# CE2004088EN.01049202.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/492 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/492

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(2004/C 88 E/0505)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0302/04

by Christa Randzio-Plath (PSE) to the Commission

(2 February 2004)

Subject:   Working conditions for female flower workers in Africa, Asia and Latin America

Subject:

Germany is the largest market for cut flowers from Latin America, Asia and Africa. The workers on the plantations in these regions, who are mostly women, tend to receive minimal pay and have uncertain work contracts. Poor working conditions, such as the use of pesticides that are mostly banned in Europe without the workers having access to appropriate protective clothing or other equipment, mean that these workers continue to face serious health risks in the form of cancer, respiratory diseases, miscarriages and birth defects. Female workers who set up or join trade unions are subject to discrimination and repression by plantation management, making it difficult for them to improve their working conditions by their own efforts.

| 1. | To what extent does the Commission feel it politically and technically possible to waive customs duties on imports of goods produced under ecologically and socially acceptable conditions? What other instruments does the Commission feel can be used to discriminate positively in favour of flowers produced and traded fairly? |
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1.

To what extent does the Commission feel it politically and technically possible to waive customs duties on imports of goods produced under ecologically and socially acceptable conditions? What other instruments does the Commission feel can be used to discriminate positively in favour of flowers produced and traded fairly?

| 2. | What other instruments, such as trade and cooperation agreements or the use of development cooperation funds, is the EU using to encourage better working and health conditions in the Third World? |
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2.

What other instruments, such as trade and cooperation agreements or the use of development cooperation funds, is the EU using to encourage better working and health conditions in the Third World?

| 3. | On 24 November 2003, one of the worst chemical accidents in the whole flower industry happened at the Aposentos Flowers plantation in Bogotá, with many workers afflicted. How does the Commission intend to react to this, and what action will it take? |
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3.

On 24 November 2003, one of the worst chemical accidents in the whole flower industry happened at the Aposentos Flowers plantation in Bogotá, with many workers afflicted. How does the Commission intend to react to this, and what action will it take?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 2004)

(1 March 2004)

Respect for human rights, including core labour standards, is a priority for the EU. In its trade policy, the EU promotes the effective application of core labour standards (as defined by ILO Conventions) through positive instruments and notably the General System of Preferences (GSP). Under this system a country can benefit from extra tariff preferences if it complies with internationally agreed core labour standards (basic ILO conventions) or if it implements the substance of internationally acknowledged standards and guidelines concerning sustainable management of tropical forests. Many of the Community's existing bilateral Agreements also refer to the respect for core labour standards, for example, the Cotonou Agreement or the Agreement with Chile. The complementary role of technical assistance in this context is important.

| 1. | Nevertheless, using tariffs and preferential regimes such as the GSP to encourage trade in products with preferable conditions of production presents both technical and political difficulties.
  The technical difficulty is that the product itself may be indistinguishable from one whose conditions of production fall short of the standards the EU would like to encourage, while import duties have to relate to articles which can be distinguished from one another so that customs officials can apply the appropriate duty.
  The political difficulty resides in the fact that there is as yet no agreement between WTO members that it is legitimate to treat one product differently from another on grounds connected with the production process. Sovereign countries regard it as their own prerogative to choose and enforce their own social and environmental regime. Subject to the constraints of international treaties which those countries may have signed, the EU has no scope to dictate these conditions outside its own borders, other than on a contractual basis as a customer for goods. However, WTO members retain the power to develop voluntary measures to discriminate positively in favour of goods produced and traded fairly (for instance by granting a label). |
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1.

Nevertheless, using tariffs and preferential regimes such as the GSP to encourage trade in products with preferable conditions of production presents both technical and political difficulties.

The technical difficulty is that the product itself may be indistinguishable from one whose conditions of production fall short of the standards the EU would like to encourage, while import duties have to relate to articles which can be distinguished from one another so that customs officials can apply the appropriate duty.

