Trade Justice Campaign
European Partnership Agreements: Campaign Update
For the past six years the Comhlamh Trade Justice Group has been campaigning against the European Union's unfair trade deals, called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), with 76 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
In the months leading up to the signing of these agreements at the end of 2007, ACP countries were put under tremendous pressure to sign from the European Commission. The Commission threatened non-LDC countries (Least Developed Countries) to reduce access for their goods into the European market and diminish levels of aid if they did not sign an EPA. This bullish approach has resulted in rushed deals.
The good news: Your actions have made a difference.
Read more of the EPAs update...
Press Release
Saturday 26th January 2008
Released by: Africa Centre, Comhlámh, Christian Aid Ireland, Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, Latin America Solidarity Centre, Oxfam Ireland and Trócaire. 
Irish NGOs Call on Davos Leaders to Put Poor People First
Today, Irish development organisations and campaign groups called on world leaders to put the interests of people living in poverty at the heart of global policy making.
Marking the annual World Economic Forum being held this week in Davos, Switzerland, campaigners staged a protest in front of the Central Bank in Dublin's city centre to highlight the effect of damaging global economic policies on people in the developing world.
"Powerful global actors are meeting in Davos. They have the power to take decisions that will end the exploitation of 
poor countries. The global economy has been structured to benefit rich countries and companies at the expense of the poor. We need to see a radical shift in the policies being pursued by these powerful governments and corporations," said Nina Sachau, Policy and Campaigns Officer, Comhlámh.
The protest is part of a Global Day of Action to mark the annual World Social Forum, which brings together environmental and social justice campaigners and activists from around the world. The World Social Forum is this year being marked by more than 430 events and protests in 85 countries across the globe highlighting the impact of profit driven globalisation on the poor coinciding with the World Economic Forum.
"Ireland plays a significant role in shaping global agreements which often favour business at the expense of ordinary people," said Dr. David McNair, Policy and Advocacy Officer for Christian Aid Ireland. "Trade agreements, such as the European Union-led Economic Partnership Agreements open up developing country markets without regard to the negative impact on jobs, livelihoods or public services," continued Mr. McNair
Campaigners also criticised the Irish Government's support for international financial institutions which impose policies on poor countries and deepen poverty. 
"Ireland is undermining the sovereignty of impoverished countries by supporting the World Bank's practice of imposing economic policy conditions on poor countries. These economic policy recommendations have often had disastrous effects on impoverished countries around the world. Ireland should insist that the World Bank cease this outrageous practice immediately," said Nessa Ní Chasaide of Debt and Development Coalition Ireland.
A Song About EPAs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GumeiZjCRBY
Irish Campaigners Call on Minister Cowen to Stop Paying for Poverty
Press Release
Monday 12th November 2007
Released by: Africa Centre, Comhlámh, Christian Aid Ireland, Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, Latin America Solidarity Centre and Trócaire.
As a major World Bank meeting kicked off in Dublin today justice campaigners called on Finance Minister Brian Cowen to stop paying for poverty.
The World Bank meeting, being held in Malahide, Co.Dublin today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday), will bring together the richest members of the World Bank to decide how much money to give to the International Development Association (IDA), the arm of the World Bank that lends to the poorest countries over the next three years.
Nina Sachau of Comhlamh commented: "Ireland has a major opportunity today to send a clear message to the World Bank that it must fundamentally change how it does business. It is unacceptable that the World Bank gives money to poor countries with one hand, but takes it away with the other through imposing what are often very damaging economic policy conditions." .JPG "Cowen demo_new window Photo by: I. Irigoien")
You can read the full version of this press release by clicking this link:
http://www.comhlamh.org/irish-campaigners-call-on-minister-cowen-to-stop-paying-for-poverty.html
CALL TO ACTION! Stop EPAS!
On November 14th, representatives from Comhlamh, Trocaire and Oxfam will be meeting the Irish Minister for Overseas Development, Michael Kitt TD, in order to urge him to take seriously our concerns about unfair trade rules.
The deadline by which poor countries have to accept EU trade rules is rapidly approaching. As the rules stand, they will undermine the fight against poverty and favour European businesses and investors. The EU is putting pressure on former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to sign so-called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). The agreements threaten livelihoods, government revenue and the ability of poor countries to manage their economies in the public interest.
Support our lobby by sending an email before the 14th of November to the minister:
SEND AN EMAIL TO MINISTER KITT about your concerns RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW from: http://www.comhlamh.org/campaigns-act-now1.html
More about the issue: http://www.comhlamh.org/campaigns-trade-justice-campaign.html
Watch our Guyana video at http://www.comhlamh.org/resources-downloads.html
About the Comhlámh Trade Justice Group
The Trade Justice Group campaigns to help achieve just and sustainable global trade policies and practices. Unfair trade
rules cost developing countries hundreds of billions of euro a year, much more than the total sum of aid from rich countries. Even small increases in a country's export revenues have the power to bring about big changes.
The Trade Justice Group carries out research and promotes public debate on the structures of unjust trade rules such as the WTO and CAP, organises public information campaigns and lobbying of politicians for change, and networks with other organisations and activists working on trade, particularly in Southern countries.
Contact the Trade Justice Group by emailing: nina@comhlamh.org or call 01 4783490
More About EPAs
Comhlámh, 10 Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2 // Tel: + 353 1 4783490 // Fax: + 353 1 4783738 // Email: info@comhlamh.org