The ETUC condemns EU Trade preferences decision
Today’s decision by the European Commission to grant special trade preferences to some of the world’s worst violators of trade union rights shows serious incoherence in the EU’s stated policy of using positive incentives to get its trading partners to respect workers’ rights, according to the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The decision involves giving special trade benefits to 15 countries* under the European Union’s new special incentive arrangement (“GSP+” incentive).
The GSP-plus trade regime gives preferential access to European markets for goods and services originating in developing countries that meet certain international criteria, including respect for core ILO Conventions (freedom of association, collective bargaining, non-discrimination in employment and ending of child and forced labour).
“The Commission cannot ignore one of the cornerstones of its GSP system and indeed of the EU’s fundamental values, respect for basic labour rights, and award special trade preferences to these 15 countries, each of which has been criticised by the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) ” said ETUC General Secretary John Monks.
He added “Now that the decision has been taken, we expect the Commission to ensure that recipient countries accept and comply fully with the monitoring and review mechanisms envisaged in the relevant conventions and related instruments”
The ETUC joined with international trade union confederations ICFTU and WCL in expressing concern at the EU’s decision. The joint statement can be found at: www.icftu.org
* The countries are: Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Moldova, Mongolia Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.
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