Međunarodna trgovina

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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.

  • The 10th meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and second meeting of the new 2023-25 term, took place on 9 January, 2024.

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    During the 11th meeting of the EU-Chile JCC, held physically in Santiago de Chile, the members discussed ways to strengthen our bilateral partnership in the rapidly evolving global political and economic circumstances. The aim was to "put people first", underlining the role of the civil society in promoting inclusive growth and tackling common challenges driven by economic shocks, climate change, instability, various threats to democracy and multilateral order. The JCC also exchanged views on the progress of the constitutional reform in Chile. Moreover, in view of the changes of the legal framework resulting from the modernization of the EU-Chile Association Agreement, participants discussed proposals concerning the role of the civil society and the status of the JCC following the transition.

    The JCC approved the Joint Declaration.

  • The CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee (CC) was established with the task and responsibility of fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration among delegates from civil society organizations, including the academic community, and social and economic stakeholders.

  • 2023 TSD Forum
    The other side of trade: a bottom-up approach to sustainable development

    The EESC hosted the 2nd Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development : ' The other side of trade: a bottom-up approach to sustainable development' on 14 November 2023. Moving on from the fundamental question "Have we been listening?", the event examined Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) from different angles with a common approach: inclusive, bottom-up and solution-oriented.

  • The 9th meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and the first meeting of the new 2023-25 term, took place on 19 July, 2023.

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    EU-Central America joint meeting of civil society Advisory Groups and Civil Society Dialogue Forum

  • On 8 March 2023, the fifth meeting of the EU Domestic Advisory Group was held in a hybrid format. One of the objectives of the meeting was to prepare the European side for the upcoming joint meeting with the Singapore DAG.

  • 12 December 2022 - Hybrid Brussels

     

     

  • 18th meeting of the EU - DAG Colombia-Peru-Ecuador

    17 October 2022 - Hybrid Brussels

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    8th joint meeting of the EU DAG and representatives from the domestic mechanisms of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador and Civil Society Open Session

    28 October 2022 - Virtual