A-Infos (en) [EXCERPTS] More WTO stuff and time table of main events.

[FoEME-MFTZ Project <mftz@foeme.org>]

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      A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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The European Commission has lauched its sustainability impact assessmen
of the proposed WTO New Round. For the full terms of references of the
EC, see htttp://europa.eu.int/comm/dg01/cawnot01.htm. The assessment is
insufficient as it does not conduct an indepth review of existing WTO
agreement and instutional defiencies and looks at future
liberalisation.  A final report of the SIA will be ready only a week
before the Seattlle Ministerial when the EU ministers have already
decided on the EU’s negotiation mandate. It is also not clear how
results will  be incorporated in the EU’s position. An analysis of the
procedure and content of the SIA still needs to be worked out by NGOs. 

- Consultations with the European Commission: 
The European Commission has scheduled a series of consultation with
civil society for September. Consultations are planned on agriculture,
investment, environment, development and Trade related Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS). The dates and agenda are not yet fixed.
Additionally a meeting of FoE with outgoing trade
commissioner Sir Leon Brittan might be held in early September. 

- Position of Green Eight on trade related aspects of the Helsinki
process 
The Green Eight  (Birdlife International, Climate Network Europe,
European
Environmental Bureau (EEB), FoEE, Greenpeace European Unit, The European
Federation for Transport & Environment, WWF, European Policy Office)
have
presented their view in a paper on integration of environmental policies
on the occassion of the Helsinki Ministerial Conference. In a chapter
global responsibilities, the G 8 agreed that that ‘current problems of
the implementation of WTO agreements and institutional mechanism
urgently need to be reviewed and rectified from a sustainability point
of view. The expansion of WTO into areas where it has no competence
should be prevented. New rules on investment liberalisation or
government procurement should not be negotiated in the WTO”  (for the
full text , see
www.eeb.org/Issues/views_of_environmental_organisat.htm). 

## NEW ACTIVIST’S PUBLICATIONS: 

- Public Citizen Global Trade Watch has published a great WTO booklet:
“A Citizen”s Guide to the WTO – Everything You need to Know to Fight for
Fair Trade” which you can check out, at http: www.tradewatch/.org (Adobe
Acrobat needed!).  

- Corporate Europe Observer: The Millennium Bug: TNC Control over Global
Trade Politics, Issue 4, Special WTO edition, July 1997, web site:
<http://www.xs4all.nl/~ceo> 

 This excellent newsletter focuses on the WTO and corporate lobbying
which has a major role in shaping EU trade policies.  Th newsletter also
focuses on the EU's campaign (led by the EC) for a WTO Millennium Round
and its close partnership with large corporations. And of course they 
introduce the citizen's campaigns against the proposed new round and for
a fundamental review of the WTO system.  Educate yourselves: Information
on WTO and upcoming negotiations by email/websites 
  
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRADE AND THE WTO (plus some
things you didn't even know you needed) compiled by Myriam Vander
Stichele, WTO Coordinator at the Transnational Institute,
Amsterdam.(with little corrections by Alexandra). 

* STOP WTO Round email list. 
This list is moderated by Friends of the Earth International, Corporate
Europe Observatory and Public Citizen and is intended for sharing of
campaign ideas, updates, news on negotiations and other things that will
help in building opposition to the proposed Millennium Round. It is
designed to be a forum for the signatories to the civil society
statement, which has been signed by more than 700 NGOs who oppose the
WTO Millennium Round..  To subscribe, go to http://www.onelist.com, type
in 'StopWTORound' under "Find a Community" and click on 'find it'. 
Click on 'StopWTORound' and you will be able to subscribe. 

To sign the statement  of international civil society opposing a new
round of comprehensive trade negotiations (available in English, French,
Spanish, German, Dutch and other languages), contact Ronnie Hall from
Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland:
ronnieh@foe.co.uk 

*  ICDA impact list: The International Coalition for Development Action
works for social and political change in international trade policies
affecting countries of the South and is particularly of use to NGOs
working on trade issues and the  new WTO negotiations.  To be placed on
the ICDA  WTO impact E-mail list, write to: icda@skynet.be  Or contact
them through their website: www.icda.be 

* ICTSD: The International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development
produces a weekly newsletter called BRIDGES.  This newsletter can be 
received by E-mail, to subscribe write to: majordomo@igc.org.  Leave the
subject line blank. In the body of the message say: subscribe tradedev. 
The ICTSD website is
http://www.ictsd.com.  The site contains ICTSD information, an online
resource center and a calendar of upcoming events. Also, you can access
back issues of Bridges in English, French and Spanish. 

