EU abuses Power in Trade Agreements
The European Union continues to abuse its position of power when negotiating trade agreements with 75 of its former colonies, the International Development Committee of the House of Commons said here, reported Ekklesia newsletter on Thursday.
"It is a conclusion with which we wholeheartedly agree," said Martin Gordon of Christian Aid.
The Report looks at progress in relation to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha development round, Economic Partnership Agreements and EU development policy since the Committee last reported on these issues in 2005 and 2006.
The select committee of MPs from all the main political parties said it was 'concerned' that the EU was abusing its position to force African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries to accept the so-called Singapore Issues.
The 'Singapore Issues' relate to investment, competition, transparency and government procurement clauses that were included in the WTO negotiations at the insistence of rich countries during the Singapore Ministerial in 1996. They were backed by the EU and US and are much disliked by ACP countries.
The committee's report says there is an implication that the EU may impose penalties if ACP countries reject them.
"Suggesting that there will be penalties if poor countries do not sign up to the agreements as conceived by the EU lays bare Europe's unethical approach in these negotiations," said Gordon.
"This approach has less to do with reducing poverty and more to do with Europe's commercial interests," Gordon added.
Source : Prensa Latina
