Five EU cities shortlisted for fair and ethical trade award (en)
(Brussels/Geneva) The European Commission and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have announced the shortlist of European cities nominated for the prestigious EU Cities for Fair and Ethical Trade Award. The winner will be announced, along with the special mentions, at a hybrid ceremony hosted by the current award-holding city, Ghent in Belgium, on 16 October 2020.
In alphabetical order, the shortlisted cities are:
- Bremen, Germany
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Malmö, Sweden
- Neumarkt, Germany
- Stuttgart, Germany
The award is an initiative of the European Commission to celebrate cities in the European Union that champion sustainable trade, consumption and production to create opportunities for producers elsewhere. The shortlist was determined by an independent committee of 10 experts on fair and ethical trade, public policy and sustainability.
During this challenging period as the whole world grapples with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic it remains important to place sustainability at the heart of our work. This award recognizes that the purchasing decisions of consumers in EU cities are key to driving change for the environment and the livelihoods of people. I congratulate all the recognized cities for their forward-thinking policies as such actions are crucial to reaching the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals − in particular, SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production, and in supporting the global recovery'
- Dorothy Tembo, acting Executive Director of ITC
A seven-member award jury will convene in late September to select the winning city from the finalists. The jury will also decide on 'special mentions' in several categories, recognizing outstanding approaches and initiatives taken by applicant cities.
The second edition of the award received 11 applications from EU cities after a successful first edition in 2018. In addition to the Network of Cities for Fair and Ethical Trade, created in 2019 by the first set of cities shortlisted for the award, the award provides a unique platform for the cities to share best practices and scale up their sustainable trade initiatives.
For more information about the EU Cities for Fair and Ethical Trade Award 2021, visit www.trade-city-award.eu.
About ITC
The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. For more information, visit www.intracen.org. Follow ITC on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Flickr
Media enquiries about ITC should be directed to:
Phone: +41 (0)22 730-0626
Email: press [at] intracen.org (press[at]intracen[dot]org)