* Focus on the Global South: produces a monthly electronic newsletter,
Focus on Trade, on Apec, WTO and other trade issues.  To subscribe to
the FOCUS-on-Trade mailing list write to: majordomo@igc.apc.org and in
the body of your e-mail message type: subscribe focus-apec.  Their
website is at http:/www.focusweb.org 

* Third World Network: A network of organizations and individuals
involved in issues relating to development, the Third World and North-
South
issues.http://www.twnside.org.sg/souths/twn/trade.htm 

* CUTS: Consumer Unity and Trust Society.  An organisation based in
India and working on trade issues.  Their web site is
http://www.cuts-india.org.  It is currently under construction and will
contain information of particular interest to Southern NGOs. 

* Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) and Friends of the Earth
Europe (FoEE)
compile a free e.mail newsletter entitled Mediterranean Free Trade 
Zone Environment Monitor which you can access through the site
http://foeme.org/mftz or by subscribing by writing to info@foeme.org 

*PGA: People's Global Action against free trade.  An informative web
site which also contains a discussion forum. 
htttp://www.agp.org/agp/en/index.html 

*CEO: Corporate Europe Observatory.  An  Amsterdam-based non-profit
organisation set up to monitor and report on the political activities of
European corporations and
their lobby groups. http://www.xs4all.nl/~ceo  Email: ceo@xs4all.nl 

* ONEWORLD: http://www.oneworld.org/guides/WTO/index.html Website with
articles, news and information on anti WTO activities. For information
about those opposing NGO positions 

* People's Global Action is a world wide movement which opposes free
trade fora and seeks to mobilise efforts against them. They have set up
two e.mail information lists: 
1.  A general information list about the run up to the negotiations, you
will  receive around two e.mails per month.  To subscribe, send a mail
to: 
PGA_Seattle99-subscribe@listbot.com 
2.  A more detailed list which will provide you with regular information
and a 
means of exchange with other groups.  To subscribe write to: 
PGA_Seattle99- owner@listbot.com 

For more information on these lists and on the activities of the PGA,
visit their site:
http://members.aol.com/mwmorrill/pga.htm 

* Public Citizens Global Trade Watch is the Public Citizen division that
fights for international trade and investment policies promoting
government and corporate accountability, consumer health and safety, and
environmental protection through research, lobbying, public education
and the media.  Their website is: http://www.tradewatch.org To subscribe
to their mai-not list, send a message to mstrand@citizen.org 

* ATTAC   Association for the Taxation of financial Transactions for the
benefit of Citizens. This site provides information and a database of
articles and submissions on the WTO and the upcoming round.
http://www.attac.org 

AGRICULTURE 
* IATP: The Institute for Agriculture and Trade policy have two sites: 
- 
http://www.iatp.org for general information on the IATP and its
activities. - 
http://www.newsbulletin.org an online library of IATP publications and
also a "Road to
Seattle" section, giving information on NGO Activities leading up to 
November.  Also, IATP produces and impact list to which you can
subscribe, write to
smurphy@iatp.org and mention the `ag impact' list. 

*GRAIN: Genetic Resources Action International.  A Spain-based
organisation working particularly on BIO Intellectual Property Rights. 
They produce a  newsletter on BIO-IPR.  To subscribe send an e.mail to
bio-ipr-request@cuenet.com,
with "subscribe" as the subject.  Also, see their website 
at http://www.grain.org 

* SEATINI: Southern and Eastern African Trade, Information and
Negotiations Initiative.  This organisation produces an e.mail
newsletter, which can be freely subscribed to.  Write to
seatini.zw@undp.org 

