Latest news:

FESI Webinar on taking the pulse of the recovery
On May 26^th from 3pm to 5pm, FESI will organise a webinar in order to evaluate the first effects for our industry of the deconfinement strategies that have started to be implemented in different countries in Europe. The webinar will focus on: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, the UK, and Austria. If you want to attend and/or make a presentation during this webinar, please contact gatti@fesi-sport.org

FESI mapping of Member States exit strategies
You can find here our regularly updated mapping of the exit strategies, with reopening dates regarding retail and schools, as well as the specific measures regarding social distancing and physical activity. 

Commission's guidance on travel
On 13 May, the Commission presented a package of guidelines and recommendations to help Member States gradually lift travel restrictions and allow tourism businesses to reopen safely after months of lockdown. More information

COVID-19 tacking apps
Several Member States have developed COVID tracking apps to prevent the development of the virus. The EU Members States, with the support of the European Commission, have just adopted interoperability guidelines for approved contact tracing mobile applications in the EU.The guidelines will be complemented by interoperability specifications for cross-border transmission chains between approved apps.

Sport cabinet response to COVID
Following a question from MEP Tomasz Frankowski (PPE, Poland), based on FESI's letter to the European Parliament Sports Group, Mariya Garbiel, the EU Commissioner in charge of Sport, indicated that her team is currently working on an impact study to evaluated the needs of the sector. It has also launched an online platform to share best practices with Member States. FESI is in close contact with her team to stay involved in the process. 

Commission publishes report on the impact of coronavirus on EU trade
The current world health crisis will result in a decline of 9.2% in EU exports and 8.8% in EU imports from third countries in 2020, according to the EU Chief Economist note, based on the estimated decline in GDP worldwide. The analysis outlined in this note is one of the few attempts at predicting the impact of the COVID19 outbreak on trade flows. 

WFSGI surveys
The WFSGI has published the results on its COVID April's survey which you can find by clicking here. In order to provide updated information and assess the developments of the situation, they have also launch the WFSGI COVID-19 Survey - May 2020 edition.

If you wish to be included in our COVID-19 mailing list and/or for more information related to COVID-19, please contact gatti@fesi-sport.org

 

A group of 65 civil society organisations published a document with their vision for the upcoming Texitle Strategy. It includes asks on to due diligence, circular economy, transparency and traceability (including of chemicals), purchasing practices and trade policy.

Policy Hub: summary of contribution to draft Green Recovery Plan
The Policy Hub Secretariat has been working towards a proposal to the EU for a Green Recovery Plan in the Textile, Apparel and Footwear Industry. Please find here a first draft of what the Policy Hub has collected through the survey they have launched. You can send you comments to boniolo@fesi-sport.org before 19 May. You can find here the powerpoint presentation of the Policy Hub call. 

Commission's guidelines on shipment of waste in the context of COVID-19
The European Commission has issued guidelines on shipment of waste in the context of the Coronavirus crisis. The purpose is to ensure a common approach to securing the continuation of waste shipments across the EU while maintaining a high level of protection of public health and the environment.

You can find here the revised draft FESI response to the public consultation on the Non-Financial Reporting Directive revision. If you have any comments on this draft, please send them to boniolo@fesi-sport.org before 15 May COB. This public consultation was launched as part of the EU Green deal, where the Commission announced a future review of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive. 

EU Commissioner for Justice discussed Due Diligence Study
On 29 April, the Responsible Business Conduct Working Group of the European Parliament hosted a webinar, where the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders presented and discussed the Study on due diligence in the supply chain that was conducted last year and whose results were published in February this year. You can find the link to the recording here and opening speech of Commissioner Reynders here. Here you can find the report of the webinar.

UNECE: Progress in drafting project documents
UNECE is coordinating the project ‘Enhancing Transparency and Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector’, to develop a recommendation, guidelines and electronic business standards on transparency and traceability for sustainable value chains in the garment and footwear sector.  UNECE has already shared some inital documents with us: for more information, contact boniolo@fesi-sport.org

OECD Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct
This year’s Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct (GFRBC) will be held virtually and in two parts: 19 May 2020: COVID-19 and Responsible Business Conduct ; and 17 June 2020: Access to remedy. The agendas and registration details will be posted here shortly.

COVID-19: ILO action plan in the Global Garment Industry
In April, ILO launched the COVID-19: Action in the Global Garment Industry plan, providing a coordinated response to the current crisis through which urgent financial relief is to be made available to vulnerable garment factories and workers. More information

FESI events:

• 26 May 2020: FESI webinar on COVID-19: taking the pulse of the recovery
• 23 June 2020: FESI CR steering committee webinar
• 2 July 2020: FESI board meeting (online)
• 1 and 2 December 2020: FESI General Assembly

Institutional events:

• 19 May: OECD Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct 1/2
• 17 June: OECD Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct 2/2
• 1st July 2020: German Presidency of the EU

Policy deadlines:

• 23 June 2020: deadline to respond to the public consultation on the 2030 Climate Target Plan
• 2021: Textile Strategy