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3.7. The EU played an active role at the MC12 in June 2022 to reach a landmark Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies delivering on UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 14.6 (SDG14.6). The agreement prohibits subsidies to vessels or operators engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, prohibits subsidies to fishing on overfished stock without appropriate measures being in place to rebuild the stock, prohibits subsidies to fishing on unregulated high seas, and includes far-reaching transparency provisions.

3.8. (...)The EU is committed to constructively engage in the continued negotiations to deliver a comprehensive agreement addressing subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing.

3.9. (...) While state interventions can be an appropriate tool to contribute to important public objectives, such as the climate transition, the state interventions should be designed so as to avoid or minimise negative spill over effects on trading partners.

3.12. (...) The EU considers that the future agreement could benefit all WTO members, notably developing countries, as they seek to attract foreign direct investment and bridge the current "investment gap" in order to reach the SDGs. (...)

3.18. Besides the work on improving the practical functioning of WTO bodies, the EU sees the need for more meaningful policy deliberation on major pressing trade policy challenges to help build convergence. To name a few areas: the nexus between trade and climate, (...)

3.24. (...) A new approach in the agricultural negotiations post MC12 is needed: integrating issues of food security, environment, climate, poverty and sustainable production.

3.25. The EU believes that the WTO must help to address the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability. The EU has co-sponsored and been actively engaged in the Trade and Environmental sustainability structured discussions, Informal Dialogue on the Plastics Pollution and Sustainable Plastics Trade and the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform initiatives in the WTO in this regard.

3.26. Trade and Environmental Sustainability structured Discussions can contribute by considering how trade related climate measures and policies can be designed in a way that maximises environmental and climate impact at the same time limiting impacts on trade; explore approaches for facilitating access to environmental goods and services; identify trade policy actions that can contribute to transition to resource efficient and circular economy; and exploring the ways to enhancing transparency on subsidies and exchange best practices in design environmentally positive subsidies in conformity with relevant WTO rules.

3.27. The Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform initiative shows the way how the WTO can play a role in reducing harmful fossil fuel subsidies, while taking into account the development and social aspects and as a first step to increase transparency on fossil fuel subsidies.

3.28. The Informal Dialogue on the Plastics Pollution will help shape understanding of global trade in plastics, including flows of plastics embedded in internationally traded goods and how the WTO can contribute to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) process to end plastic pollution.