Seven cities shortlisted for EU fair and ethical trade award
The European Commission (DG Trade) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are pleased to announce the following shortlisted cities, listed in alphabetical order, for the EU Cities for Fair and Ethical Trade Award:
• Dortmund
• Ghent
• Lyon
• Malmö
• Madrid
• Saarbrücken
• Vitoria-Gasteiz
The award is an initiative of the European Commission to highlight the important role of cities in providing platforms for fair and ethical trade. ITC is the implementing agency for the Award. The call for applications was launched in December 2017.
The shortlist of cities from across the European Union was determined by the award evaluation committee, a group of experts in the field of fair, ethical and sustainable trade and public policy.
The seven-member award jury will convene in early June 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 winner of the Award will be announced, along with the special mentions, at a formal ceremony on 27 June in Brussels.
Global trade, with the connections it creates, can – if employed in the right way – be a powerful tool to positively impact lives throughout international value chains. Local authorities play important roles by directly making sustainable choices and by creating environments that make citizens more aware of the impact of their own consumption choices.
‘Cities are increasingly influential players in the global sustainable development landscape,’ ITC Executive Director Arancha González said, explaining the significance of the prize. ‘This inaugural award recognizes that the EU has been a leader in supporting a more fair and ethical approach to trade, and seeks to highlight cities that are examples for the rest of the world. Ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth and more transparent value chains, both in the EU and in developing countries, is critical for promoting “good trade.”’
The EU Cities for Fair and Ethical Trade Award is an initiative that represents important international values including respect for human and labour rights as well as the environment. The award was created to celebrate and support the initiatives in cities across the EU to encourage more fair and ethical trade practices.
The award process is one of the commitments undertaken by the EU Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, under the 2015 "Trade for All" communication.
For more information about the EU Cities for Fair and Ethical Trade Award, see the website 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.
For more information, please contact:
International Trade Centre
Jarle Hetland
Media Officer
Office of the Executive Director
P: + 41 22 730 0145
M: + 41 79 582 9180
E: hetland [at] intracen.org (hetland[at]intracen[dot]org)