Hearing in the framework of the EESC opinion on Reforming the WTO to adapt to developments in world trade

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is drafting an own-initiative opinion on "Reforming the WTO to adapt to developments in World Trade". On the basis of an analysis of the main challenges the international trading system has been facing in recent years, the opinion will consider possible developments in the governance, functioning and structure of the WTO, with an exploration towards the strategic role that civil society can represent in a wider plurality of interests and a larger scope of collaboration. This opinion would fit in with the objective of "addressing the challenges of globalisation" and provide civil society's contribution to an appropriate reform of the WTO.

The opinion will put forward a raft of proposals for rebuilding a base for multilateralism that is adapted to the challenges of the 21st century (data protection and exchange, trade in services, combating climate change, achieving SDGs, making sustainable global value chains more efficient etc.).

With a view to gathering knowledge during the preparatory works for the proposed opinion from a wide range of experts, a hearing is organised at the EESC premises.