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE WTO 
* TNI: TNI has started a web-site with information about the impact of
the WTO and the studies that have been published about it. The website
gives some general information as well as a special section giving an
overview of WTO impact studies. We would very much like to include more
information, even if in short papers, about the effects of WTO workings
on organisations and people in the South.  Please
contact via internet: http://www.tni.org/wto or contact via e-mail:
stichele@worldcom.nl

WTO: 
http://wto.org  This is the World Trade Organisation's official site. 
Besides information on all of the WTO's activities, this site will also
be the means through which NGOs can apply for accreditation for the
opening and closing sessions of the Seattle negotiations (the only
sessions to which NGOs have access). 
http://wtoseattle.org. This is the web site of the Seattle Host
Organisation which coordinates the practical requirements for those
visiting Seattle for the WTO negotiations.  They can assist NGOs in
areas such as accommodation, rental of conference space for meetings
etc. 

RELATED SITES 
*ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) 
 http:// www.iccwbo.org 
*TACD.  Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue. http://www.tacd.org 

PUBLICATIONS 
BRIDGES (monthly) in English, French and Spanish. Hardcopies of this
ICSTD 
publication can be ordered by: 

English: BRIDGES 
13, chemin des Anemones 1219 Geneva.  Switzerland 
Tel: + 41 22 917 8492 Fax: +41 22 917 8093 e.mail:ictsd@iprolink.ch 

French: PASSERELLES 
Boite Postale 3370 
Dakar, Senegal 
Tel: + 221 821 7037 
Fax: +221822 2695 
e.mail: syspro2@enda.sn 

Spanish: PUENTES 
Casilla 17-17-558 
Quito, Ecuador 
Tel: + 41 22 917 8492 
Fax: +41 22 917 8093 
e.mail: ffla2@fulano.org.ec 
 ## EVENTS 
Stopping the WTO Millennium Round – 
Some important dates in the running up of the 3rd Ministerial Conference 
Please send additions and corrections to FoEE,
alexandra.wandel@foeeurope.org 
   28th-29th July: First meeting of the Committee on Industry, External
Trade,Research and Energy of the European Parliament 

July/August: G-15 trade ministers meetings in India. CUTS organises
parallel event, Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS), contact:
cutsjpr@jp1.dot.net.in 

23th-26th August, Second PGA conference, Bangalore, India, contact:
pga@agp.org 

September- October: national parliaments, European Parliament and
national
ministries discuss EU communication towards an EU mandate for the WTO
Ministerial and next negotiations 

September: series of consultation of the European commission with civil
society on environment, development, agriculture, TRIPS, investment and
investment correspondent network (corporate lobby), contact
alexandra.wandel@foeeurope.org 

10th of September: Potential European NGO strategy meeting to stop the
millennium round, Brussels, contact: ab.ire@wanadoo.fr 

9-10th September; APEC meeting, New Zealand 

15th-17th Friends of the Round meeting, the Netherlands 

16th September; International Day of Action of the Global Citizens
Campaign “ No New Round  - Turnaround” 

17th September: informal Committee 133 to discuss EC communication 

26th September: TURN AROUND THE WTO conference,  Speakers: Caroline
Lucas
MEP (Green Party); Ronnie Hall (Friends of the Earth); Claire Melamed
(Christian Aid). To register contact: 
chris.keene@which.net 

29th September: Brussels: informal committee 133 to discuss Council
conclusions and EC communication 

1st October: informal meeting of trade ministers to discuss EC
communication and future EU negotiation mandate from the Council 

11th October; Decision by the Ministers of General Affairs Council on
the Council conclusions 

11th October EU environment ministers meet 
12th-15th October: Second meeting of the Transatlantic Environment
Dialogue, Washington D.C., contact: taed@eeb.org 

18th-19th October:  EU agriculture minister meet, Luxembourg. 

