Brussels, 04/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The green light given by the Council to the multi-partite free-trade agreement between the EU, Colombia and Peru has stirred up criticism from the South American civil society networks, which deplore the lack of clarity on the mechanisms for triggering the human rights clause.
The European Latin American civil society networks OIDHACO, Grupo Sur and ALOP have all been vocal, after the Trade Ministers on 31 May green-lit the signature and provisional application of the multi-partite free-trade agreement with Colombia and Peru, which was initialled in March 2011, denouncing the priority the EU has given to business over human rights. “With this decision the European Council seems to ignore the deep controversy linked to this agreement. The EU did not provide us with convincing answers to the concerns raised by the European and Latin American organisations”, says OIDHACO, criticising the fact that there are “no mechanisms to ensure that the agreement will not increase the pressure on the environment, social conflicts and human rights violations” and the lack of “clarity on the mechanisms allowing to activate the human rights clause”. “These and many other questions need to be brought to a democratic debate through the national parliaments of the 27 prior to any implementation”, OIDHACO stresses. The provisional application of the agreement “will also exert pressure on the national parliaments for them to vote in favour”, states the organisation Grupo Sur, arguing that this is “unacceptable”. “The European Council should therefore bear the political responsibility for the human rights violations and negative environmental and social impacts that might occur during the provisional implementation”, the NGO stresses.
The multi-partite agreement between the EU, Colombia and Peru now needs the consent of the European Parliament, where the committee on international trade is to give its recommendation in July, ahead of a plenary vote in September. The provisional application of the agreement may start by the end of the year, possibly in the autumn. In a resolution adopted on 30 May, the European Parliament international trade committee calls for the agreement to be linked to a binding roadmap to guarantee the protection of employment rights, human rights and environmental rights in both countries. (EH/transl.fl)