEP, organised this hearing to address two specific cross cutting issues: Environmental Governance and Alternatives to Trade and Investment Liberalisation.

The event aimed to foster a dialogue among EU officials and civil society representatives from the North and South on controversial WTO matters and discussions on positive alternatives in light of future WTO negotiations and the WSSD in Johannesburg.