Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)

In 2009, negotiations commenced on a multi-party trade agreement between the EU and two member states of the Andean Community of Nations, namely, Colombia and Peru. The negotiations concluded in March 2010 and the agreement was initialled by the parties on 13 April 2011. The Tánaiste, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and I are well aware of and share the concerns that have been expressed over human rights in Colombia, particularly in the context of the position of trade unionists and human rights activists. The Tánaiste had an opportunity to discuss the human rights situation in that country when he met the Colombian ambassador in July. During their meeting, the Tánaiste outlined the ongoing concerns of the Government at reports of human rights abuses in Colombia.

The EU believes that the multi-party trade agreement will be a key tool in addressing the human rights situation in Colombia, not only through a robust human rights clause but also by means of a number of binding commitments to implement core labour and environmental conventions and the use of a mechanism for monitoring their implementation which will include civil society institutions. It is expected the agreement will be signed in the first half of 2012. The issue of the designation of the agreement as one which involves mixed competence requiring approval and ratification by all 27 member states or as one in which the Union has exclusive competence will be determined by the European Council in light of analysis of both the final text and legal advice.

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