» Resistance to EU strategy
Around the globe, social movements and civil society groups are resisting the European Union (EU) global strategy, pushed through different kinds of trade agreements – Free trade agreements, Economic partnership agreements, Association Agreements (AA), etc. The 7th round of negotiations for an AA between Central America (CA) and the EU taking place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, was suspended on April 1st. This is a result of Nicaragua’s decision to leave the negotiating table. With left-wing Mauricio Funes taking power in El Salvador in June, these FTA negotiations are in trouble, giving a blow to the EU’s aggressive strategy in the region. The suspension of negotiations has been made possible due to the pressure of social movements and NGOs from the region. The EU might eventually choose to go for bilateral agreements with Costa Rica and Guatemala. Similarly, within the EU-Andean Community of Nations (CAN) FTA negotiations, following the withdrawal of Bolivia, the EU began pursuing bilateral agreements with Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. However, there has been resistance from Ecuador towards the trade model being pushed by the EU in the FTA negotiations.

CA social movements’ position regarding the failure of the 7th round of negotiations for an EU-CA AA
Via Campesina, HSA | April 2nd, 2009
People’s organisations and social movements of Central America met during the 7th round of negotiations of the EU-CA AA, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. In the declaration that emerged from this gathering, Via Campesina CA and Hemispheric Social Alliance (HAS) CA, call for the suspension of the EU-CA AA negotiations. They assert their commitment towards regional integration based on the needs and interests of peoples, and call for intensifying social movements’ rejection of the rationale for free trade. Alternatively, they call for promoting an order of justice and solidarity in trade relations, maintaining the need for a sustainable, equitable and respectful form of development.
 
AA EU – CA: Rejection by social movements of the FTA with the EU
Common press release by the European Coordination of Via Campesina and Via Campesina CA | April 5th, 2009

The European Union pressurizes Ecuador in trade negotiations
Prensa Latina | March 30th, 20089
Alejandra Alayza, from Globalization with equity network (red de globalización con equidad), said that pressure was exerted on Ecuador during the 2nd round of individual bilateral trade negotiations between the EU and Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, held in Lima in March 27-29, 2009.