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14 june 2001
eu summit: civil society calls on eu to
withdraw new wto round proposal
On the eve of the EU summit in Gothenborg
over 60 civil society groups from all around
the world launch a statement today that calls
on the EU to withdraw its proposal for a new
and comprehensive round of trade talks in the
World Trade Organisation (WTO). Instead the
EU should take the lead in calling for
fundamental change in the world's trading
system, in line with its own sustainable
development and human rights objectives.
The signatories from 25 countries argue
that the EU's proposal remains virtually
unchanged since the WTO's last Ministerial in
Seattle in December 1999, when it contributed
to the collapse of negotiations due to the
unprecedented opposition from developing
countries and civil society groups. In the
statement, NGOs warn that the same tensions
could cause the collapse of the 4th WTO
Ministerial to be held in Doha, Qatar from
9-13 November 2001.
The statement says 'A new round is not
inevitable. Furthermore, mandated negotations
already underway are sufficiently
controversial, having the potential to have
severe negative impacts on people, the
environment and local economies in both the
North and the South.'
Signatories call on the EU to start
'calling on WTO members to commission an
independent review of and to rectify the
deficiencies of the world trade system and
the WTO itself. Such a review should address
the WTO's impact on marginalised communities,
development, democracy, environment, health,
human rights, the rights of women and
children and labour an consumer's rights.
For the complete statement and the list of
signatories see
www.foeeurope.org
Contact in Gothenborg:
Alexandra Wandel, Friends of the Earth
Europe (in Gothenborg until 16 June), tel:
+49-172-748 39 53
Klas Ronnback, Miljoforbundet Jordens
Vanner/Friends of the Earth Sweden,
tel:+46-739-057760
For more information please visit:
ww.foeeurope.org/press
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