It is important to understand that the future framework for economic, social and environmental development in North and South and the relationship between North and South will to a large and growing extent be determined by the WTO and its agreements. The WTO, like no other international body, has the power to determine the direction and the international framework of globalisation. There is a need for the churches in Europe first, to know what is going on and second, to engage in this debate. The churches in Europe have the responsibility to engage in this debate and are expected to play a major role in it. Problems to be addressed We propose a kind of economic literacy program for CEC and its member churches, to enable them to understand the WTO and to formulate a position on it.
Some people also see a risk of an increase of refugees, and dangers to food security and quality.
EU members have agreed to formulate joint EU positions in WTO negotiations. National positions are mostly formulated by goverments and ministries without involving their national parliaments. Most people have not yet realised that this could weaken the national parliaments, which are no longer able to decide autonomously on issues of genuine national interest. We therefore face a new situation of decision-making processes within the EU, which has not yet developed proper democratic rules to ensure transparency and public participation in political processes. The WTO is the central organisation for organising and regulating economic globalisation.