International handel

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International trade is governed by a complex mixture of global rules agreed under World Trade Organization and bilateral and multilateral agreements. The free trade agreements are having a growing impact on citizens' rights. Under the Lisbon Treaty, EU trade policy must be conducted within the framework of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action, including promotion of the rule of law, human rights and sustainable development.

We believe that this trend should be a guiding principle in EU trade negotiations and in trade relations. The fact that we at the EESC reconcile the positions and views of business, workers, professionals, farmers, consumers and other important stakeholders contributes real added value. We are in a position to efficiently relay the opinions of civil society and interest groups to international policy-makers both during negotiations and in the implementation of trade agreements. We have set up a Follow-up Committee on International trade to ensure that civil society has a say in the shaping of EU trade policy. We are also managing the Domestic Advisory groups set up under the trade and sustainable development chapters of the EU "new generation" trade agreements. These groups, composed of civil society representatives (from inside and outside the EESC) are responsible for identifying trade and sustainable development-related problems in the implementation of a trade agreement.

  • Vedtaget on 27/04/2016 - Bureau decision date: 10/11/2015
    Reference
    REX/449-EESC-2015-01-01
    (United Kingdom

    The European Commission review of EU trade strategy is timely in the first year of a new Commission.

     

    The intense public interest that has been aroused by the TTIP negotiations between the EU and the US demonstrates that trade is no longer an esoteric matter nor the concern of those few who are sufficiently involved to master the finer, highly technical detail that trade involves. It is now a popular issue and part of the public agenda, but because of its technicalities it is also open to wide misunderstanding.

    EESC opinion: Trade for all: Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy
  • Vedtaget on 17/09/2015
    Reference
    REX/443-EESC
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    France
    Plenary session number
    510
    -

    The Information Report can serve as a tool to promote and share the rich experience of the EU and its Member States in the area of CSR with partner countries and their civil society. It can provide a basis for discussion in EESC dialogues with partner countries, as well as the Committee's contribution to the work of the monitoring mechanisms established by the recently negotiated EU trade agreements.

    Corporate social and societal responsibility
  • Vedtaget on 02/07/2015
    Reference
    REX/433-EESC
    Employers - GR I
    France
    Civil Society Organisations - GR III
    Greece
    Plenary session number
    509
    -

    The own-initiative opinion will focus on the impact of the TTIP on SMEs and reflect on the provisions that would need to be included in the TTIP in order to take account of the specific character of SMEs in the negotiations and implementation of an eventual EU-US agreement. The opinion will also look at how to increase the awareness of SMEs as to existing support services and programmes, and particularly about the new business opportunities that may arise with this agreement.

    TTIP and its impact on SMEs
  • Vedtaget on 27/05/2015
    Reference
    REX/411-EESC-0000-01-01
    Workers - GR II
    United Kingdom
    Plenary session number
    508
    -

    Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the investment policy is an exclusive competence of the European Union. The EU is aiming to include therefore in the new trade and investment agreements provisions on investor protection and investor to state dispute settlement (ISDS) which will replace existing Bilateral Investment Agreements (BIT) signed by Member States and will grant the same level of protection to all EU investors.

    Investor protection and investor to State dispute settlement in EU trade and investment agreements with third countries
    The EESC opposes ISDS in TTIP and CETA and calls for an International Investment Court
  • Vedtaget on 18/03/2015
    Reference
    REX/444-EESC-0000-01-01
    Plenary session number
    506
    -

    Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council protecting against the effects of the extra-territorial application of legislation adopted by a third country and actions based thereon or resulting therefrom (recast)

    Protection against the effects of the extra-territorial application of legislation adopted by a third country
  • Vedtaget on 21/01/2015
    Reference
    REX/434-EESC-0000-01-01
    Plenary session number
    504
    -

    Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on measures that the Union may take in relation to the combined effect of anti-dumping or anti-subsidy measures with safeguard measures (codification)

    Antidumping measures
  • Vedtaget on 10/12/2014
    Reference
    REX/429-EESC-0000-01-01
    Plenary session number
    503
    -

    Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain procedures for applying the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part (codification)

    Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part
  • Vedtaget on 10/12/2014
    Reference
    REX/431-EESC-0000-01-01
    Plenary session number
    503
    -

    Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Union (codification)

    Protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Union
  • Vedtaget on 10/12/2014
    Reference
    REX/425-EESC-0000-01-01
    Plenary session number
    503
    -

    Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for imports from certain third countries (recast)

    Common rules for imports from certain third countries
  • Vedtaget on 10/12/2014
    Reference
    REX/426-EESC-0000-01-01
    Plenary session number
    503
    -

    Opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for imports of textile products from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific Union import rules (recast)

    Common rules for imports of textile products from certain third countries