Mayor Franz Stefan Karlinger presented clearly-defined measures for the implementation of FAIRTRADE in his city: First of all FAIRTRADE certified products are used in public institutions. Additionally they will organise events on the topic FAIRTRADE and take FAIRTRADE into account in their public relations work. Furthermore FAIRTRADE products are offered to the citizens in local shops, restaurants and coffeehouses and are listed in the local shopping guide. Last but not least some companies declared to offer FAIRTRADE products to their staff and customers.

Johannes Heiml, local manager of Südwind Upper Austria, points out, that cities and municipalities are locally based institutions, but at the same time they are part of a global development. That is why they are an important role model.
For this reason the project “FAIRTRADE Towns” is not only supported by Südwind, but also by the Worldhouse Linz and the Climate Alliance Upper Austria.
What does it mean to the mayor of Enns that his city receives the title “FAIRTRADE Town”? “In autumn 2008 Enns joined as then first Austrian city the “Cittá Slow” association - a network of worth living cities. Enns takes the time to improve the quality of life of its citizens. By using FAIRTRADE certified products we can be sure to consume products of a premium quality and make a contribution to a fair minded world. We are very proud to be the first FAIRTRADE City in Upper Austria.”

Amstetten decides to use FAIRTRADE products on a local level.For this reason Michaela Hinterholzer, Member of the Lower Austrian Parliament, on behalf of Provincial Governor Dr. Erwin Pröll, and Traude Novy from FAIRTRADE Austria awarded Amstetten with the title “FAIRTRADE Town”.

Mayor Herbert Katzengruber presented clearly-defined measures for the implementation of FAIRTRADE in his town. The main emphasis is on the consumption of FAIRTRADE- certified coffee, tea and sugar in public institutions. Furthermore FAIRTRADE products, which have been already available in the world shop Amstetten and in the supermarkets, are now also offered in local restaurants, coffeehouses and shops. Additionally information about FAIRTRADE is provided by the local government. Südwind – a NGO concerned with development politics- supports the town with vouchers for workshops on the topic FAIRTRADE.

Nicole Rudy from FAIRTRADE Austria points out that the commitment for FAIRTRADE provides an opportunity for Austrian municipalities to involve on a local level in development policy and to set an example against poverty.

The idea is realised in cooperation with the FAIRTRADE-Town Gablitz. Also the sports club of Gablitz encourages the idea of FAIRTRADE . Andreas Forche, member of the sports club says: “As a sports club we support children in their sportive development. FAIRTRADE supports the abolition of child labour. This is why we act fair as a sports club”.

At the beginning FAIRTRADE-expert Judith Wallisch explained the social and ecological minimum standards of fair traded coffee. Furthermore she focused on the economical advantages for the small scale farmers in the South: More than 1.5 million people are able to send their children to school and sustainable agriculture respects the environment. 

Afterwards Reinhard Eggner invited all customers of his coffeehouse to taste FAIRTRADE coffee and caste their vote. If the majority votes for the FAIRTRADE coffee he will offer it in the future. Up to now the vote is clear: 41 of 42 votes are for FAIRTRADE!

The final conference of the Public Affairs project aims at presenting the key outputs of the project’s research and successful initiatives by committed local and regional authorities. The conference will also set the state of play of Fair Trade Public Procurement (FTPP) in Europe, and explain how to continue using FTPP as a tool to support sustainable development and in particular marginalized producers from developing countries.

Many high level speakers from all over the EU are expected to discuss key topics of FTPP such as legal do and don’ts in FTPP, textile and clothing, as well as food and catering sector issues.