21st-22nd October: Heinrich Boell Foundation Washington organises a
transatlantic WTO forum with NGOs and parliamentarians, contact
ellen@tidalwave.net 

October: World Conference of La Via Campesina Contact: "Coordination
Paysanne Européenne" cpe@agoranet.be 

29th-30th October: Transatlantic Business Dialogue Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) conference, Berlin 
Activist Gathering, action and press conference, Berlin, contact:
alexandra.wandel@foeeurope.org, paxaran@antenna.nl,
adam@aseedeur.antenna.nl 

5th November, Brussels: Committee 133 meets to discuss Seattle
declaration and negotiation mandate in committee 133 

15th November, Brussels; Foreign Ministers (General Affairs Council)
discusses Seattle declaration 

27th November: The International Forum on Globalization (IFG) is
organizing a Teach-In on the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle,
Washington, contact: :
ladan@ifg.org 

27th November  –2nd December: Citizen Summit Programme  with workshops
and
actions on Environment, Health, TRIPs, Livelihoods, Labor rights, Human
Rights, Standard of living, Big March on the WTO,
Democracy-SovereigntyDevelopment, Women, No Patents on Life , Food and
Agriculture and Food safety/security, contact:
mdolan@citzen.org 

29th November– 3rd December: Third Ministerial Meeting of the WTO in
Seattle at with members of committee 133 and General Affairs Council
will take a formal decision on Seattle declaration and the negotiation
mandate and whether a Millennium Round will take place 

2000 - 2003: Proposed duration of Millennium Round trade negotiations
(although if they go ahead they will most likely last a couple more
years). 

2000 onwards: Continuation of the reviews and negotiations in the WTO's
'built-in agenda' 

LAST CALL for the  
SECOND CONFERENCE OF 
PEOPLES' GLOBAL  ACTION 
AGAINST 'FREE' TRADE AND THE WTO (PGA) 
  
The second PGA conference will take place in Bangalore (India) from the
23rd to the 26th of August 1999. It will be preceded by roundtable
discussions (from the 20th to the 22nd) and accompanied by two rounds of
study trips to areas of struggle in Southern India (15th-19th and
27th-31st August). 

The main objective of the second conference of PGA will be to start an
open debate between social movements and activists about: 
* what functions a tool for international communication and coordination 
like PGA should fulfil 
* how the network should operate 

In its fifteen months of existance, PGA has been functioning mainly by
the initiative of relatively few movements and activists, although it
enjoys 
the support of many more. Now it is time to 
* look back at the achievements and failures of this period, 
* analyse how things have been done (and not done) in the first phase of
this process,

* rethink what kind of international communication and coordination is
wished/needed
by those who identify themselves with the network, and 
* discuss how to improve the PGA process to get it closer to what we
want it to be. 

Of course, this debate will take place on the basis of the four
hallmarks of the PGA: 
* rejection of global capitalism and its regulating mechanisms, such as
the WTO; 
* a confrontational attitude towards them - neither lobby nor reformism; 
* a call to non-violent direct action, civil disobedience and the
construction of local alternatives by local communities; 
* an organisational philosophy based on decentralisation and autonomy. 

One of the aims of the conference is to prepare the global resistance to
the Third Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (WTO),
which will take place in Seattle (USA) from the 29th of November to the
3rd of December 99. This conference is expected to mark the starting
point of a new round of negotiations (the so-called Millennium Round)
aimed at expanding the powers of the WTO regime, strengthening the
private property over life forms, accelerating the destruction of the
peasantry due to the liberalisation of agricultural trade, and inserting
a MAI-like
agreementinto the WTO regime. Diverse groups and organisations in the
USA are now preparing a caravan of representatives of movements from
different continents just before the WTO conference, to raise awareness
about these issues (contact PGA_Seattle99-owner@listbot.com for more
details). 

To obtain more information please visit www.agp.org or send an empty
email to bangalore_en@artamis.org and you will get automatically a
comprehensive set of information on the conference, the roundtable
discussions, the study trips, the flights to India, the participation
fees, etc. (If this does not work, please email pga@agp.org) 

Contact: 
Peoples' Global Action          pga@agp.org 
against 'Free' Trade            www.agp.org 
and the WTO (PGA) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  

This WTO update was brought to you by 
Alexandra Wandel, 
Coordinator for Europe and the Middle East 
for FoEI’s Trade, Environment and Sustainability Programme (TES) 
Friends of the Earth  Europe - Les Amis de la Terre Europe 
29,  rue Blanche - 1060 Bruxelles 
Tel: +32-2-5420185 - Fax: +32-2-553796 – 
Email: alexandra.wandel@foeeurope.org – http: www.foeeurope.org

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