STOP MAI

MEDIA RELEASE -for immediate release, 14 June, 2001 Authorised by the STOP-MAI Campaign Coalition (WA) Website http://members.iinet.net.au/~jenks/fair.html Affiliated with the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTInet) and with the World Social Forum (WSF)

EU Summit: Civil Society calls on EU to
withdraw new WTO round proposal

On the eve of the European Union (EU) summit in Gothenborg, over 60 civil society groups from all around the world are today launching a statement calling on the EU to withdraw its proposal for a new and comprehensive round of trade talks in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Instead, the EU is urged to take the lead in calling for fundamental change in the world’s trading system, in line with its own sustainable development and human rights objectives.

The signatories from 25 countries argue that the EU’s proposal remains virtually unchanged since the WTO’s last Ministerial in Seattle in December 1999, when it contributed to the collapse of negotiations due to the unprecedented opposition from developing countries and civil society groups. In the statement, NGOs warn that the same tensions could cause the collapse of the 4th WTO Ministerial to be held in Doha, Qatar from 9-13 November 2001.

The statement says 'A new round is not inevitable. Furthermore, mandated negotiations already under way are sufficiently controversial, having the potential to have severe negative impacts on people, the environment and local economies in both the North and the South.'

Signatories urge the EU to start calling on WTO members to commission an independent review of and to rectify the deficiencies of the world trade system and the WTO itself. Such a review should address the WTO’s impact on marginalised communities, development, democracy, environment, health, human rights, the rights of women and children and labour and consumer rights.

The complete statement and the list of signatories is at internet site http://www.foeeurope.org

Contacts in Gothenborg: Alexandra Wandel, Friends of the Earth Europe (in Gothenborg until 16 June), tel: +49-172-748 39 53; Klas Ronnback, Miljoforbundet Jordens Vanner/Friends of the Earth Sweden, tel:+46-739-057760

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PHONE CONTACTS: Brian Jenkins +61 8 9528 1864; Dion Giles 0411 745 538