Trade policy
Towards a coherent fair trade policy: fair trade demands to European decision makers
The need for a coherent European fair trade policy
Authors:
; FLO; NEWS; EFTA; IFAT
Publisher:
The International Fair Trade Association , 2005
This brief highlights the need for a coherent European fair trade policy. While producers, consumers and businesses are key to the success of fair trade, the paper argues, European Institutions also have a critical role to play.
While some European governments and many local authorities have developed programmes and policies for the promotion of Fair Trade, there is currently no comprehensive European-wide Fair Trade strategy or co-ordination. Yet, a joint effort of European Institutions, however lead to a significant growth in awareness and in the demand of Fair Trade products in the EU.
The paper therefore recommends the European Commission to start:
- increasing public awareness and information about Fair Trade in Europe
- promoting Fair Procurement in the European Union by developing and implementing sustainable purchasing policies within the European Institutions
- supporting small and marginalised producers in developing countries through technical assistance or capacity building
- moving towards a fair European trade policy by creating a coherence between European trade and development policies
- strengthening corporate accountability by building upon the lessons emerging in relation to CSR initiatives in determining those which deliver positive social impacts and those that backfire on their stated social objectives
- ensuring co-ordination and coherence of EU policies on Fair Trade by establishing a central contact point for Fair Trade within the European Commission and ensuring regular co-ordination on Fair Trade among different services.
