Fair trade in Europe: overview and perspectives

Résumé du document

Fair trade is a movement born after the Globalization. It's a consequence of the growth of exchanges. To develop their economy, countries have been forced to trade with their neighbors and the territories around them, etc…Finally countries have abolished their barriers and established partnerships and preferential tariffs. Globalization improved the flows of goods, humans and capital among different countries in the world. Developed countries became richer and richer due to the abuses done on the third world. The situation was ideal for Northern countries. The biggest industries were satisfied to find low prices for their raw materials and cheap working labor force to assure their production. The Globalization was considered as a game where it was easy to earn a lot of money with as unique rule: the law of the strongest…Fair Trade appeared in 50s because people, from developed countries, were more conscious about their surroundings. EU institutions have written lots of things about Fair Trade. They have brought definitions from Fair Trade organizations and made a Fair Trade policy to answer to pressures. Lots of conferences have been organized and several texts have been published. They have accepted to give an office to FINE. Nevertheless speeches, motions and official texts don't replace concrete actions. The implication of the European institutions in Fair Trade movement hasn't been tangible yet. I would like to analyze the effects of EU institutions on the French Fair Trade because France it's an old and essential member of the European Union. On another hand, I would like to analyze the Fair Trade situation in Hungary because it's a new entrant. It could be interesting to see what EU has done concerning this question and what they are going to do for implementing Fair Trade movement in Hungary. Pre-accession funds... Is there any link between those funds and the Fair Trade movement? I am thinking about a pessimistic conclusion because countries among Europe can't be only supported by EU institutions. They have to play with networking.

Extraits

[...] It might be companies, international organisations or public institutions. All of them are implied in Fair Trade in France. It is in charge of the installation of rules controlling actors of Fair Trade, the promotion locally and internationally and studies regarding the Fair Trade concept. Independents Artisans du Soleil 49 A foreign couple decided years ago to set up three Fair Trade shops in Bordeaux, Paris and Angers. It was too early for the population conscious. That's why they had to close two of them. [...]

[...] Fair Trade is a concept hugely exploited by countries such as Austria. Austrians have opened their borders to their neighbours, increasing their exchanges. Their vision and projects have fitted with the Hungarian expectations. That's why leaders from Hungarian organisations have been invited by Austrian Fair Trade associations to participate to conferences concerning Fair Trade issues. Together they have discussed about the opportunity to settle Fair Trade NGOs[24] in Hungary. But at this time, Hungary was only sensitive to environmental matters. [...]

[...] Sometimes it was hard to understand each other. Some of them had a basic level in English. That's why they spoke simply with me about their feelings. I have to talk about their lack of experience. The Fair Trade movement is recent in this country. They didn't have the answers I expected. Inconvenients of French organisations My interviews have been only done with people working for parts of big organisations. They are focusing on their objectives without knowing changes regarding national or international Fair Trade regulations. [...]

[...] Fair Trade needs improvements respecting rules of international trade. It's feasible to decompose this definition in three parts. The first sentence defines Fair Trade as an option in a macro-economic system. This is a clear incentive to distinguish to trade. Following that, the phenomenon is explained as a properly entity with objectives and tools. It's a complete definition which goes from a general idea to a precise concept. FINE[2], author of it, was looking for a definition gathering all of the particularities of the Fair Trade. [...]

[...] It appeared in France few years later influenced by its neighbours. The fair traded organisations came from old religious associations interested in the consequences of the globalization on the poorest countries. On opposite, Hungary is facing the apparition of this concept. It's fresh movement coming from the initiatives of environmental NGOs. Concerning the organisation of the fair traded entities themselves, there are several differences. Indeed, the French organisations have a strong presence in France with the local network. They are supported by worldwide associations which have a long experience in Fair Trade field. [...]