Brussels Rural Development Briefings A series of meetings on ACP-EU development issues Briefing session n° 5: Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development? Brussels, 16th April 2008 8h30 – 12h30 http://brusselsbriefings.net Co 2 offset through

Brussels Rural Development Briefings A series of meetings on ACP-EU development issues

Briefing session n° 5:

Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?

Brussels, 16th April 2008

8h30 – 12h30

http://brusselsbriefings.net

Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development? Programme and Objectives of the Meeting, Ms Isolina Boto, CTA Introductory remarks Dr Hansjörg Neun, Director of CTA Ms Liselotte Isaksson, DG Development, European Commission Mr Viwanou Gnassounou, Dept of Sustainable Economic Development, ACP Secretariat Co 2 offset through

Does Fair Trade contribute to sustainable development?

Programme and Objectives of the Meeting, Ms Isolina Boto, CTA

Introductory remarks

Dr Hansjörg Neun, Director of CTA

Ms Liselotte Isaksson, DG Development, European Commission

Mr Viwanou Gnassounou, Dept of Sustainable Economic Development,

ACP Secretariat

Context Current market prices are not favorable to small-scale producers who cannot compete in the international markets. Alternative approaches, which offer market access under fairer conditions to ACP small producers, need to be considered. Increases in Fair Trade sales show that consumers are willing to pay more for products that help people in developing countries to improve their standard of living and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Context

Current market prices are not favorable to small-scale producers who cannot compete in the international markets.

Alternative approaches, which offer market access under fairer conditions to ACP small producers, need to be considered.

Increases in Fair Trade sales show that consumers are willing to pay more for products that help people in developing countries to improve their standard of living and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Divergent views Is Fair Trade contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable development through better market access, farmer’s empowerment and support to community development projects? By setting minimum prices, i s Fair Trade creating price distortion, hampering diversification, encouraging market inefficiencies and contributing to overproduction?

Divergent views

Is Fair Trade contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable development through better market access, farmer’s empowerment and support to community development projects?

By setting minimum prices, i s Fair Trade creating price distortion, hampering diversification, encouraging market inefficiencies and contributing to overproduction?

Objectives of this Briefing To raise awareness on existing and emerging key challenges on Fair Trade To promote exchange of information and expertise sharing To feed in the debate on Fair Trade by bringing various perspectives around the table

Objectives of this Briefing

To raise awareness on existing and emerging key challenges on Fair Trade

To promote exchange of information and expertise sharing

To feed in the debate on Fair Trade by bringing various perspectives around the table

Programme Panel 1: Can Fair Trade contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development? This panel will bring various perspectives to key issues of Fair Trade initiatives from a market access perspective, including social and environmental impacts.

Programme

Panel 1: Can Fair Trade contribute to poverty

reduction and sustainable development?

This panel will bring various perspectives to key

issues of Fair Trade initiatives from a market

access perspective, including social and

environmental impacts.

Panel 2: Can Fair Trade better link ACP producers to northern consumers? This panel will discuss public sector support for farmers engaging in Fair Trade production and public and private partnerships in support of sustainable Trade and consumer’s awareness.

Panel 2: Can Fair Trade better link ACP

producers to northern consumers?

This panel will discuss public sector support for

farmers engaging in Fair Trade production and

public and private partnerships in support of

sustainable Trade and consumer’s awareness.

Target group ACP-EU policy makers, representatives of EU and ACP Member States, European Parliament, civil society groups, researchers and development practitioners, international organisations based in Brussels.

Target group

ACP-EU policy makers, representatives of EU and

ACP Member States, European Parliament, civil

society groups, researchers and development

practitioners, international organisations based in

Brussels.

Participants

Participants

Inputs/Outputs A Reader/Resources on Climate Change Summary of key issues on Fair Trade Documents available online Websites Acronyms Glossary … To be complemented and further developed

Inputs/Outputs

A Reader/Resources on Climate Change

Summary of key issues on Fair Trade

Documents available online

Websites

Acronyms

Glossary

… To be complemented and further developed

Online resources Read presentations, consult documents, listen to interviews, view videos, make comments before, during and after the meetings at: http://brusselsbriefings.net/ (English) http://bruxellesbriefings.net (French)

Online resources

Read presentations, consult documents,

listen to interviews, view videos, make

comments before, during and after

the meetings at:

http://brusselsbriefings.net/ (English)

http://bruxellesbriefings.net (French)