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Europe: What trade can have to do with trade unions
8-Dec-2008 IPS
The European Union has decided to push ahead with plans to secure a free trade agreement with Colombia despite the widespread abuse of labour rights in that country.
SA refusal to sign EPA ‘damaging’
4-Dec-2008
A trade analyst says SA’s objections to an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) were “smoke and mirrors”, and that SA’s stance was damaging to the region.
Urgent action needed: EU Parliament to vote on EU-Israel Association Agreement
3-Dec-2008 Stop The Wall
The European Parliament (EP) has recently announced that a vote will be held on December 4 to enter into force the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which will enable far greater Israeli participation in European Community programs. It is urgent that all civil society organizations, and especially those in Europe, take action against the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
"Don’t Sign EPAs"
2-Dec-2008
Trade sector advocacy bodies such as the Ghana Trade Livelihood Coalition and Actionaid Ghana as well as some civil society groups have renewed their call on government not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union.
Syria-EU ties set for revival before Christmas holidays
2-Dec-2008
Syrian and European officials are expecting to initial a second phase of the Syrian-EU Partnership Agreement, which has been on-hold due to political tension since 2004, before the Christmas holidays.
Proposed India-EU FTA draws flak
2-Dec-2008 Financial Express
A group of Indian trade unionists, farmers, fishworkers and intelligentsia have criticised the secret negotiation which are underway between India and the European Union to strike a free trade agreement (FTA). They have demanded a halt to the ongoing negotiations till transparency is achieved in the process.
Be suspicious of India-EU pact
2-Dec-2008 Economic Times
There is an outcry over the proposed India-EU free trade agreement, the contents of which are being ‘secretly’ negotiated by the two governments. Last week, an outfit called Forum on FTAs—a coalition of over 75 organisations including trade unions, farmer and fishermen groups and other civil society organisations—demanded that the talks be halted immediately.
Free trade by any other name
30-Nov-2008
As the December 2007 deadline was approaching, the European Commission realised that it would not get what it badly wanted: to close a deal with all African regions on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) - basically free-trade pacts.
CSME on slow march
30-Nov-2008
There are growing concerns, regionwide, that the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) project may be in serious danger of not being realised as planned for 2015. It is currently on a slow march.
European Parliamentarian says Pacific EPAs must be changed
29-Nov-2008 The EPA Exposed
A member of the European Parliament has told the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) - European Union (EU) joint parliamentary assembly meeting this week in Port Moresby that free trade deals initialled between the EU and Pacific countries must be changed to reflect the development needs of the region.
Cote d’Ivoire succumbs to EU
29-Nov-2008 IPS
Cote d’Ivoire became the first country in Africa to sign a ’stepping stone’ economic partnership agreement with the European Union this week, prompting fears that the accord will prevent the country from developing closer ties with its neighbours.
Pacific Governments want amendments to EPA
28-Nov-2008
Pacific governments have given early indications they will not sign the current Economic Partnership Agreement with European Union without amendments.
Cote d’Ivoire, EU sign economic partnership agreement
28-Nov-2008
Cote d’Ivoire and the European Union have signed an economic partnership agreement to promote bilateral trade, which the European bloc sees as an example for other West African countries to follow.
European Parliamentarian says Pacific EPAs must be changed
28-Nov-2008
Concerns have been raised that the European Commission should allow Pacific countries to use export taxes for development purposes and that Economic Partnership Agreements should include adequate protection for infant industries.
SA farm, fish sectors face EU exports
27-Nov-2008 Business Day
Several hundred product lines, mostly in the agricultural, agro-processing and fishing sectors in South Africa, may face increased competition from the European Union.
Indian groups call for a halt on secret EU-India FTA negotiations
26-Nov-2008
Indian organizations representing NGOs, farmers groups, trade unions, health groups and peoples’ movements are calling for an immediate halt to negotiations between India and the European Union on a far reaching Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that will have an adverse impact on livelihoods, food security and access to healthcare.
EU, Syria to initial Association Agreement next month
26-Nov-2008 Xinhua
The European Commission and Syria announced here Tuesday that they are set to initial the Association Agreement in Damascus on Dec. 14 after they agreed on all issues regarding the update of the draft document, which was reached in 2004.
GCC and Europe FTA in few weeks
25-Nov-2008 Business 24/7
The Free Trade Agreement between European Union and GCC states will be signed within few weeks, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy, has said.
AU brushes aside colonialism under its nose
24-Nov-2008 Daily Nation
The European Union is veering toward condoning colonialism. Worse, the African Union hardly notices. Meanwhile, the United Nations limps in pursuit of Morocco-occupied Western Sahara’s de-colonisation.
Andean indigenous reject FTA with Europe
24-Nov-2008 Prensa Latina
The Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organizations (CAOI) ratified rejection of a free trade agreement that governments of Colombia and Peru want to sign with the European Union. This reiteration is contained in a letter CAOI representative Miguel Palacin addressed to Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde, referring to the latter’s threats to expel Bolivian social leaders allegedly in Peru to take part in protests against the agreement.