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Britain, the EU and global trade

25 February 2016, 12:00 am

Britain, EU & Global Trade

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25 February 2016, 9.30am-12.30pm
A half-day conference on the EU's trade agenda, with EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, Peter Mandelson, and a high-level panel of politicians, stakeholders, and experts. In association with Policy Network.


When:
25 February 2016, 9.30am-12.30pm
(Registration & coffee from 9.00am)

Where:
BMA House
Tavistock Square,
London, WC1H 9JP
MAP
To register and for more information, please email: Emma Kinloch

One of the most powerful arguments in favor of British EU membership refers to the EU's capacity to speak with one voice, and to conclude trade and investment deals for its 28 member states. Progressive voices across Europe stress that the EU's trade agenda offers opportunities to shape globalisation in a more human way by contributing to setting future global norms. Yet, these arguments fail to convince the public, and the EU's capacity to deliver is under mounting scrutiny. The lack of trust in investment protection mechanisms, the fear to give away intellectual property and geographical indications regimes, and the lack of reciprocity have, for instance, crippled progress towards the completion of the controversial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). 

Commissioner Malmström will deliver a keynote speech and engage with the audience in a Q&A session. Our political and expert panel will further the debate around the following key questions:

• What have been recent successes and disappointments of EU trade policy?

• Is progress being made towards a transparent, reciprocal and ambitious TTIP?

• Can the EU deliver on its trade agenda at a time of public anxiety and populist pressures?

• Would Britain and other individual member states benefit from conducting trade negotiations outside the EU framework?  

Session 1

Welcome remarks
Peter Mandelson, president, Policy Network, former EU trade commissioner and former UK business secretary
Keynote Speaker: Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for trade 
followed by a Q&A session moderated by Peter Mandelson

Session 2

Panel Speakers 
Frances O'Grady, general secretary, Trades Union Congress
Matthias Fekl, French minister of state for foreign trade, the promotion of tourism and French nationals abroad
Lockwood Smith, high commissioner of New Zealand to the UK 
Andrew Cahn, vice-chair of Nomura International and former chief executive, UK Trade and Investment
Chair: Anna Edwards, co-anchor, 'Countdown' Bloomberg News

This event is organised by Policy Network in partnership with UCL European Institute. Policy Network gratefully acknowledges a grant from the European Commission's Office in the UK; the UCL European Institute acknowledges the co-funding under its the Jean Monnet Project, delivered under the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

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