EU-Central America negotiations: fundamental righs have to be on the agenda
With a view to the seventh negotiation round between the European Union (EU) and Central America, set to begin on 30 March 2009 in Tegucigalpa (Honduras), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has sent an open letter to the EU Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton. The open letter was drawn up together with the Central American trade union organisations.
With this open letter, the trade union movement expresses its discontent over the way the negotiations are proceeding and the limited participation of civil society in these negotiations. The proposal for a social chapter, tabled several months ago by the trade unions as a way of guaranteeing socio-professional rights, have not been taken into account to date.
ETUC considers it very serious for an association agreement to be signed without there being any guarantees concerning the cessation of violations of human rights and trade union rights in the Central American countries. Juan Moreno will represent the ETUC at the EU-Central America Trade Union Conference to be held in Guatemala in April in order to evaluate the results of the Tegucigalpa round negotiations.
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