Download — Evaluation of Directive (EU) 2019/633 of 17 April 2019 on unfair trading practices in B2B relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain (Incl. Mapping of national UTP legislation)
On 8 February 2005, the European Economic and Social Committee, after a request received on February 2005 from the next UK's Presidency of the EU approved to draw an exploratory opinion on Ethical Trade and Consumer Assurance Schemes.
Download — Ethical Trade and Consumer Assurance Schemes
EESC's EU Consumer Day 2025 pointed to the urgent need to protect EU markets from an avalanche of cheap imports shipped by Temu, Shein and other third-country e-commerce platforms which are threatening to devastate the European economy and society, forcing European businesses to close and draining billions from public budgets
On 25 June 2025, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held an event in the context of European Public Diplomacy Week, launched for the first time by the European External Action Service (EEAS). The participants highlighted a fundamental dimension of European action, the contribution of civil society to public diplomacy, from international trade to water, through enlargement. When official diplomacy has limited outreach due to political or other issues, civil society can provide added value.
In its capacity as the home of civil society, the EESC welcomed participants from several developing countries to the 2023 Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development. Joined by high-level representatives from the EU, the ILO and UNCTAD, civil society speakers openly discussed existing policies and new initiatives, called for a truly inclusive approach and proposed concrete solutions to make trade a driving force for the Just Transition.
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 is the only trade that will deliver a resilient recovery and bring prosperity to business and people. It also acknowledged the key role of the World Trade Organisation towards this effort.
The new trade strategy launched by the Commission in February brings engaging principles to the table that will support the EU in achieving its domestic and external policy objectives. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) welcomes this trade strategy as a way of improving market access and levelling the playing field. Alongside this, the modernisation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be the key to delivering for future generations.
New mandate, new challenge - reaffirming TSD amid economic security ambitions
Location
Brussels
Belgium
The third edition of the EESC Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) took place on Thursday, 5 December, from 13:45 to 17:30 at the EESC premises in Brussels. Under the theme "New mandate, new challenge: reaffirming TSD amid economic security ambitions," this year's Forum focused on ensuring that the EU's economic security agenda is consistent with and delivers for TSD. As we welcome a new EU Commission, this is the moment to influence policy direction and ensure that trade policy fosters resilience and security alongside long-term development and social justice for all partners.
The 4th annual All DAGs meeting took place on Monday 18 April 2024 09:00-13:00 at the EESC premises in JDE62. This was the first All DAGs meeting of this DAG mandate which welcomed the newer DAG Members, as well as more experienced ones. It was a unique opportunity to gather all EU DAG Members and EU institutions as one TSD community, to openly exchange ideas, challenges, and aspirations. The meeting featured, among others, CTEO Denis Redonnet and DDG Maria Martin-Prat, DG Trade.
