Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment in support of
the EU-GCC FTA/SPA negotiations
About
Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment is a robust analysis of the potential impact that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)/ Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) Agreements negotiated between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates) could have on the economy, social life, environment, and the enjoyment of human rights in the EU and GCC countries. The assessment relies on economic modelling, literature review, statistical data analysis and continuous and wide-ranging stakeholder consultations.
Related to the impact areas, the analysis consists of four sustainability pillars: economic, social, environmental, and the one related to human rights. Additionally, through case studies, the SIA provides an in-depth analysis on specific issues.
Sustainability pillars
The Trade SIA methodology consists of two equally important elements: the in-depth analysis of sustainability effects; and consultations with key stakeholders. The focus of each of the four sustainability pillars is shortly highlighted below, and also our approach on case studies is outlined.
Economic impact
The economic impact analysis provides the starting point for the SIA because many of the effects observed in other pillars follow from the economic effects. A broad range of economic variables will be analysed using a multi-pronged approach. The analysis will look, for example, at tariff and non-tariff obstacles, FDI flows, regulatory aspects, public procurement, customs, and impact on LDCs, EU Outermost Regions, and SMEs.
Social impact
The social impact analysis focuses on the analysis of different types of potential social effects: e.g., on employment, informal sector, labour rights, working conditions, welfare, poverty, vulnerable consumer groups, women, vulnerable groups in the society, public policies and services.
Environmental impact
The environmental impact analysis, looks at the effects of the agreements on: the interaction with MEAs, the Paris Agreement and Global Biodiversity Framework, climate change, biodiversity (including natural resources), air quality, water quality and resources, waste and waste management (including marine litter and chemical waste).
Human rights impact
The human rights analysis looks at the impact of the agreements on human rights as set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and core UN international human rights treaties. Taking into account the pre-existing legal situation in the EU and GCC countries, the assessment examines the impact of the Agreements on the enjoyment of human rights in partner countries.
Case Studies
Case studies
In addition to the sustainability pillar analyses, four case studies are carried out, focusing on the sustainability impact arising from the negotiations on the FTA/SPA agreements. They focus - mainly in a qualitative manner - on more narrow, illustrative, issues that are relevant from a sustainability angle.
Our Team
This study is carried out by a multidisciplinary team of experts led by Trade Impact B.V., a consultancy company based in the Netherlands, and other partners and subcontractors: Gulf Research Council Foundation - Brussels, SQ Consult B.V., Cambridge Econometrics, Euromonitor, and Trinomics.
