Medzinárodný obchod

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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.

  • HOTREC Hospitality Europe interviewed Mr Gajdosik (Vice-President of our Group) to discuss the 2019 EESC opinion on International Trade & Tourism on which he was rapporteur.

    Have a read at the main conclusions of the report and the recommendations to be addressed to the hospitality and tourism sector! 

     

  • "An open economy and open society are key enablers of European prosperity, wellbeing and way of life" states the Helsinki Declaration on Open Europe. The declaration was signed by the EESC Employers' Group, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK and Finland Chamber of Commerce during the conference "An open Europe – How does it benefit us all?" on 9 October in Helsinki, Finland.

  • Jonathan Peel during the plenary session

    The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted at its March plenary session an opinion on the Joint Communication "Connecting Europe and Asia – Building blocks for an EU Strategy", issued by the European Commission and the EU High Representative in September 2018. The EESC considers it to be a seriously missed opportunity, with many significant strategic gaps, little ambition and no real depth of vision offered as to the development of EU's relationship and connectivity with Asia.  

  • An effective solution for taxation of businesses in the digitalised economy should be found at the global level, to prevent further unilateral action and to ensure sustainable growth, investment, tax certainty and fairness, international tax experts and civil society representatives stated at a hearing held by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on 29 January.

  • One year after the provisional entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), most small and medium-sized enterprises are doing well out of it. At a round table at the EESC on 4 October 2018, on the opportunities CETA gives small and medium-sized enterprises – "Opportunities arising from CETA for SMEs" – participants identified a number of initiatives companies could still take advantage of to ensure that all SMEs can benefit from the CETA. Although the agreement has been successful overall, there are some concerns about its implementation in certain sectors – such as dairy – and its ratification.

  • Digital tax

    The Committee calls for a fair, consensus-based international solution at the OECD level which contributes to achieving fair taxation principles and fair revenues for small and large countries alike

  • The Section for External Relations of the European Economic and Social Committee  discuss how to involve civil society with the EU Member States when ratifying trade agreements

    The European Union is among the largest economic powers in the world, number one in exports of manufactured goods, services, agricultural products, ahead of both the United States and Brazil. However, in recent years, EU trade policy, notably via the increased prevalence of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs),  has become a real issue for debate for civil society at national level, given that trade agreements are promoters of growth and jobs but should also serve as a tool for reflecting and conveying high standards for social, environmental and consumer protection. In this regard the Section for External Relations (REX) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organised a hearing on consensus and transparency in trade agreements, which took place on 14 June in Brussels.

  • Foreign Direct Investment

    Particular attention should be given to investment in sensitive areas such as infrastructure and key facilities, says the EESC

  • Brexit, the next EU budget and the future of the single market are the core interests of the European employers' organisations. On 14 March 2018, representatives of BusinessEurope, EuroChambres and CEEP presented the priorities of their organisations for 2018 and discussed the issues with the members of the employers' group.

  • Employers believe that the business community has a crucial role to play in spreading a positive message about trade and in explaining what an ambitious trade policy can achieve. It is businesses that can tell the story of the practical benefits stemming from trade agreements. This was the main message that the members of the EESC Employers' Group delivered to Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner for Trade, during their meeting on 6 December 2017.