Action against world poverty must focus on trade access

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 1st Jul 2003

The European Parliament will express its commitment to making poverty history, in a joint debate with the European Commission and Council of Ministers next week.

Against the backdrop of the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, and with the world trade summit approaching in December, the European Parliament will debate debt relief, the need for targeted development aid and fair trade.

Baroness Sarah Ludford, London MEP and European justice spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats said:

"MEPs must insist on the need for a freer market for developing countries' exports, especially their farm products. A fair, development-friendly, global trading system is the best mechanism for eradicating the root causes of poverty and hunger.'

"I am supporting a petition to the European Parliament's administration demanding greater availability of Fair Trade products in the European Parliament cafes and canteens. I successfully lobbied for MEPs' tea and coffee to be Fair Trade, now I want this to be expanded to other goods on the market like fresh fruit, sugar and chocolate."