The Trade, Environment & Sustainability (TES) programme aims to challenge the unsustainable and inequitable nature of trade and investment liberalisation and to promote alternative, equitable and environmentally sustainable approaches to trade.

The EU plays a major role in global trade negotiations. FoEE is seriously concerned about the current position of the EU in the World Trade Organisation and in bilateral trade agreements. This position is based on an ideological 'competitiveness' agenda which is deregulationist in nature and promotes a narrow 'market access' approach to trade.

Friends of the Earth Europe believes that the EU must review its overall position and take a lead role in fundamental changes to the world trading system in line with its sustainable development and poverty eradication objectives.

Many people from all around the world are concerned about the potential negative social and environmental impacts of further trade liberalisation. Friends of the Earth Europe underlines that governments have so far ignored a wealth of evidence that the current world trade system degrades the environment, undermines cultural and biological diversity, promotes undemocratic procedures and increases inequalities.

Already today the implementation of existing WTO's agreement and institutional procedures are undermining environmental and social standards. Now is the time for review and for repair. Now is the time to develop a more sustainable, democratic and equitable trading system for the 21st century in participation with citizens organisations.