On 24 March 2021, the Department of International Cooperation (ICD) the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and EU experts organized the Workshop "Establishment and mechanism of operation of DAG in EU FTAs ”. Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director General of International Cooperation Department of MOLISA, and Mr. Axel Blaschke, Chief Representative of FES chaired. The Center for Sustainable Rural Development sent Mr. Nguyen Phu Hung, the Centre's Deputy Director, to participate. Participants of the workshop were composed of representatives of Departments of MOLISA, representatives of the EU Office in Vietnam, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), and national and international NGOs. Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong was nominated to deliver the opening speech which was strongly highlighted that this was the first workshop related to the experience consideration of establishing DAG in Vietnam. Mr. Didier Bloch, General Department of Trade, European Commission, presented the process of establishing the EU's Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) according to the commitment in the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Mr. Ervin Schewisshelm, EU consultant presented experience in the establishment and operation of DAG, as well as EU experience by collaborating with EU trading partners.
The two presentations focused on clarifying the steps to announce the establishment of DAGs, the organization, and operation of DAGs, the criteria of the organizations who participate in DAGs, they all emphasized the qualification requirements of the members and the required independence as well as the transparency of the members when joining the DAG.
Mr. Didier also added that the DAGs EU consisted of 3 groups of organizations including Businesses, Trade Unions and NGOs. Mr. Ervin stated his previous experience in establishing DAGs EU and emphasized that the establishment of DAG is a new process that requires a "learning by doing" exchange during the formation and operation of the DAG. After listening to the two reports, the participants had many questions about the criteria for participating organizations, and how the Ministry of Industry and Trade could choose the right targets, organize and operate the DAG effectively and who is going to provide DAG financial resources to operate?
It is hard to have voluntary contributions from organizations, which is why it is important to have the attention and support from the government. Mr Cuong informed that the establishment of DAG Vietnam was assigned to the Ministry of Industry and Trade as the focal point, which is currently in the process of calling for participating organizations wishing to register to participate in submitting applications. The establishment of DAG Vietnam will be carried out within April at the latest.
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