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BackThe Free Trade Agreement of the EU with Peru and Colombia was scrutinised during a hearing in the Trade Committee of the European Parliament. Whilst EU Trade Commissioner De Gucht praised the Agreement as the engine for growth for the European economy and the Latin American countries involved, the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas argued that the Agreement hardly took any social, labour related and ecological issues into consideration.
EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht is convinced that the Free Trade Agreement with Peru and Colombia will benefit all trading partners involved. The Agreement was an important step for Europe to benefit in particular in economically challenging times from the economic liberalization. It would safe European exporters at least 250 million Euros p.a. in customs duties. Apart from that, the Agreement would lead Peru and Colombia on the path to more wealth as well as political and social stability. De Gucht referred to studies, which indicate that the Free Trade Agreement will help Colombia’s GDP to grow by 1.3 percent and those of Peru to rise by 0.7 percent in the long run.
The Federation of Industries at European level, BusinessEurope, also voiced strong support for the Trade Agreement. Adrian van den Hoven, Director of the Department for International Relations of the organisation, commented that in view of the strong competition of the USA and Asia on the Latin American market it would be important that the Agreement would enable the European economy to develop further relationships in the region. BusinessEurope supports the adherence and implementation of ILO obligations by the contractual partners; it was also important to implement the Chapter on Sustainable Development in the Agreement.
In contrast, Eduardo Estévez Martín, Advisor to the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA), urged the MEPs not to ratify the Free Trade Agreement. The trade union representative was in favour of restructuring the debate on the relations between the European Union and Latin America and not to exclusively limit it to free trade. After all, the aim was a joint future with ecological sustainability, higher wages, decent working conditions, occupational safety and health and good quality of life. However, the only issues the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement were concerned with were the accumulation of wealth and to drive forward privatisation. The Agreement would give more power to large transnational corporations. Apart from that, it would be important to support the indigenous population and to protect local agriculture instead of only promoting the export of raw materials for the ethanol production. Eduardo Estévez Martín also pointed out that the Agreement would not stop the violence towards trade unionists in Columbia.
Horacio Guido, Director, International Labour Standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), explained that brutal attacks on trade unionists and the lack of prosecution would be a massive problem in Colombia. Since the nineties, about 250 trade unionists had been murdered every year. Even though the number of murders had been decreased and convictions had been increased, the situation for trade unions would nevertheless continue to give cause for concern. In addition, there were various cases of discrimination against trade unionists in Peru, both in the public and in the private sector, as well as obstructions of collective bargaining activities.
The Agreement is scheduled to be signed by the Council of the EU in April. In addition, the EU Parliament has to ratify the Free Trade Agreement prior to it coming into force; the conclusion of the Agreements has been planned for the autumn.
The Federation of Industries at European level, BusinessEurope, also voiced strong support for the Trade Agreement. Adrian van den Hoven, Director of the Department for International Relations of the organisation, commented that in view of the strong competition of the USA and Asia on the Latin American market it would be important that the Agreement would enable the European economy to develop further relationships in the region. BusinessEurope supports the adherence and implementation of ILO obligations by the contractual partners; it was also important to implement the Chapter on Sustainable Development in the Agreement.
In contrast, Eduardo Estévez Martín, Advisor to the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA), urged the MEPs not to ratify the Free Trade Agreement. The trade union representative was in favour of restructuring the debate on the relations between the European Union and Latin America and not to exclusively limit it to free trade. After all, the aim was a joint future with ecological sustainability, higher wages, decent working conditions, occupational safety and health and good quality of life. However, the only issues the negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement were concerned with were the accumulation of wealth and to drive forward privatisation. The Agreement would give more power to large transnational corporations. Apart from that, it would be important to support the indigenous population and to protect local agriculture instead of only promoting the export of raw materials for the ethanol production. Eduardo Estévez Martín also pointed out that the Agreement would not stop the violence towards trade unionists in Columbia.
Horacio Guido, Director, International Labour Standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), explained that brutal attacks on trade unionists and the lack of prosecution would be a massive problem in Colombia. Since the nineties, about 250 trade unionists had been murdered every year. Even though the number of murders had been decreased and convictions had been increased, the situation for trade unions would nevertheless continue to give cause for concern. In addition, there were various cases of discrimination against trade unionists in Peru, both in the public and in the private sector, as well as obstructions of collective bargaining activities.
The Agreement is scheduled to be signed by the Council of the EU in April. In addition, the EU Parliament has to ratify the Free Trade Agreement prior to it coming into force; the conclusion of the Agreements has been planned for the autumn.