The first half of this seminar will introduce key developments within the WTO since 'Seattle', including reports from the 2001 Doha Ministerial and what is at stake at the next WTO summit in Cancun (September 2003). A key challenge for the movements against neoliberal globalisation is to prevent new issues such as investment, competition and government procurement being added to a new round of negotiations. Speakers include Cecilia Oh (Third World Network), Clare Joy (World Development Movement, UK) and a representative of Coordination Paysanne Europeene. To be facilitated by Olivier Hoedeman of Corporate Europe Observatory.

The second half of the seminar is dedicated to strategies: how to mobilise effectively against the Cancun Ministerial? Walden Bello (Focus on the Global South, Thailand), Manuel Perez Rocha (RMALC, Mexico) as well as Kenneth Harr (Attac Denmark) for the Seattle to Brussels Network and Antonio Trucarico (Reform the World Bank Campaign) and the Italian NGO coalition will present their vision and plans for mobilisation. To be facilitated by Alexandra Wandel, Friends of the Earth Europe.

This workshop is organised by the Seattle to Brussels Network. For more information about this event contact olivier@corporateeurope.org and alexandra.wandel@foeeurope.org

Seminar organised by CADTM international and Les Amis de la Terre (France) in partnership with Sdebitarsi et Liliput (Italy), Observatorio de la Deuda en la Globalización y RCADE (Spanish State), Alternatives (Russia) and Jubilee South.

Agenda items:

- PRSP: poverty reduction strategy or poverty reproduction strategy ?
- The crisis of legitimacy of the World Bank and IMF
- How to deal with Export Credit Agencies ?
- The debate on arbitration
- The concept of "illegitimate and odious debt"
- Cancellation or alleviation ?
- The policy of the EU

Speakers:

• Sébastien Godinot (Amis de la Terre, France),
• Gino Barsella (Sdebitarsi - Italia),
• Andrej Kolganov (Alternatives, Russie),
• Lidy Nacpil (Jubilé Sud, Philippines),
• Binta Sarr (APROFES, Sénégal),
• Eric Toussaint (CADTM, Belgique),
• somebody from Mozambique.

The seminar will be chaired by CADTM and a representative of Liliput/Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale/ Sdebitarsi, Italy

Contact: finance@amisdelaterre.org

Seminar organised by Friends of the Earth Europe and Legambiente

Corporations took centre-stage in Johannesburg. In the Programme of Implementation adopted at the summit a prominent role is devoted to private-public partnerships as a key instrument to reduce poverty and environmental degradation. These corporation-driven initiatives – more than 200 were launched in Johannesburg – are meant to avoid binding government commitments to promote sustainable development. In fact, corporations, often supported by governments, claimed that only private capital could deliver sustainable development. However, at the same time, business’s record of continued unsustainable development since Rio came under very public attack. Business was often put on the defensive as their "greenwash" methods and at times criminal behaviour was exposed. Due to global pressure by a large network of civil society, Johannesburg delivered a negotiation result, which, despite serious shortcomings, opens the door for the development of global rules for big business. These rules will never become reality, unless pressure from below continues after Johannesburg. European countries by and large still oppose binding rules on corporations. The European social movements must therefore get organised. To facilitate the necessary debate, this seminar will introduce the current global debate and then ask which next steps are necessary at the national, EU, continental European and global levels.

Programme

Chair – Roberto Della Seta, Legambiente

Speakers:

• Daniel Mittler, Friends of the Earth Germany/BUND
• Mauro Albrizio, Legambiente
• Christophe Aguitton, Attac France
  

• Magda Stoczkiewicz (CEE Bankwatch Network/Friends of the Earth International): Our critics on the EIB and the activities of civil society
• Alfonso Fragomeni (SoS Lucania): The case of the Val d'Agri oil extraction project in Italy
• Ivona Malbasic (CEE Bankwatch): Road through nature, A4 highway in Poland - the case of EIB activities in the accession countries
• Jaroslava Colajacomo (Campaign to Reform the World Bank): The case of the pipeline and oil extraction project Chad-Cameroon

Discussion

• Martin Koehler (Campaign to Reform the World Bank): The shortcomings of the EIB in comparison to other multilateral banks and the rule setting of the European institutions
• Ivona Malbasic (CEE Bankwatch): The mandate of the EIB in the financing of the Stability Pact for the Balkans/case of Sofia airport by Filka Sekulova, Bulgaria
• Howard Mollet (BOND, UK): The mandate of the EIB in the financing of the development policy of the Union (Cotonou Agreement)
• Martin Koehler (Campaign to Reform the World Bank): Perspectives for an institutional reform process of the EIB
• Magda Stoczkiewicz (CEE Bankwatch/Friends of the Earth International): Perspectives for civil society activities on the EIB

Water, Air and Earth: Europe opposing unsustainable development.

Panel discussion to address the following key issues:

a) Living standards and consumption patterns.
b) Privatisation of public goods and ecological debt.
c) Alternatives: right to quality life, health and well being
d) Energy questions.
Speakers:

• Tony Juniper (Vice chair, Friend of Earth International)
• Wolfgang Sachs
• Riccardo Petrella (Water campaign, Italy)
• Gustave Messiah (Crid, France)
• Zoltan Endreffy (Pax Romana, Hungary)
• Michalis Tremopoulos (Ecological Movement Thessaloniki, Greece)

Coordination: Claire Person (Oxfam Belgium), Maurizio Gubbiotti (Legambiente)