The EESC’s Transatlantic Relations Follow-up Committee met to discuss two current and timely topics with the aim of strengthening the EU-US partnership on a global scene, particularly important in the current challenging international context: the state of play of the transatlantic trade policy and the Year of Action between the two Summits for Democracy.
Caidreamh trasatlantach
I dtaca leis an Aontas Eorpach, SAM agus Ceanada de, tá na luachanna seo a leanas acu uile: an daonlathas, cearta an duine maille le saoirse eacnamaíoch agus pholaitiúil, agus is mar a chéile cuid mhaith an beartas eachtrach atá acu agus na saincheisteanna slándála is cás leo. Tá SAM agus Ceanada ar na comhpháirtithe trádála is mó dá bhfuil ag an Aontas Eorpach agus is comhpháirtithe iad freisin san obair atá ar siúl chun an t-ord dlíthiúil idirnáisiúnta a leagan síos. Sa lá atá inniu ann, is i dtimpeallacht nua atá an caidreamh trasatlantach á chothú agus is ag dul i méid atá na dúshláin a ghabhann leis. Nuair a bhíonn baint ag an tsochaí shibhialta leis an ngaol seo, measaimid go ndeimhníonn sin go mbeidh an caidreamh trasatlantach in ann freagairt d'ionchais an phobail agus cuidiú ar bhonn éifeachtach chun comhar a mhúnlú a bheidh chun tairbhe an dá thaobh.
An 30 Deireadh Fómhair 2016, síníodh an Comhaontú Cuimsitheach Eacnamaíoch agus Trádála (CETA) idir an tAontas Eorpach agus Ceanada agus an Comhaontú Comhpháirtíochta Straitéisí. Féachfaimid chuige go mbeidh an tsochaí shibhialta rannpháirteach ar bhonn leanúnach i gcur chun feidhme na gcomhaontuithe sin. Tá an chaibidlíocht faoin gComhpháirtíocht Thrasatlantach Trádála agus Infheistíochta (TTIP) idir an tAontas Eorpach agus na Stáit Aontaithe ina stad faoi láthair. Mar sin féin, chuidigh an chaibidlíocht faoin gComhpháirtíocht leis na naisc idir an tsochaí shibhialta san Aontas agus sna Stáit Aontaithe a neartú agus le tuairimí na sochaí sibhialta a shainiú maidir leis an gcaoi ba cheart don chaidreamh trádála idir an tAontas agus na Stáit Aontaithe a bheith amach anseo. Níor cheart a bhfuil bainte amach a chailleadh. Bunaíodh an Coiste Leantach um Chaidreamh Trasatlantach atá againn i mí Mheán Fómhair 2014 agus é de shainordú aige monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar naisc shibhialta leis an tsochaí shibhialta maille le hidirphlé rialta a thionscnamh agus comhairliúchán a dhéanamh ar shaincheisteanna a bhaineann leis an gcaidreamh leis na Stáit Aontaithe agus Ceanada.
With China and Russia on the offensive, a renewed and reliable transatlantic partnership is the key to maintaining international and legal order and peace. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) supports the idea of an Alliance of Democracies, ensuring that civil society has significant say in the joint defence of universal values and rights.
Through increased transatlantic dialogue, the Trade and Technology Council and the upcoming Summit for Democracy, the United States and the European Union have reached out to each other to jointly face global and internal challenges, and build a strong partnership on the basis of common democratic values.
Transatlantic relations remain strong and important even though they have recently had a very bad press. Business, both in the EU and the US, has a role to play in overcoming current difficulties. Together, we can effectively promote a positive transatlantic agenda and help to fight stereotypes and misinformation. These are just some of the conclusions of the debate with Susan Danger, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU. The debate took place during the Employers' Group meeting on 11 July 2018.
The role of trade as a generator of growth and jobs is undeniable, but public perception of the further liberalisation of trade is getting worse and citizens' concerns must be addressed far more effectively than before. This was one of the conclusions of the conference on "Strengthening European Growth and Competitiveness: Proactive Trade Agenda – NOW!" that took place in Helsinki on 26 October.
The role of trade as a generator of growth and jobs is undeniable, but public perception of the further liberalisation of trade is getting worse and citizens' concerns must be addressed far more effectively than before. This was one of the conclusions of the conference on "Strengthening European Growth and Competitiveness: Proactive Trade Agenda – NOW!" that took place in Helsinki on 26 October. Jacek Krawczyk, President of the EESC Employers' Group, added: It is our responsibility to advocate for trade; we cannot take it for granted that people understand what the benefits ...
With discussions for TTIP now at a critical point, the EESC has published a new opinion, ‘The position of the EESC on specific key issues of the TTIP negotiations’. The own-initiative opinion assesses some key issues of the negotiations and identifies the main considerations for European civil society. This new ...