EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/358

(2004/C 88 E/0364)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1629/03

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 May 2003)

Subject: Promoting fair-trade products in the EU

During Fair Trade Week, which begins on 3 May, campaigners in Finland will draw attention to fair-trade products and seek to persuade members of churches, among others, to increase their use of fair-trade coffee.

In reply to my written question P-3856/02 of 24 January 2003 (1), Commissioner Pascal Lamy wrote: ‘In the long run, however, only a sustained trend of increased demand for fair trade products by European consumers is likely to lead to large reductions in prices [of fair-trade products].’

Would it be possible for the EU to promote demand for fair-trade products by publicising European Fair Trade Week (3 to 9 May) and by committing itself to the ideas already endorsed when the European Communities were set up concerning the beneficial impact of cross-border economic cooperation on stability? (After all, Schuman Day also falls during the same week).

Will the Commission for its part promote demand for fair-trade products by means of public procurement in the Community institutions and Member States?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2003)

The idea of a European Fair Trade Week during which it would be possible to call the attention of a wider public on fair trade products is certainly one worth exploring. Such an initiative would, prima facie, fit with the overall Commission policy of raising awareness on fair trade products via the financing of private-led activities.

It is difficult for the Union to commit itself, via this reply, to the implementation of such an initiative, as it requires further analysis on the actual form that such a support could take. It would be therefore useful if the promoters of the Fair Trade Week could approach the relevant services (Directorate General (DG) Trade) of the Commission to study the support that could eventually be given by the Commission.

In this context it should be noted that specific actions of support will take place during the fair trade week in Belgium (6 to 9 October 2003), alongside an advertisement campaign. Companies will be encouraged, to the extent possible, to offer fair trade products and to continue the practice of offering such products as long as demand is sustained.

The Commission is assisting a number of developing countries in the promotion of trade as a means for economic growth and poverty reduction: in this context the principles underlying the Fair Trade concept are duly taken into account. As stated in the Communication on Fair Trade (2), fair trade gives producers in developing countries higher revenues for their goods, as well as increased opportunities to find new markets. Fair trade is particularly helpful to small-scale producers, especially in agriculture and the handicraft sector, since small-scale producers in developing countries are often living in isolated rural areas and do not produce a sufficient quantity to export directly. In an upcoming Staff Working Document on Agricultural Commodity Trade, Dependence an Poverty' which explores strategy elements that could support commodity-producing farmers in developing countries, fair trade is brought up as one path of the important task of assisting producers to tap into new market segments.

Finally, the promotion of the use of fair trade products is of particular concern to the Commission and the coffee served during meetings in Commission buildings is fair trade coffee. In addition, in the framework of the promotion of corporate social responsibility, the Commission is negotiating the use and promotion of fair trade products in the Euro-City supermarket in Brussels and in all selling points inside the Commission buildings.

(1) OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 26.

(2) COM(1999) 619 final.