The political difficulty resides in the fact that there is as yet no agreement between WTO members that it is legitimate to treat one product differently from another on grounds connected with the production process. Sovereign countries regard it as their own prerogative to choose and enforce their own social and environmental regime. Subject to the constraints of international treaties which those countries may have signed, the EU has no scope to dictate these conditions outside its own borders, other than on a contractual basis as a customer for goods. However, WTO members retain the power to develop voluntary measures to discriminate positively in favour of goods produced and traded fairly (for instance by granting a label).

| 2. | That is why the Commission has watched with interest the development of a ‘Fair flowers’ movement, and the development of fair trade and ethical trade schemes in general. These allow the customer to influence production conditions by only choosing products that match his or her expectations and wishes. The Commission intends to monitor the impact of current schemes and give active consideration to whether any initiative at European level could add to their effectiveness.
  The health situation of agricultural producers is an important theme in the context of development cooperation policy. Specific programmes are always worked out in collaboration with the beneficiary countries. An example of a programme in this area is the Pesticides Initiative Programme (PIP), an all-ACP operation with a budget amounting to EUR 29,12 million. It is managed by ‘COLEACP’ (see: www.coleacp.org) and has the safety of pesticide use as one of its main objectives.
  More generally, for each agreement under negotiation, a Sustainability Impact Assessment is carried out in order to assess potential trade related impacts on the environment, social development and the economies. Poverty, gender equity and health are social dimensions that are appraised in each SIA. Ultimately, integration of SIA results into policy making help ensure increased coherence between trade and development policies and mitigate potential negative effects on disadvantaged social groups.
  The Commission is also actively engaged in the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices focused on developing countries. As well as promoting a number of established CSR instruments, the Commission established the European Multi-Stakeholder Forum on CSR in 2002, following its Communication on CSR (1). The Development Issues Round Table of the Forum has examined a number of issues relevant to sustainable development and the strengthening of social and environmental standards in developing countries. These have included the role of global CSR standards and codes, the possibility of developing sectoral approaches to CSR, the need to develop CSR-awareness at local and regional level, and the importance of ensuring that CSR practices apply throughout the supply chain in developing countries. |
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2.

That is why the Commission has watched with interest the development of a ‘Fair flowers’ movement, and the development of fair trade and ethical trade schemes in general. These allow the customer to influence production conditions by only choosing products that match his or her expectations and wishes. The Commission intends to monitor the impact of current schemes and give active consideration to whether any initiative at European level could add to their effectiveness.

The health situation of agricultural producers is an important theme in the context of development cooperation policy. Specific programmes are always worked out in collaboration with the beneficiary countries. An example of a programme in this area is the Pesticides Initiative Programme (PIP), an all-ACP operation with a budget amounting to EUR 29,12 million. It is managed by ‘COLEACP’ (see: www.coleacp.org) and has the safety of pesticide use as one of its main objectives.

More generally, for each agreement under negotiation, a Sustainability Impact Assessment is carried out in order to assess potential trade related impacts on the environment, social development and the economies. Poverty, gender equity and health are social dimensions that are appraised in each SIA. Ultimately, integration of SIA results into policy making help ensure increased coherence between trade and development policies and mitigate potential negative effects on disadvantaged social groups.

The Commission is also actively engaged in the development of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices focused on developing countries. As well as promoting a number of established CSR instruments, the Commission established the European Multi-Stakeholder Forum on CSR in 2002, following its Communication on CSR (1). The Development Issues Round Table of the Forum has examined a number of issues relevant to sustainable development and the strengthening of social and environmental standards in developing countries. These have included the role of global CSR standards and codes, the possibility of developing sectoral approaches to CSR, the need to develop CSR-awareness at local and regional level, and the importance of ensuring that CSR practices apply throughout the supply chain in developing countries.

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| 3. | The Commission learned of the chemical accident on the Apsentos plantation in November 2003 with great regret. It is beyond the remit of the Commission to react further to an incident of this kind occurring in a third country, but EC cooperation programmes do aim at avoiding such situations as the one in the flower industry in Bogotá. In Colombia, for instance, the Commission supports the ‘National Trade Union School’ (Escuela Nacional Sindical) to foster the respect of social and economic rights in this country. Furthermore, social issues will be at the core of the agenda of the coming EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit in Guadalajara, Mexico, on 28 May. |
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3.

The Commission learned of the chemical accident on the Apsentos plantation in November 2003 with great regret. It is beyond the remit of the Commission to react further to an incident of this kind occurring in a third country, but EC cooperation programmes do aim at avoiding such situations as the one in the flower industry in Bogotá. In Colombia, for instance, the Commission supports the ‘National Trade Union School’ (Escuela Nacional Sindical) to foster the respect of social and economic rights in this country. Furthermore, social issues will be at the core of the agenda of the coming EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit in Guadalajara, Mexico, on 28 May.

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(1)  COM(2002) 347 of 2.7.2002.

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