The past year has been marked by important milestones and continued advocacy for a fairer and more sustainable trading system. The Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) has remained at the forefront of EU policy discussions, working to ensure that the voices of smallholder farmers, artisans and workers are reflected in key legislative developments, including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Organic Regulation, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), as well as preparing for the implementation of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) or the upcoming revision of EU Public Procurement rules and the Unfair Trading Practices Directive, among others.
Beyond our policy work in Brussels, we continued to strengthen our engagement with the people at the very heart of the Fair Trade Movement, smallholder farmers, artisans, workers and cooperatives. Building on our long-standing relationships with partners around the world, FTAO staff had the opportunity to gain first-hand insights through exchanges and field visits in countries including India, Ghana and Peru. These experiences continue to inform and strengthen our advocacy, ensuring that the voices, realities and aspirations of producers and workers remain at the centre of our work.
We also hosted our annual Fair Trade Breakfast at the European Parliament, hosted by the Chair of the Fair Trade Working Group, MEP Bernd Lange, bringing together more than 70 participants, including Members of the European Parliament, European Commission representatives, civil society organisations, embassies and members of the wider Fair Trade Movement.
We are deeply grateful for the collaboration and support of EU policymakers, Member States, embassies, farmers’ organisations, trade unions, social economy actors, academia, civil society organisations and many others. We are also thankful to all the organisations and institutions that provided financial support for our work throughout 2025.
We look forward to continuing these partnerships and working together towards a fairer, more sustainable and inclusive trading system.
Read the full report here.
