Destructive EU-Asia free trade deals should cease
Brussels 05/10/2010
Destructive EU-Asia free trade deals should cease
Debating the far-reaching implications of EU trade policy in Asia in the context of the Asia-Europe Summit currently taking place in Brussels, GUE/NGL MEPs joined civil society organisations, NGOs and elected representatives from Asia and Europe to call for a halt to EU Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Asian countries.
"It is clear that FTAs are not in the interests of workers and the poor, that they serve the needs of big business in Asia and Europe" Irish MEP Joe Higgins said. "The recent general strike in India shows that people power represents the only way to protect rights from an aggressive big business agenda. Our solidarity is with the unions and workers that are fighting for trade in the interests of people and the environment not corporate profit."
Slamming the EU-Asia negotiators reluctance to come up with adequate proposals on climate protection & economic governance and tomorrow’s signing of the controversial EU-South Korea FTA, German MEP Helmut Scholz said that "the ultimate goal should be improving people’s quality of life". "The unfair distribution of food and energy needs to end, as does the absurd notion of unlimited growth. Sustainable development will only be achieved by a socio-ecological paradigm shift away from market-oriented exploitation of man and nature".
The "Beyond Free Trade: Alternatives for EU-Asia relations"? was co-organised with the Asia-Europe People’s Forum and the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament.
GUE/NGL PRESS CONTACTS:
David Lundy + 32 485 50 58 12
Sonja Giese + 32 486 94 50 21
Gianfranco Battistini + 32 475 64 66 28
www.guengl.eu
Gauche Unitaire Européenne/Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group
