Brussels, 03/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - In a press released published on Wednesday in the run-up to the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, Friends of the Earth International, Greenpeace International, Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED), the Sierra Club and Third World Network have called on governments to "ensure that Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) are not subordinated to or undermined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO)". The NGOs point out that some governments have claimed that MEAs are not compatible with WTO rules and that it was decided in Doha to launch negotiations on the relationship between MEAs and trade rules (initial results of which are expected in mid 2003). Fearing that the outcome may not be positive for the future development of MEAs, the NGOs see the Earth Summit as a unique chance for governments to "reaffirm the authority and autonomy of MEAs and clarify that the objectives, principles and provisions of MEAs must not be subordinated to WTO rules.