25/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - ALDE, bilateral and multilateral agreements tested by social and environmental standards. The Liberals and Democrats of the European Parliament held a seminar on Wednesday 25 May on the increasing role of social, environmental, human rights and corporate social responsibility clauses in the commercial negotiations carried out by the EU. “Freedom, fairness and sustainability must be central to the EU's trade agenda. With the new powers which the Parliament has under Lisbon, it is important for Liberal and Democrat MEPs to ensure that trade objectives are not pursued at the expense of the environment or human rights”, stressed British MEP Catherine Bearder in a press release. “I am convinced that liberalising global markets and respecting standards do not contradict each other and that we will be able to strike a balance that fosters the EU's competitiveness and respects international standards”, added her German colleague, Michael Theurer. (E.H./transl.fl)