More information about the event is available on: http://www.european-fair-trade-association.org/observatory/index.php/fair-procura-2010  

Please download the conference programme at: http://www.european-fair-trade-association.org/observatory/images/stories/file/Invitation_English.pdf

FAIRTRADE Austria and the Federal Land Lower Austria are pleased about the commitment of Rabenstein an der Pielach to FAIRTRADE.Rabenstein an der Pielach decides to use FAITRADE-products in their public procurement. For this reason Dr. Martin Michalitsch, Member of the Lower Austrian Parliament, and Thomas Wackerlig from FAITRADE Austria awarded Rabenstein an der Pielach, on Friday, 9^th April 2010, at 7:30 pm in the local culture- and community center with the title “FAITRADE Town”. The festivity was also attended by representatives of the “Raiffeisen” bank, which supports the FAITRADE Town project.Mayor Ing. Kurt Wittmann presented clearly-defined measures for the implementation of FAIRTRADE in his town. The main emphasis is on the consumption of FAIRTRADE- certified juices in public institutions. Furthermore FAIRTRADE-products are offered to the local population in local culinary establishments and shops. Additionally information about FAIRTRADE is provided by the local government. Südwind – a NGO concerning development politics- support the town with vouchers for workshops on the topic FAIRTRADE.

Every second municipality in Sweden has in one way or another started the process to become a Fairtrade City. Often the initiative starts with a proposal from residents of the city or as a submitted motion within the commune. This clearly shows that there is a widespread local commitment for fair trade at large in society and that many perceive ethical consumption as a contribution to sustainable development, says Emma Rung.

To stay qualified as a Fairtrade City, each city must annually account for their work and commitment throughout the year. This year all Fairtrade Cities have reported great progress. Linköping now have 160 hotels, restaurants and coffeehouses that offer a range of Fairtrade products, this is an increase of 50% from the previous year. In Karlstad, the number of workplaces that drink Fairtrade coffee has grown with a total of 280%, in 2007 there were 42 and in 2009 the number has grown to 160 recorded workplaces.

Nevertheless, public procurement of Fairtrade has grown all over the country. In Avesta, the total consumption of Fairtrade coffee has risen from 1% to 67%. The municipality of Malmö drink 16 000 cups of Fairtrade coffee every day. Also Lund municipality reported an impressive increase; coming from only 1% of the coffee that was consumed in 2006 was Fairtrade. Today, the situation is different and Fairtrade stand for a total of a 78% share of the coffee consumption in Lund.

On behalf of Fairtrade Sweden, ECI conducted a survey in October 2009, accordingly 9 out of 10 citizens think that their town should continue the work to maintain their Fairtrade City Diploma.

All Fairtrade Cities have done impressive efforts to spread information and organize activities about Fairtrade. There are many inspirational examples; among those are Nassjo, who has educated 350 buyers, another is the steering committee of Orebro whom have had a total of 60 lectures during the previous year. In addition Karlstad has reported a total of 18 news features in various local papers, radio and TV on their work as a Fairtrade City.

- One side of the important work as a Fairtrade City is to create public opinion on the matter of fair trade and importance of ethical trade, the qualified cities has found new creative ways to communicate the message which has resulted in more knowledge and thereby a greater demand for goods produced on fair terms of trade. When we step by step choose to buy more Fairtrade products, we also make a real difference for the people that produce products in the poor parts of the world, says Emma Rung, project manager at Fairtrade Sweden.

Alongside this exciting development, FTAANZ also announced that Leichardt Municipal Council (NSW) joins Manly Council (NSW) and Yarra Council (VIC) as the country’s third Fair Trade Council.

The announcements come as Australia celebrates Fair Trade Fortnight – the country’s biggest annual celebration of all things fair trade. Fair Trade Fortnight 2010 recognises the life-changing difference making the big swap to fair trade can make to the lives of millions of developing country farmers, workers, their families and communities.

FTAANZ Operations Manager Cameron Neil said with Adelaide becoming Australia’s first Fair Trade Capital City, and Fremantle becoming Western Australia’s first Fair Trade City, Australia was now part of a global movement which has more than 500 Fair Trade Towns and Cities across the world including London, Rome, Edinburgh, Wellington and San Francisco.

