European Union granted membership to ICAC
01/06/2017
The EU formally requested membership on May 24 following approval from the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. It was granted by ICAC’s Standing Committee as its 549th meeting on May 31.
ICAC described the EU’s membership as “of strategic significance to the world cotton industry”, explaining that some of the world’s most important trade and research institutions are headquartered there. It added that the EU is currently the 11th largest producer and the 6th largest exporter of cotton, as well as the largest global market for textiles.
The European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: "The EU's accession to the International Cotton Advisory Committee is an important step, coming only one month after we presented a set of focused actions to make value chains in the garment sector more sustainable. As a member, we will continue to work for a sustainable and inclusive cotton sector, ensuring decent jobs for all. Cotton is important both to the EU's economy and our development cooperation with cotton producing countries."
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