euronews I talk – I talk discusses free trade agreements

www.euronews.com Which countries should Europe be trading with? Free trade agreements create jobs and offer new markets, but is it always positive? Your questions are answered today by Jürgen Klute, a member of parliament in Brussels, and a Member of the Economic and Monetary Committee. The first question came from Laurent from Belgium: *”My question is, you negotiate with countries like Colombia and Honduras. How do you justify these free trade agreements with countries that don’t always respect human rights? Don’t you think these agreements worsen the situation?”* Jürgen Klute: “Essentially, we are not against trade but it depends on the circumstances. This question contains an important criticism, respecting human rights. There is a human rights clause in the agreements, but the problem for me – and the parliament – is how these clauses are carried out and observed? At the moment, the clauses are better and stricter. But in the past the Commission never wanted to risk breaking trade relations.” Alex Taylor: Who’s judging it? Who says, ‘this one respects human rights and that one doesn’t?'” Jürgen Klute: “That’s a big question. We suggest that civil society organisations have to be involved; unions, human rights groups and so on. But ultimately they should report their findings to the Commission and the Commission has to verify and react. But that’s exactly what it hasn’t done until now. The Commission, for a long time had the chance, to halt trade relations – until …
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