“Within Australia, Adelaide, Fremantle and Leichhardt join over 300 Fair Trade Communities across the country including other councils, workplaces, schools and faith groups who have signed up to make the big swap to fair trade in order to help tackle poverty and create better futures for developing country farmers, producers, their families and communities,” he said.

“Not only are they ensuring that producers can grow and develop their businesses but they are also helping send kids to school, build roads and ensure access to better health care in these communities,” he said.

Mr Neil said to become a Fair Trade City or Council, Adelaide, Fremantle & Leichhardt had passed resolutions in support of fair trade; implemented procurement of Fairtrade Certified products including coffee and tea; and would work with members of the local community to form a steering group to promote fair trade in their local area through businesses, schools, faith groups and other organisations.

“By awarding Fair Trade status to Adelaide, Fremantle and Leichhardt, we are recognising the journey they have already undertaken in their support of fair trade as well as the future work they have committed to. Fair Trade City and Council status acknowledges the potential for partnerships between councils, the community and business in dealing with global issues like poverty,” Mr Neil said.

“FTAANZ acknowledges the hard work of all the staff members, supporter groups and individuals in Adelaide, Fremantle and Leichhardt who have championed the fair trade cause and helped their community meet the requirements to achieve Fair Trade status,” he said.

Mr Neil said he looked forward to other Australian cities following the lead of Adelaide and Fremantle. 

“The challenge has now been set for other capital cities and towns to follow suit and help make a significant contribution to improving awareness and education about fair trade and the issues it seeks to address,” he said. 

Mr Neil said Adelaide, Fremantle and Leichhardt were each awarded their respective titles at separate presentation ceremonies held as part of major Fair Trade Fortnight celebrations in each city and municipality. 

“Adelaide City Council was awarded their Fair Trade City statuson Friday 7 May as part week-long Fair Trade Celebrations being held in the Rundle Street Mall.

“Fremantle City Council was presented with their certificate on Saturday 8 May at a special ceremony at Pioneer Park coinciding with World Fair Trade Day (www.worldfairtradeday10.org), while Leichhardt Municipal Council received their certificate on Sunday 9 May at the All Souls Church Leichhardt Fair Trade Day,” he said.

The European Parliament (EP) “Calls on the Commission to encourage public authorities to use Fair Trade criteria in their public tenders and purchasing policies on the basis of the Fair Trade definition as recognized by the European Parliament resolution on Fair Trade and Development of 6 June 2006 and the recent European Commission Communication of 5 May 2009; reiterates its earlier call to the Commission to promote this by, e.g., producing constructive guidelines for Fair Trade procurement; welcomes the unanimous adoption of the opinion of the Committee of the Regions on 11 February 2010 calling for a common European Fair Trade strategy for local and regional authorities”.

This call must be interpreted in the context of the current work of the European Commission (EC) on a draft guide “Buying social: a guide to taking account of social considerations in public procurement”, expected by June 2010, which is supposed to give guidance on how to include social considerations in public procurement.

“We welcome the European Parliament’s renewed support to Fair Trade Public Procurement. When giving practical guidance to contracting authorities, the Fair Trade movement calls on the European Commission not to turn a deaf ear to the loud and clear message from the European Parliament, Committee of the Regions and court rulings, which unanimously confirm the possibility to tender for Fair Trade products” states Sergi Corbalán, on behalf of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) and the European Fair Trade Association (EFTA).

The EP is not the only EU Institution to have publicly stated its support to Fair Trade. The Fair Trade movement is also encouraged by the repeated public statements in support of Fair Trade made by Mr Michel Barnier, Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, responsible for EU public procurement legislation.

Fair Trade Public Procurement has also received strong political support. In addition to today’s report, the 2006 European Parliament Resolution on Fair Trade and development and the 2010 Committee of the Regions opinion on Fair Trade called on public authorities in Europe to integrate Fair Trade criteria into their public tenders and purchasing policies and asked the Commission to promote this by, e.g., producing guidelines for Fair Trade procurement.

