Civil Society Dialogue on Trade Defence Instruments and Rights of Defence in Trade Proceedings

• Date: 09/12/2019, 14:00-16:00
• Location: Conference Center Albert Borschette, Room 5.B, Rue Froissart 36, Brussels
• Registration closes on : 04/12/2019 12:00

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Meeting details

• Date: 09/12/2019, 14:00-16:00
• Location: Conference Center Albert Borschette, Room 5.B, Rue Froissart 36, Brussels
• Registration closes on : 04/12/2019 12:00

The European Commission will give an overview on the current state of play in the field of the Trade Defence Instruments. Following two major legislative reforms in 2017 and 2018, the European Commission will report on how these changes have been applied in practice. The purpose of this meeting is to explain how the new legislation has strengthened the trade defence instruments, the impact on the procedures and practices as well as having an exchange of views with civil society on their experience of the new rules.

The Hearing Officer is an “independent watchdog” that guarantees fairness and impartiality of EU trade proceedings. These are mainly anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases, but the Hearing Officer can also become active in any other type of trade proceedings in which there are parties with own procedural rights and which contact the Hearing Officer claiming that their rights of defence are not respected. Her Terms of Reference are adopted by the Commission President and were recently updated, following the Trade Defence legislative reforms. The position of an independent Hearing Officer was created in 2007 to facilitate communication between interested parties and Commission services in trade proceedings, and to offer mediation – on procedural issues – between interested parties and the Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade. The Hearing Officer will present her role and give an overview of her activities including how parties to a proceeding can request her intervention. Furthermore, the purpose of the meeting is also to engage in an exchange of views with civil society on their experience with the Hearing Officer.

Speakers
• Mr Leopoldo Rubinacci, Director, Trade Defence, DG Trade
• Dr Thinam Jakob, Hearing Officer for Trade Proceedings

Moderator
Head of the Information, Communication and Civil Society Unit, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission

Agenda
1. Presentation on Trade Defence Instruments – updates
2. Discussion with Civil Society Organisations

3. Introduction by the Hearing Officer
4. Discussion with Civil Society Organisations
 

We would be grateful if participants could arrive 30 minutes in advance in order to clear security and gain access to the meeting room on time. Please bring with you the confirmation of your e-pass and an ID card or passport.

Related documents

• Hearing Officer Annual Report 2017/2018, 02/10/2019