Brussels, 17/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - The free-trade negotiations between the EU and the United States offer a unique opportunity to find a solution for the innovative and ambitious inclusion of labour rights in trade agreements. This was the general message sent out by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) following a roundtable with representatives of the Commission, employers and unions, the ILO and civil society, in Brussels on Thursday 13 November.
The participants agreed that the provisions on labour in the TTIP should go beyond the fundamental ILO standards. Although all participants recognised the binding nature of these provisions, their opinions differed over the application mechanisms and the need for commercial sanctions in the event of failure to respect these provisions in the TTIP. The civil society representatives argued in favour of a joint supervision mechanism with the institutes to ensure compliance with these provisions. (EH)