Civil Society's role in DCFTAs (long version)

1. Civil Society's role in DCFTAs(long version) Eastern Partnership, Civil Society ForumTbilisi, Georgia, 25 September 2015

2. Introduction • Civil society mechanisms in DCFTAs are part of the Trade and Sustainable (TSD) Chapter • TSD chapters have very similar wording in the Georgian, Moldovan and Ukrainian DCFTAs • Since the EU-Korea DCFTAs all new generation DCFTAs have such TSD chapters with the involvement of civil society • The basic idea is that CS involvement and not trade sanctions ensure effective implementation of the TSD chapter

3. First mechanism: Domestic Advisory Group • Each Party shall convene new or consult existing domestic advisory group(s) on sustainable development • Task: advising the Parties on issues relating to the TSD Chapter • may submit views or recommendations on the implementation of this Chapter • on request or on own initiative. • Members: • independent representative organisations of civil society • in a balanced representation of economic, social, and environmental stakeholders, including, among others, employers and workers organisations, non-governmental organisations, business groups, as well as other relevant stakeholders.

4. Second mechanism: Joint Civil Society Dialogue Forum • Members: • domestic advisory group(s)and the public at large • balanced representation of relevant interests, including independent representative organisations of employers, workers, environmental interests and business groups, as well as other relevant stakeholders • Convened once a year unless otherwise agreed by the Parties • Task: to conduct a dialogue on sustainable development aspects of the DCFTA with the Parties: • Parties present an update on the implementation of this Chapter to the Forum • Forum submits its views and the opinions to the Parties • Both are made public

5. Scope of the TSD chapter in a nutshell • The DAG's and the Forum's role is limited to the TSD chapter! • Chapter's objective: trade should be sustainable • Parties retain their right to regulate but increased economic activity must not be at the expense of lower social and environmental standards • Parties effectively implement the most important international environmental and labour agreements, adhere to the core principles and cooperate in general • Separate article on biological diversity, sustainable management of forests, trade in fish products • No sanctions but there is a dedicated dispute settlement system

6. Experience so far • First meeting in Moldova in July • New DAGs formed beginning of the year • EU DAG: EESC plays an important role • DAGs met separately and once jointly • TSD Sub-Committee meeting between EU and MD -> joint statement • Joint Meeting – exchange of statements and discussion • Followed by a workshop on waste management • Good participation, constructive approach on all sides • Next step: develop a work plan • The first meeting in Georgia will take place end of this year, DAGs are already formed

7. Conclusion • First new generation TSD chapter with Korea - implemented for four years • Difficult to evaluate, there are some small positive developments in labour law that may not have happened without the DCFTA • DAGs and the Forum are powerful tools offered to the civil society • Even if limited to the TSD chapter, the potential areas for action are wide • Interactions and synergies with the other CS mechanisms should be explored • Up to the CS to use its full potential!