Reilun kaupan puolesta - Repu ry

STATEMENT - Pro Fair Trade Finland

The collection of practices in different member states published by the Commission (Overview of typical applications of SRPP Practices in the EU Member States as collected through the survey questionnaire) shows that EU member states would like to increasingly use fair trade as one of the criteria in public procurement. European Parliament defines fair trade as a trading partnership, which "contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South" (resolution A6-0207).

Pro Fair Trade Finland would like to bring to the Commission's attention the fact that there are over 500 Fairtrade Towns in Europe already, and that the citizens' support for ethical public procurement is strong. According to a survey done in Finland (Taloustutkimus 10/2008), 84% of Finns would not like to see their tax money spent on products that might have been produced using child labour, forced labour or otherwise with disregard for the workers' rights.

The review of laws and practices in different member states published by the Commission (Legal and Policy Review of SRPP frameworks in selected EU Member States) referenced the court case of coffee supplier Douwe Egberts against the Province of Groningen as an example of using social criteria in public procurement. The case was decided in favour of the province. In its judgement, the Groningen District Court of the Netherlands stated that the Province of Groningen can include a requirement for fair trade products in its invitation to tender by referring to the European Parliament's definition of fair trade. Similar national interpretations of the procurement law can be found in other EU countries, too. In Finland, the law about public procurement states (in article 49) that social criteria (with regards to, for example, working conditions and compliance to the declarations of the International Labour Organization), can be included in invitations to tender.

The European Parliament has already taken a strong stance for increasing the use of fair trade products (resolution A6-0207/2006) and has asked the European Commission for a comment in the matter. In the forthcoming guide, the Commission should take a positive view towards promoting fair trade in procurement, offering decision makers and civil servants in EU member states concrete guidance in taking ethical viewpoints into consideration when making procurement decisions. The Commission would thus respond to the growing concern of EU citizens about making the working conditions and trading rules fairer to the producers and workers in the developing world.

Aleksi Halme - chairperson

Merja Tikkanen - vice-chairperson

Pro Fair Trade Finland - Reilun kaupan puolesta Repu ry

1) Resolution A6-0207/2006:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A6-2...

2) For the criteria of Faitrade towns, see

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/fairtrade_towns

3) Taloustutkimus 10/2008: http://www.kepa.fi/uutiset/6697

4) Groningen District Court judgement

http://www.achatspublicsequitables.com/resources/Verdict_23_11_07_DE_Gro...

5) Finnish law about public procurement

http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/2007/20070348

Pro Fair Trade Finland is a civil society organisation which acts for fairer international trade by promoting and raising awareness on fair trade principles. The organisation has over 650 members in Finland.