Since 1999, the European Commission has been undertaking a series of Sustainable Impact Assessments (SIAs) of multilateral and regional trade agreements. On invitation, Markus Knigge presented at the EASY-ECO conference, organised by the Impact Assessment Research Centre in the University of Manchester's School of Environment and Development, a paper on the role of civil society engagement in these assessments. The presentation focused on the objectives of stakeholder consultations, methodologies for participation, the interplay with the negotiation process and the impediments for effective participation of civil society.

The lecture was based on first results of the project "Sustainability Impacts of Trade Policies – SIA-Method", which Ecologic Institute carried out together with further partners from the CAT-E network (Concerted Action Trade and Environment) on behalf of the European Commission, DG Research.

• Download presentation
  [pdf, 138 KB, English]
• Download background paper
  [pdf, 324 KB, English]