Friends of the Earth: Press Releases: : World Economic Forum Closes

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World Economic Forum Closes - Who Knows What Deals Were Done?

Jan 25 2004

As the World Economic Forum (WEF) closed today in Davos, Friends of the Earth called for greater accountability and transparency from the global business community.

This year's WEF meeting [1], held as ever behind closed doors, played host to senior business and political figures, as well as hosting an informal World Trade Organisation (WTO) mini ministerial and a meeting of the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) [2].

Trade ministers from 18 select members of the WTO met behind closed doors in Davos on January 23rd to try and kick start international trade negotiations, following the collapse of talks in Cancun, Mexico, last year. Friends of the Earth criticised the secretive meeting, stating that no progress on trade was better than a deal done among the richest trading blocs, influenced by business lobbyists

The meeting was preceded by a meeting of TABD - an EU-US industry grouping which is believed to enjoy high-level political support. According to Corporate Europe Observatory it routinely succeeds in weakening or postponing new consumer and environment protection measures on both sides of the Atlantic, and maintains significant influence over EU and US policies within the WTO [3].

Friends of the Earth Corporates Campaigner Craig Bennett said:

"Once again we see the World Economic Forum hiding behind a screen of philanthropy while in reality they are working behind closed doors to make it even easier for big business to make massive profits at the expense of people and the environment."

A report from Friends of the Earth International released ahead of the WTO Cancun meeting showed that big business, rather than helping achieve the ideals set out in the Millennium goals, is damaging the environment and local communities. Friends of the Earth is demanding international rules to make big business accountable for its behaviour [4].

Notes

[1] The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting hosted more than 2,000 representatives from the top 1000 global companies along with state leaders in Davos from 21st - 25th January 2004.
See www.weforum.org

[2] See www.tabd.com

[3] See: www.corporateeurope.org/observer12/ombudsman.html

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