In a plenary debate on the future of EU trade policy in a changing global reality, the EESC stressed that open, fair, inclusive and sustainable trade was the only trade that would deliver a resilient recovery and bring prosperity to business and people. It also acknowledged the key role of the World Trade Organisation in this effort.

The global trade picture shows that recovery remains heterogeneous.

The EESC president, Christa Schweng, commented: "International trade should be free, fair, sustainable and predictable. It's vital for our business and people. Sustainable trade is the only trade that will deliver a resilient and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic".

At its October plenary session, the EESC hosted Ambassador Jean-Marie Paugam, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), who was positive that the international trading system had proven its resilience in the face of the pandemic. "At the start, we witnessed a proliferation of restrictive measures to trade, but quite quickly states chose the path of cooperation and facilitation".

In the own-initiative opinion Next Generation Trade and Sustainable Development-Reviewing the 15-point action plan, linked with the debate, the EESC aims to ensure that this time the message for a "values-based trade agenda" is clearly set out as an integral part of the EU Trade strategy.

The rapporteur of the opinion, Tanja Buzek, specifically underlined that labour and environmental chapters were not living up fully to their legally binding commitments. "We propose an ambitious review, featuring a revamped sanctionable enforcement approach with stronger civil society monitoring, using innovative instruments and enhancing the leverage for trade and sustainable development chapters (TSD)".

Mr Paugam set as a priority the restoration of confidence in the system, which had been undermined by many stakeholders and states for a long time. "What we must rebuild is first of all the minimum level of trust, as without it, no negotiation can take place", adding emphatically that the most precious asset at the WTO was "non aes sed fides", not money but trust.

Based on a recently published article in Borderlex by David Henig and his three possible scenarios for the WTO, "revival, disintegration or regression", Mr Paugam chose "reconstruction". Therefore, the EU and European Civil Society should be actively involved because, as Ms Buzek put it, "There is no sustainability without civil society".

Concluding the event, Ms Schweng said: "The active involvement and buy-in from organised civil society, in all its components, is a core element of a sustainable trading system that delivers for people". (at)