Brussels, 14th November 2008

Brussels, 14th November 2008 - The Vice-President of the European Parliament (EP) Luisa Morgantini, Euro Coop and ANCC/Coop Italian Consumer Cooperation jointly organised last 12th November at the European Parliament the conference "Tackling poverty through Fair Trade: a Consumer Cooperative choice". The event obtained a high success in public attendance and sparked a lively debate on the role that Fair Trade can play in tackling world poverty. During the initiative ANCC/Coop, Italy's leading retailer, presented its most recent best practice in terms of sound sourcing with developing countries, i.e. the International Solidarity Campaign "Stop World Poverty".

The EP Vice-President Morgantini reminded to the public the engagement of the European Parliament in promoting Fair Trade both through a resolution passed in 2006 and the institution of an EP Fair Trade Working Group. Morgantini declared to be persuaded that the attention towards this topic is increasing and that therefore it is necessary that institutions and civil society keep on carrying out a joint work. Luisa Morgantini also pointed out that Fair Trade raises awareness among consumers on the relations between the North and the South of the World and is an example of coherence between trade policies and development objectives.

The President ANCC/Coop Italian Consumer Cooperation Mr. Aldo Soldi took the opportunity to present the longstanding commitment of the Italian consumer cooperatives in promoting Fair Trade. He stated that "cooperatives have their roots in solidarity among people who share common needs and hopes" and added that therefore the initiatives carried out by the Italian consumer cooperation in Fair Trade "are not charity, nor philanthropy or marketing but part of the Coop values".

Closing the meeting, the Secretary General of Euro Coop Mr. Rodrigo Gouveia addressed the European Commission by joining the request formulated by MEP Morgantini as well as by Ms. Reintjes and Mr. Corbalán, the representatives of IFAT, FLO, EFTA and NEWS!, to finally follow-up to the EP 2006 resolution on Fair Trade and to devise an Action Plan for its promotion which also takes into account public procurement policies. He stated that "today's debate led us to understand even more in-depth the importance that Fair Trade covers in fighting global poverty" and concluded by saying that "this precious action in promoting values such as democracy and peace cannot be neglected and, following the positive example of the European Parliament, needs to gather more acknowledgment and support not only by the European Commission but also by the institutional spectrum at large, both at national and international level".

For more information please contact:

Rosita Zilli, Policy Adviser, Euro Coop
Tel: +32 (0)2 285 00 72
E-mail: rzilliateurocoop.coop