Strasbourg, 13/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - With just 5 votes in favour (253 for and 248 against), the European Parliament has adopted a draft resolution on the Porto Alegre and Davos Forums, which was submitted by the EPP-ED and ELDR, whereas the common proposal put forward by the PES, Greens/EFA and GUE/NGL was rejected. This resolution means that the European Parliament "subscribes to the fundamental principle in which free trade, the spirit of enterprise, competition, sustainable development and the utilisation of new technology constitute the essential means for creating long term sustainable growth in the world". The EP is also highlighting that "accession" to the Lisbon and Göteborg agendas is the best way of simultaneously achieving economic growth and sustainable development and regrets that the rhythm of reforms in 2002 remained so slow". The EP "considers that companies share responsibility for creating an economic future that is more humane and sustainable, by respecting minimum standards in working conditions and environmental conservation, which should be a the centre of their corporate strategies". The resolution also stresses "that it is essential to enhance commercial capability in developing countries in order for them to benefit from the trends towards globalisation".
In a very different tone, the resolution that was rejected emphasised the importance of the Social Forum of Davos and stressed that, "the next conference of the World Trade Organisation in Cancun should be, for the European Union, the occasion for affirming that international trade policy has to take into account social and environmental constraints and that the international trade and financial systems have to be reformed in depth in order to respond to democratic imperatives".