Programme

The Members States of the European Union have a common commercial policy towards non-member countries, and DG Trade has the task of conducting that policy in line with the objectives set out in Art. 133 of the EC Treaty.

Trade policy is one of the principal components of the EU's external economic relations. It aims to promote the economic and political interests of the EU, on both a multilateral, bilateral and sectoral level. In pursuit of this goal, the EU follows a policy of trade liberalisation, a strategy that rests on the belief that progressive elimination of barriers to trade and investment can, as long as supported by enforceable rules, be in the best interests of Europe and of the world.

DG Trade aims at ensuring the best competitive conditions and opportunities for European firms, thus giving a substantial contribution to the growth and competitiveness of the European economy, for the benefit of European citizens, workers and consumers. In doing so DG Trade strives to make the Union's trade policy an element of ever greater coherence of the Union's external action, as well as for mutual consistency between the Union's trade policy and all other policies set out in the Treaty.

Pursuit of these goals, and the exercise of the Community's rights under international trade rules in the framework of the common commercial policy, would be impeded were they not supported at the Community level by specific activities designed to assist in removal of barriers to trade and to support a co-ordinated approach in trade negotiations that reflects Community interests.

The following types of intervention are envisaged in furtherance of the Community's external trade policy:

• Initiatives connected with the conduct of new multi- and bilateral trade negotiations (in particular, the Doha Development Agenda), including the financing of Trade Sustainability Impact Assessments;
• Legal and other expert assistance required in implementation of existing trade agreements;
• Trade-related technical assistance/training and other capacity-building actions;
• Activities related to the Community's Market Access Strategy;
• Activities related to the monitoring of licence management systems and the coordinated development of the use of computerised procedures (SIGL system);
• Activities with a view to promoting the Community's external trade policy through a process of structured dialogue with key opinion formers;
• Multilateral programmes and initiatives in the field of trade related assistance (aid for Trade) to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to participate effectively in the multilateral trading system and regional trading arrangements and to improve their trade performance.

The work programme for the year is approved by an annual Commission Decision on the financing of projects in the area of external trade relations. DG TRADE seeks to have its programme endorsed by the start of year.

The projects programmed for a year may involve public procurement as well as contributions to international organisations and/or grants. In 2008 in particular, about 69% of the programme involves contracts awarded further to tendering procedures set out in the EU's public procurement directives. Around 29% consists of contributions implemented in joint management with international organisations, and the remainder is implemented through other services or via the delegations in third countries.

For further information

Commission Financing Decision on the 2008 work programme

For trade projects :

Unit for human resources, administration and finance, external service and planning (Trade.A.1)
Directorate General for Trade,
The European Commission
CHAR 7/23,
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200,
B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel.
Facsimile (32-2) 296 99 31
E-mail: trade-contracts@ec.europa.eu