Global gathering says 'NO' to EU Free Trade Agreements

April 2008

6 April 2008 (All day) - 11 April 2008 (All day)

More than 50 prominent civil society activists from across the globe (Africa, Asia, Latin America and US) will be in Brussels from 6 April for a week of action and debate on the Free Trade Agreements at the heart of the EU’s Global Europe strategy.

These include farmers, representatives of social movements, environmentalists, members of women’s organisations, NGO activists and trade unionists.

See the whole agenda for the Week of strategy and action against EU FTAs Brussels, 6-11 April 2

Location

Brussels, Belgium

These include farmers, representatives of social movements, environmentalists, members of women’s organisations, NGO activists and trade unionists.

See the whole agenda for the Week of strategy and action against EU FTAs Brussels, 6-11 April 2008

Various spokespeople will be available for interview from 6 to 10 April, including:

* Charles Santiago, member of the Malaysian Parliament, and an expert on EU-ASEAN trade talks

* Gyekye Tanoh of Third World Network-Africa and Dot Keet of the Africa Trade Network, who will discuss the controversial Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific regions

* Carlos Aguilar of the Hemispheric Social Alliance, which brings together social movements from across the Americas, will discuss EU-CAN (Community of Andean ations) and EU-Central America free trade negotiations

* Aehwa Kim of the Korean Alliance against FTAs, a wide network of trade unions, farmers’ groups and civil society organisations

* John Hilary is Director of Campaigns and Policy at War on Want. He is the author of numerous publications on international trade, specialising in the impact of trade agreements on employment and development prospects in the South and in the EU.

A series of events and photo opportunities are also being arranged. These include:

* Photo opportunity at Rond-Point Schuman on Wednesday 9 April from 13.30 to 14.30
* Public Hearing at the European Parliament, Wednesday 9 April from 9.00 til 13.00

Further information

John Hilary, War on Want, UK (speaks EN)
UK mobile: +44 7983 550727

Marc Maes, 11.11.11, Belgium (speaks EN, FR, NL)
Belgian mobile: +32 497 600 442

Annelies Schorpion, COAG, Belgium (speaks EN, ES, FR)
Belgian mobile: +32 474 84 72 80

Programme and registration form of EP Public Hearing available at www.s2bnetwork.org