EU-Colombia/Peru FTA ratification

On October 10th, a petition was addressed to the European Parliament by
Latin American and European organizations, networks and communities not to ratify thise trade agreement

• See the press release “The people of the two continents, main losers of the EU-Latin America trade agreements”.
• See letter by Latin American and European organizations, networks and
  communities in English, Spanish and French
• See press release in Spanish or in French here

The Association Agreements between the European Union and Central America and the Free Trade Agreement between the EU, Colombia and Peru, will be ratified in the coming months after a controversial negotiation process. The European and Latin American civil society has pointed out on numerous occasions to the European Parliament that these Agreements do not fulfill the minimum criteria to meet the economic imbalance between the two regions or ensure compliance with the main objectives of the EU to promote sustainable development and respect for human rights. Invitation in Spanish

For further information on the consequences of ratifying these agreements, as they have been set out and together with Latin America and European civil society representatives, we invite you to a PRESS CONFERENCE to be held on the 10th OCTOBER AT 11h00 AT SALLE PASSAGE, RESIDENCE PALACE.

SPEAKERS

• Wolfgang Kaleck: General Secretary and co-founder for the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
• Rafael Hernández: Member of the European Coordination Vía Campesina
• Tarsicio Mora Godoy: International Relations Director for the CUT ? Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (Colombian Trade Union Confederation)
• Lourdes Castro: Expert in trade relations European Union / Latin America

Moderator: Gérard Karlshausen, National Centre for Development Cooperation – Belgium – and member of the CopenhagenInitiative for Central America – CIFCA

AATS: Résidence Palace. Passage Room. 155, rue de la Loi ?1040 Brussels
11h00 – SPANISH / ENGLISH / FRENCH

Conveners: ALOP, APRODEV, CIFCA, Bi-regional Network Enlazando Alternativas, 11.11.11-CNCD, OIDHACO, Seattle-to-Brussels Network, Solidarité Socialiste, TNI

In March and April 2011, a delegation of Colombian trade unionists and human rights activists will be visiting Europe for a lobby tour will be received by national campaigns in Germany, Hungary, Austria, Spanish State, Bulgaria, France, Czech Republic, Belgium (tbc) and The Netherlands, to prevent the ratification of the Free Trade Agreement concluded by the EU with Colombia and Peru.

So far, the confirmed participants in the delegation include: Maria Victoria Forero, President of the National Board of Trade Union of Employees of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (SINTRABIENESTAR) which is affiliated to the Confederation of Workers-CUT; Maria del Pilar Silva Garay, lawyer and human rights activist. Linked to the Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo”, a non-governmental human rights organization; Diogenes Orjuela Garcia, Director of the Department of International Relations of the Confederation of Workers-CUT Colombia; Nohora Stella Tovar, Vice President of Federation Fetramecol-metal sector, Mechanical and electrical in Colombia and Executive Secretary of the Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CTC in spanish)

Also, on the occasion of the lobby tour, a broad number of organisations from Europe have published the policy brief “Time for Europe to put values and human rights above commercial advantage. Why EU-Colombia/Peru Free Trade Agreements should not be ratified” available (english and spanish) for download from: www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/EU-Colombia-Peru-FTA%20Policy%20Brief.pdf