Social justice instead of boundless liberalisation – towards a sustainable EU trade policy

Up to 100,000 jobs in cattle-producing plants in Europe are endangered by the current TTIP negotiations. No information is available so far regarding the impact on other sectors. The fruit and vegetables chain, with more than two million workers employed in the EU, is also a sensitive sector. Yet the jobs of about 10 million agricultural workers are of little importance in the proposals put forward by the European Commission. “The persons concerned are experiencing first-hand how the winners of globalisation fill their pockets while no real adaptation measures are granted to the victims of globalisation. The feeling of being on the losers’ side stirs up Europe-scepticism and jeopardises social cohesion in Europe” stated EFFAT Agriculture Secretary Arnd SPAHN. EFFAT Agriculture President Antonio Perianes therefore demands the implementation of a concept for a sustainable trade policy, which will help not only the economy but also people and the environment. EFFAT would like to contribute to the implementation of this concept.

The background of the debate were talks on “Agriculture and international trade policy” between the Directorate-General for Agriculture at the European Commission and around 70 representatives from various social areas. EFFAT presented its position on the major current trading activities of the EU (CETA, TTIP and Mercosur) and focused on the impact of these negotiations on social standards, employment and political consequence