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The CETA Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development 25/26-4-2023
April 25 @ 4:00 pm - April 26 @ 5:30 pm CEST
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2023 EU-Canada CETA Civil Society Forum
EU-Canada Civil Society Forum under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
Representatives from employers, unions, labour and business organisations, environmental groups, Indigenous organisations, and other interested civil society organisations are welcome to register for a meeting on the 25th and 26th of April 2023, of the Civil Society Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development established under the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Participants will have the chance to exchange with one another, and with officials of the Government of Canada and the European Commission, on matters related to the implementation of CETA’s Chapter 22 (Trade and Sustainable Development), Chapter 23 (Trade and Labour) and Chapter 24 (Trade and Environment), as well as the CETA recommendations on Trade and Gender, SMEs and Trade, Climate Action and the Paris Agreement.
The Trade and Sustainable Development Committee will be implementing a hybrid conference with both virtual and in-person participation. Canada and the European Union remain committed to this dialogue, acknowledging the important opportunity for civil society to better understand what Canada and the EU are doing to implement the labour, environment and sustainable development provisions of CETA, and to provide their perspectives on these issues.
Practical details
- Date/time:
- 25 April 2023, 16:00-18:30Â (Central European Time)
- 26 April 2023, 15:00-17:30Â (Central European Time)
- Place: Virtual event via Webex
- Programme
| Day 1 – Tuesday, April 25 |
| 15:15 – Sign-In |
| 16:00 – Opening Remarks
The EU and Canada will provide a brief overview of TSD Committee progress since its last meeting and objectives moving forward, acknowledging the key role participants play in supporting the effective implementation of the CETA Trade and Sustainable Development, Trade and Labour and Trade and Environment chapters. |
| 16:15 – Comments from DAG Chairs
DAG Chairs are invited to share their perspectives and priorities on the matters covered under the CETA TSD Chapters. |
| 16:30 – Discussion on Environment and Climate Change
Canada and the EU will briefly (10 minutes each) share their progress on the implementation of the CETA Trade and Environment Chapter and the Recommendation on Trade, Climate Action and the Paris Agreement, and will outline their trade relevant climate and environmental policy developments. |
| 17:45 – Canada-EU Cooperation on Labour
Under the CETA Trade and Labour chapter, the Parties have committed to cooperate to promote the objectives of the chapter, through actions such as the exploration of various collaborative initiatives. Discussions will focus on forced labour and child labour, aligning with CETA TSD Committee work under the Implementation of Labour Chapter Commitments section. |
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| Day 2 – Wednesday, April 26 |
| 14:15 – Sign-In |
| 15:00 – Developments in the field of Trade and Sustainable Development, Trade and Labour and Trade and Environment – Policy, Implementation, Enforcement
The EU and Canada will share with participants their respective developments related to TSD, and update participants on their discussions following their commitment to advancing the early review of the TSD chapters, with a view to reviewing the implementation of the chapters, including their enforcement mechanisms. Participants will be invited to share their views on how best to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of the CETA TSD chapters. |
| 16:30 – Update and Discussion on the other existing and potential CETA Recommendations
Canada and the EU will share progress on the implementation of the CETA SME Recommendation and Trade and Gender Recommendation. Participants are invited to ask questions, discuss opportunities and propose suggestions for future collaboration following the presentations, including an approach to consider on mainstreaming gender and SMEs into the work of CETA committees. |
| 17:00 – General comments and questions from Civil Society Members (open) |
| 17:20 – Wrap up and closing comments |
- Register (deadline Friday 21 April at 18h, Central European Time)
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