EESC Section for External Relations

On 7 April 2011 a meeting of the Section for External Relations (REX) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) was held under the chairmanship of Mr. Sandy Boyle. The guest speaker was Ms. Delphine Sallard, Head of Internal Audit Capability, Directorate General for Trade, European Commission.

The REX members discussed and adopted opinion REX/313 on "Sustainability impact assessments (SIA) and EU trade policy":

In its Communication on Trade, Growth and World Affairs, the European Commission states that it wishes to intensify its consultations with stakeholders and civil society with a view to assessing the impact of trade policies on sustainable development more effectively. Aware of the pioneering role played by DG Trade through the introduction of sustainability impact assessments (SIAs), the EESC is pleased that the Commission is reviving the discussions to examine the achievements of the method but also to seek to overcome its limitations and weaknesses. In this exploratory opinion, the EESC focuses on proposals intended to improve the system's performance and to clarify its aims. It seeks to respond to questioning as to the social and political purpose of SIAs.
To this end, the EESC believes that it is crucial that all trade agreements henceforth include a monitoring mechanism which involves civil society, as the only way to guarantee that honouring of commitments and the risks and opportunities presented by the opening-up of trade in terms of sustainable development are monitored. This mechanism is essential to the proposed dynamic approach, enabling the risks and opportunities identified in the initial study to be re-assessed according to given timetables.
In order to organise a renewed participatory process, the EESC recommends that:
- the assessment remain accessible at all stages to all interested parties and partner countries and be accompanied by a concise report,
- the consultation be organised according to the different stages of the cycle, open to all interested parties from civil society and provided with adequate financial resources,
- the EESC be able to participate upstream by means of an opinion on the choice of indicators, the identification of consultants and the consultation methods,
- an EESC opinion be sought on the "analysis of consequences" submitted to the European Parliament and the Council,
- the EESC be recognised as an important partner for organising consultations and follow up with the civil societies of the partner countries, in cooperation with the EU delegations,
- the EESC act as a facilitator to ensure that the consultation with civil society regarding the impact assessment be coordinated with the future implementation of the follow-up mechanisms laid down in agreements,
- the ex-post evaluation take account of the interim reports of the monitoring committee.

Vladimíra Drbalová
International Organisations and EU Affairs
EESC member