Brussels, 13/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - How trade policy can contribute to the promotion of decent work, points relating to sustainable development and compliance with social standards in bilateral and multilateral agreements negotiated by the EU were at the centre of the first meeting between European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and European Trade Union Confederation Secretary General John Monks, in Brussels on Tuesday 13 April. In a joint press release published after the meeting, De Gucht commented, “Free trade agreements can open new avenues to secure improvements in the protection of human rights, including labour rights. Trade policy can help, not hinder, legitimate social concerns. With our new agreements with Korea and Colombia, we will be doing just that”. “The EU-Korea trade agreement is on balance a good deal. It must contribute towards the promotion of workers rights. It's important that all Europe's industrial sectors do profit from this agreement and that it creates new jobs. Of course the proof of the pudding is in the eating so our active involvement in monitoring and reviewing all commitments is indispensable,” added Monks. The main concerns raised by the ETUC Secretary General with the Commissioner relate essentially to the trade union and human rights situations in Colombia and the need for these to be borne sufficiently in mind in the EU-Colombia free trade agreement and, at the same time, for pressure to be maintained on the Colombian authorities to improve the situation (see EUROPE 10089 and 10102 on issue of respect for human rights and labour rights in the EU-Colombia FTA). De Gucht stressed the importance of continuing dialogue with Colombia in order to ensure respect for labour rights and he said he intended to closely monitor how well Columbia sticks to its commitments. With regard to the Free Trade Agreement with South Korea, the Commissioner said that a “Domestic Advisory Group” was soon to be established and would include trade union representatives. This group will play an important role in monitoring the sustainable development commitments of the Agreement. De Gucht reiterated his view that sustainable development should be properly reflected in negotiations on EU-India Free Trade Agreement. He and Monks wanted to see the multilateral Doha Round negotiations concluded in 2010 to contribute to sustainable development worldwide. E.H./transl.rt)