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Press Release Campaigners mobilise in London as
part of worldwide day of action against Europe’s free trade deals
Hundreds
of campaigners from across the UK will visit all 26 European embassies in
London tomorrow (19 April) to protest against free trade deals being
negotiated by the European Union (EU) that could have a devastating
impact on millions of the world’s poorest people. Similar actions will take place in over 30
countries worldwide as civil society, farmers and workers rally against
the EU’s proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with 76
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
In
the UK, participants will gather under the banner of the Trade Justice
Movement, which includes organisations such as CAFOD, Christian Aid,
Friends of the Earth, Tearfund, Traidcraft and Oxfam as well as trade
unions, Fairtrade campaigns and faith groups.
Glen Tarman, coordinator of the Trade
Justice Movement, said: “Trade, under the right
conditions, can help make poverty history. Yet these deals threaten to
undermine poverty reduction and destroy livelihoods across Africa, the
Caribbean and the Pacific. Europe’s proposals would not boost
development – in many cases they would make people poorer.” “Europe is demanding that poor countries radically open
their markets and make major concessions on new issues such as
investment, which have been rejected by developing countries at the
World Trade Organisation. This would destroy livelihoods, undermine
future economic growth and deprive poor countries of the space they need
to choose the best solutions to end poverty and protect the
environment.” Campaigners will start at the German embassy in Belgrave
Square, where they will ask the current holder of the EU Presidency, to
use its influence to make sure the new trade deals, due to be completed
this year, promote – rather than undermine – development. Chancellor
Angela
Merkel has pledged to make development a cornerstone of Germany’s
presidency. After an initial meeting with German embassy representatives,
campaigners will visit other EU embassies, the UK’s Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) and the London office of the European
Commission. The message
they are hoping the political leaders of EU countries will hear is:
“Europe: Don’t lock Africa into poverty”. Tarman added: “The UK government has voiced its concern
in the past about the process and content of EPAs negotiations. Now more
than ever their intervention matters. We are calling on Alistair Darling, UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, to use his influence in
Europe to stop
unfair deals going ahead. Europe must listen to the concerns of poor
countries and work with them to develop trade
deals that genuinely work for development.” Trade
Justice Movement members argue that any trade deal between the
EU and the ACP should not impose reciprocity and must provide at least
equivalent to existing market access. It should exclude commitments on
services, investment or other trade-related issues and have simplified
rules of origin. The
December 2007 deadline should not be enforced. The EU must commit to
continue existing trade preferences until satisfactory alternative
arrangements are put in place and also guarantee extra aid to help with
adjustment costs, new infrastructure, and other trade related
investments. This aid should not be conditional on signing an EPA. Ends For further information:
Amy Barry, Oxfam, 01865 472313, 07980 664397; Karen Hedges, Christian
Aid, 020 7523 2404, 07814539040; Jonathon Spencer, Tearfund, 020 8943 7901,
07767 473516; or visit www.tjm.org.uk
or www.epa2007.org
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