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Seminars
Civil Society Seminar 2011
EU Trade Policy: Looking East
In follow-up to seminars in Prague (2010), Brussels (2009), Sofia (2007) and Budapest (2006), the Directorate-General for Trade is hosting the Civil Society Trade Seminar in Warsaw (Poland) on Monday 03 October 2011.
The overall theme of 'EU Trade Policy: Looking East' gives an opportunity to look at different aspects of trade policy, in particular how the specific work programme of DG Trade interacts with its practical effects on stakeholders in Central Europe. The seminar will cover the role of civil society in the trade policy-making and how we intend our trade policy to contribute to achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The seminar will also look at shaping future EU trade policy vis-à-vis Eastern partner countries (i.e. bilateral/regional or multinational negotiations) and the effects of trade policy in the EU and abroad. The setting of the seminar in Warsaw during the Polish EU Presidency is an opportunity to increase the involvement of the EU 12 civil society organisations in the EU trade policy processes.
The seminar
- Sunday 02 October 2011
- 18.00-21.00 - Welcome cocktail and dinner.
- Monday 03 October 2011
- 09-00- 17.30 - The seminar: EU Trade policy: Looking East
Programme:
Read the Executive summary and the End Report.
View the programme of the seminar.
View the list of participants.
Additional questions from participants
Seminar objectives:
- Foster a better understanding of the EU trade policy by EU12 civil society organisations through a capacity building type event
- Communicate theoretical issues in a policy-oriented way, bringing them into the practical lives of the operating organisations
- Gather input from civil society organisations on how we could better reflect their concerns in the EU trade policy
- Engage EU12 civil society organisations in current trade policy issues
- Strengthen civil society organisations locally by raising awareness of existing mechanisms at their disposal through which they can voice their concerns
Presentations:
Speaking points by EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht
Making trade work for sustainable development: the case for partnership by Tadeuz Makulski, Polish Fair Trade Association.
EU Trade Policy: Looking East by Bernd Lange, Member of the European Parliament.
Outlook for Bulgaria's Trade by Tsvetan Simeonov, President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Contribution by Penny Clarke Head of EU Policy at the European Federation of Public Service Unions.
Contribution by Jonathan Peel President, Permanent WTO and International Trade Study Group, European Economic and Social Committee.
International trade & workers rights : A conflictual relationship? by Renaat Hanssens, Advisor Research Department at the ACV-CSC Belgium.
Who is the Seminar designed for?
Non-governmental organisations, consumer associations, trade unions, employers' organisations, business and professional associations, faith-based groups and research institutes with an interest in various aspects of EU trade policy.