While empirical research exists on the impact of opening up trade on several sustainable development indicators, what is missing is a conceptual and normative vision of what is expected of liberalization in terms of sustainable development, establishing the conditions for a positive contribution of the former to the latter. This is notably the case for environmental concerns, which are given special attention by this program. With the Institute for Environmental Studies (Netherlands) and Ecologic (Germany), IDDRI thus coordinated the Concerted Action on Trade and Environment, CAT&E. This network, organized as part of the fifth European Union Framework Programme, had three main objectives: intensifying discussions within the community of European researchers working on the issue of trade, environment and sustainable development; establishing a dialogue with public decision-makers; and encouraging research in this field in order to provide elements for resolving conflicts. Existing assessment methods fail to meet negotiators? needs, as shown by the European SIAMethod project, coordinated by IDDRI. Hence the value of introducing political economy into impact assessments, and sustainable development into the political economy of liberalization. IDDRI will apply the results of SIAMethod to an actual exercise, the end of the Doha Round negotiations. IDDRI has taken part in the Sustra (Sustainable Trade) network with a view to analyzing the interactions between trade and sustainable development. This multidisciplinary European network is supported by the European Union (Directorate-General for Research) and has worked in close collaboration with the Directorate-General for Trade. | 