The Seattle to Brussels (S2B) Network is a pan-European network campaigning to promote a sustainable, socially and democratically accountable system of trade. It was founded after the WTO-ministerial in Seattle 1999. The S2B network includes development, environment, human rights, women and farmers organisations, trade unions, social movements as well as research institutes in Europe. Active groups in the Network are all supporters of the 'Our World Is Not For Sale: WTO Shrink or Sink' Statement.

In its paper, the S2B-network criticizes EU Governments and the European Commission as leading promoters of trade liberalisation. Faced with growing evidence of the social, economic and environmental costs of these policies, and under pressure from public opinion, their rhetoric had begun to change. However, while the rhetoric has shifted, the practice had substantially remained unchanged. Further on, the declaration states:

"EU governments and the European Commission must change those trade policies that hurt poor communities, damage the environment, result in increased gender inequalities and undermine the respect of human, social, cultural, ecological rights of people both in the South and in the North. Consequently, the undersigned NGOs are demanding that EU Governments and the European Commission take into account the points elucidated within this statement."

The NGOs call on EU Trade Ministers to change the current EU trade policy and therefore the negotiating mandates of the European Commission in order to:

• Ensure people’s food sovereignty;
• Stop the assault on livelihoods and the environment in the NAMA negotiations;
• Stop the GATS power-play against citizens;
• Address the imbalances of the WTO agreements;
• Provide access to medicines and ban the patenting of life;
• Stop unjust Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs);
• Regulate corporate activities;
• End trade conditions imposed by the World Bank and IMF;
• Assess the impacts of trade on the environment, local communities, etc.;
• Curb excessive corporate influence;
• Enhance transparency and democracy.

The full declaration (pdf, 280 KB) can be downloaded here.

You can watch the demands one by one, starting here.