Arthur Morgan
Ceist:181 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to introduce human rights proofing for trade policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24967/03]
Written Answers. - Trade Policy.
The European Union, including Ireland, operates a common commercial policy. In line with this policy, the EU is committed to promote the international dialogue on the interaction between trade and social issues. While at the international level there is no consensus for a discussion on these matters in the WTO, nor in the ILO, the EU continues to pursue its strategy of promoting the respect of social rights via the dialogue and an incentive based approach.
The EU, therefore, welcomed the creation of the world commission on the social dimension of globalisation, under the aegis of the ILO. This commission, which is due to report at the end of this year, has the clear aim of investigating and making recommendations on how to address the possible social shortcomings of globalisation. At the same time, the EU would welcome the reinforcement of the ILO role here.
In bilateral relations with third countries, the EU has sought to advance further the promotion of social rights. In all the most recent EU trade agreements, like the one signed with Chile and the partnership agreement with the ACP – Africa, Caribbean and Pacific – countries, the recognition and promotion of social rights are an integral part of the agreements.
The EU also pursues the promotion of social rights in the trade context in an autonomous way. An example of this is the possibility to grant further trade preferences under the generalised system of preferences, GSP, to those countries that assure the respect of the core labour rights as defined by the ILO.