brussels, 16th april 2002
Leaked EU requests on service
liberalisation in the WTO reveal threats for
people, the environment and democracy
Leaked copies of requests by the European
Commission to member states of the WTO reveal
that the EU demands a full range of service
liberalisation that could pose threats to
people, the environment and democracy.
Secret documents (1) obtained by trade
campaigners show that the EC requests
services liberalisation from WTO partner
countries, including on controversial matters
such as water, energy, tourism and transport.
The leaked requests directed at 27 WTO member
countries(2) focus on eliminating trade
barriers and regulations that restrict trade
in services in WTO member countries.
On water, the EC request to open up the
water sector including water collection and
distribution to international
competitors.
Despite the controversial nature of the
negotiations, the European Commission has so
far stated that these documents will not be
made available to the public.
WTO members need to file their request for
service liberalisation by 30 June 2002 as a
follow up of the last WTO Ministerial
Conference in Doha in November 2001. The EC
will also receive requests to liberalise
their service market that will also be
negotiated in secrecy behind closed
doors.
Alexandra Wandel of FoE Europe said
‘’The broad range of liberalisation could
pose serious threats to people and the
environment. It is unacceptable that these
negotiations are conducted in secrecy. We
demand the full release of all draft requests
of the EC to WTO member countries. In
addition, we reiterate that there needs to be
an assessment of the environmental, social
and economic implications of the GATS
negotiations now, before proceeding with
further negotiations. ‘’
Contact
:
Alexandra Wandel, FoEE, tel: 32-2-542 01
85
Notes to editors
:
(1) The documents have been released today
on the GATSwatch web site. See
http://www.gatswatch.org/requests-offers.html
. The obtained documents include 29 out of
112 planned requests which the European
Commission intends to submit on behalf of the
EU to WTO member states by June 2002.
(2) The countries are India, Canada, USA,
Australia, New Zealand, Philippines,
Switzerland, Colombia, Panama, Malaysia,
Pakistan, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong
Kong, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand,
Argentine, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay,
Venezuela, Egypt, Israel, South-Africa and
Mexico
(3) See Services: the implications of
current negotiations
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/qatar_services.pdf
see also the press release:
european commission
proposals to open up service markets around
the world leaked
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