Transparency in European trade policy-making

December 2003

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European trade policy-making is an opaque process. The European - and indeed most Member State - Parliaments are excluded. In the wake of the collapse of the fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in Cancun, questions are being asked by parliamentarians and others in Member States about the perceived lack of transparency and democratic accountability exercised in the course of developing EU trade positions. The ongoing discussions on a European Constitution provide a good opportunity to address these issues in a systematic manner.

"Sustainable development should become the central objective of all sectors and policies" (Communication from the Commission: A Sustainable Europe for a Better World: A European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development; COM(2001)264 final, p. 6). A first, and powerful, step towards ensuring that EU trade policy reflects this aim is to increase the transparency and democratic accountability of the process. Greater Coherence of decisions must be ensured by the involvement of departments dealing with issues related to Sustainable Development in the European Commission as well as in national governments. Greater parliamentary involvement is crucial but cannot be limited to ex-post-assent to a done deal after a lengthy round of trade negotiations. In addition, the internal processes of the 133 Committee must be reformed in a way to allow for sufficient participation of and consultation with other Committees, Directorates General and Parliamentarians.

As members of European civil society, we therefore call on the European Commission, European Parliament and governments and parliaments of Member States to take the following actions:

• European Parliament's involvement in trade policy decision-making should be increased. Besides assent on the conclusion of trade agreements this should include provisions for ex ante consultation on negotiating mandates and proposals, and the formal use of Parliamentary resolutions on trade as guidelines during negotiations. The Parliament should have the right to be informed on the progress of the negotiations
• Member States should undertake to review provisions for transparency and accountability at a national level.  These provisions should include a requirement for Economic and Trade Ministries to fully consult with other government departments at home, with national parliaments, and with other stakeholders - following the example of at least one Member State.  Such consultation should proceed from the premise that trade policy is an instrument to deliver on other policy-goals.
• In view of the recognition of the EU that "Sustainable development should become the central objective of all sectors and policies", it is essential that relevant Departments in other Directorates General have the proper capacity to contribute to the shaping of EU trade policy.  We urge MEPs to increase the budget and staff of these departments to allow for this.
• In view of the critical importance of trade policy for sustainable development, Council Working Groups on Development and on Environment should be formally consulted in the course of shaping EU trade policy.

• Proposals for the Committee 133 should be produced and circulated in a timely manner to allow for full consultation with other Directorates General, and the completion of consultative processes in Member States, prior to their discussion. The current '10 day' rule is inadequate in this regard.
• The agendas of Committee 133 meetings should be made public prior to their taking place and the results, including the list of participants, published after each meeting.
• In accordance with its greater involvement in external trade, members of the relevant Committees of the European Parliament  should participate in the 133 Committee as called for by the European Parliament in its resolution 2001/2093(INI).

• APRODEV, Association of World Council of Churches related Development Organisations in Europe, Brussels
• BirdLife International, Brussels
• CAFOD, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, London
• CIDSE - Cooperation Internationale pour le Developpement et Solidarite, Brussels
• Cordaid, The Hague
• CEO, Corporate Europe Observatory, Amsterdam
• EED, Church Development Service, Bonn
• Fimarc, International Federation of Rural Adult Catholic Movements, Assesse
• Friends of the Earth Europe, Brussels
• Germanwatch, Bonn/Berlin
• Greenpeace, Brussels
• ICDA, International Coalition for Development Action, Brussels
• Misereor, Aachen
• Quaker Councilfor European Affairs, Brussels
• Traidcraft, Tyne Wear
• Transparency International, German Chapter, Berlin
• WIDE, Network Women in Development Europe, Brussels
• World Development Movement, London
• WWF, Worldwide Fund for Nature, Brussels