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Scoping Workshop, 21-22 May 02
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Bridging the Differences
Analyses of Five Issues of the WTO Agenda

EU-India Network on Trade and Development

 I. Background & Context

1.1 The multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) provides opportunities (and challenges) for countries to reap benefits in an increasingly globalising economy. These opportunities are well spell out in the declaration of the fourth ministerial conference of the WTO, held in Doha in November 2001. The Doha declaration is a step forward towards enhancing trade liberalisation between and among the trading partners, such as the European Union (EU) and India.

1.2 Over the years, the EU and India are playing critical roles in the multilateral trading system, which was aptly manifested in the Doha ministerial conference, particularly with regard to the Singapore issues of investment, competition policy, government procurement, and trade facilitation where the EU was the main protagonist and India the main antagonist.

1.3 Thus, there is the need for establishing a platform for doing collaborative policy-oriented research on trade and investment relationship, which will, over the years, be an important forum for exchange of ideas, knowledge and information on emerging trade and investment issues in the multilateral context and also regarding the relationship between the EU and India.

1.4 This type of collaborative initiative will recognise the role of research and policy institutions and civil society organisations in pursuing and persuading policy-making on trade and investment issues, and works towards bridging the gap between the development of knowledge and policy-making.

1.5 Therefore, it is proposed to set up the EU-India Network on Trade and Development (EINTAD) in India by involving research and policy institutions and civil society organisations from both territories. This Network will be build upon the need for policy-oriented research on issues emerging in the multilateral trading system and ensure that the research results reach out to all stakeholder communities.

II. Objectives

2.1 The long-term objectives of the Network are to:

•        Facilitate a progressive multilateral trading system by addressing issues of complex linkages between trade, investment and economic welfare; 
  

•       Analysing policies of national governments, inter-governmental organisations and international actions in this arena so as to enhance their responsiveness and accountability to the people and civil society at large while adopting measures for ensuring a healthy multilateral trading system; and
  

•       Providing a platform for better research to research and policy institutions in the EU and India and better dissemination of research results to civil society organisations and policy makers to ensure better cooperation between and among countries in the multilateral trading system.

 2.2 The immediate objectives are to:

•        Facilitate and build capacities on policy-oriented research on specific issues concerning trade and investment 
         between countries in the multilateral context;
  

•        Strengthen the Network by organising conferences, study tours, internships etc for researchers and civil society  
         representatives; and
  

•        Develop analytical capacities of researchers and civil society representatives of the EU and India to better 
   comprehend issues of the multilateral trading system through exchange of ideas, knowledge and information.

III. Expected Outcomes

3.1 In qualitative terms, the Network will endeavour to:

•       Produce high quality, policy-oriented research -- enable and facilitate research and policy institutions and civil society organisations from the EU member states and India to analyse, articulate and advocate on emerging and relevant issues for creating a better and progressive multilateral trading system; 
  

•       Establish better contact between and among researchers and the civil society from the EU and India for exchanging knowledge and information -- create an informed society through exchange of ideas, knowledge and information thus enhancing transparency and accountability in the multilateral trading system; and  
  

•       Encourage researchers from both regions to enter the field of trade policy -- promote cooperation between and among Network partners through conferences, study tours, internships etc.

3.2 In quantitative terms, the output of the Network will be as follows:

•     Identify key issues related to trade and investment and their relationship with development;
  

•     Commission research studies on issues of trade and investment;
  

•     Build capacity of researchers in the two areas through joint authorship and synthesis of the research in each study area;
  

•     Maintain working groups on key topics, organise periodic meetings for the working groups and conduct a global 
      outreach programme for research results; 
  

•     Feed policy inputs to policy-makers and government officials on issues and areas of the multilateral trading system; 
  

•     Organise periodic meetings for the presentation and discussion of work in all the Network’s research areas; and
      facilitate contact and collaboration between institutions and individual academics in the two areas, including exchange

CONTACT US

CUTS Centre For International Trade, Economics & Environment (CITEE)

D–217,  Bhaskar Marg,  Bani  Park, 

Jaipur  302 016,  India,

Ph: +91(0)141-228 2821

Fax: 91.141.2282485  

Email: cuts@cuts.org