The European Union (EU), in accepting a deadline for ending agricultural and export subsidies in 2013, is a long way from achieving similar action by the United States (in particular on cotton) and Japan.

The political weakness of the EU is more and more evident. Its isolation throughout the week, and its difficulty in activating new alliances with the developing countries represented by the G-90 group, is worrying.

Employment is largely absent in this deal. No instruments have been put forward for measuring the impact on jobs of the agreements in the three pillars: agriculture, non-agricultural market access, and services.

Furthermore, once again governments have refused to include a reference to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and to social rights and employment standards. The violation of fundamental civil, political and social rights is still not recognised as a violation of the international political order and thus of the agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The Doha Round was supposed to focus on development. The ETUC believes that this is far from the case. In failing to integrate development needs into the negotiation pillars, the consequences of this deal could be disastrous for the least developed countries (LDC).

The ETUC is committed over the coming months to expressing and defending these opinions, plus alternative options and greater transparency in the international socio-economic debate, especially in Geneva and within the EU. The vital issues for humanity such as sustainable development, promoting social and environmental rights and safeguarding public health must not be missing from the WTO negotiations.