The possibility for contracting authorities to tender for Fair Trade products has also been confirmed by the “Groningen” ruling of 23 November 2007  and also by the recent “Den Helder / Alkmart” court ruling of 18 March 2010, which states “the principle of equal treatment of tenderers does not prohibit applying criteria that strongly restrict the circle of eligible parties. Such criteria must be objectively justified and therefore may not be intended to tailor to a certain tenderer (…) To procure on the basis of fair trade standards is acceptable”

Against this background, the Fair Trade movement calls on the European Commission to reflect its own commitment and the overall political support to Fair Trade Public Procurement into a practical constructive can-do guidance on how to support Fair Trade Public Procurement.

The Fair Trade movement looks forward to continuing cooperation with EU Institutions, EU Member States and local and regional authorities, with the goal of improving the livelihoods of marginalised producers and workers in the South through procurement policies.

The Fair Trade Advocacy Office speaks out for Fair Trade and trade justice with the aim to improve trading conditions for the benefit of small and marginalised producers and poor workers in developing countries. Based in Brussels, the office coordinates the advocacy activities of the main Fair Trade Networks: Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International FLO, World Fair Trade Organization WFTO, and European Fair Trade Association EFTA. These three networks bring together over 2 million Fair Trade producers from more than 60 countries, 20 labelling initiatives, hundreds of specialized Fair Trade importers, 3000 worldshops and more than 100,000 volunteers.

Read more at www. fairtrade-advocacy.org

Contact: Hilary Jeune. Fair Trade Advocacy Office.  Tel: +32 (0) 2 543 19 23. Email: jeune(at)fairtrade-advocacy.org 

At a council meeting this morning, Vancouver City Council passed a motion to endorse an application to become a Fair Trade Town, which has made Vancouver the first major city in Canada to achieve this status.

Jeff Geipel, Executive Director of Fair Trade Vancouver, says the Fair Trade Town requirements were mostly completed before the organization started the application process, largely due to the fact there is such widespread support for Fair Trade in the city. “This award results from the many citizens and community groups who have been asking for Fair Trade products when they shop.” Fair Trade products such as coffee, sugar, tea and tropical fruits are widely available in Vancouver supermarkets and restaurants, and availability is increasing as demand rapidly grows.

The city’s endorsement of the application was the last step required by TransFair Canada to bestow Fair Trade Town status on Vancouver. This award officially recognizes two decades of work by local and international Fair Trade supporters, as well as a civic ethical purchasing policy that was enacted in 2005.

“We want to be the greenest city in the world, and a big part of that is ensuring that our goods and services are produced and delivered in a responsible way,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “It’s great that Vancouver will become the first major city in Canada to achieve Fair Trade Town status, and I hope other cities will follow our lead.”

Fair Trade standards focus on improving the lives of the developing country producers who make our products, but also include product-specific environmental requirements. They help to ensure that farmers and producers have the freedom to choose a life that is in harmony with their local environments.

The Fair Trade Towns award is presented by TransFair Canada, a national Fair Trade certifier based in Ottawa, Ontario. Vancouver’s successful application makes it the first major Canadian city to achieve the Fair Trade Town status. Over the past ten years since Garstang, England became the first Fair Trade Town, more than 800 cities and towns in 19 countries have achieved the status, including other large cities like London, Paris and Rome.

“Fair Trade is a phenomenon that has grown at an incredible rate, both in Canada and abroad,” said Michael Zelmer, Director of Communications for TransFair Canada. “The recognition of Vancouver as a Fair Trade Town further demonstrates Canadians’ commitment to fairness and respect for the farmers and artisans who produce the products we enjoy. These principles are at the heart of Fair Trade”.

To celebrate this achievement, Fair Trade Vancouver and other leaders of the community will meet this Saturday, May 8th on World Fair Trade Day, from 1pm to 2pm outside the Ten Thousand Villages store on Granville Island. The celebration will include short speeches by Councillor Raymond Louie and several representatives of the Fair Trade movement. There will also be a ceremonial cutting of a Fair Trade cake, and a drum and dance circle.