Activities of Alessia Maria MOSCA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stresses the importance which the European Investment Bank (EIB) attaches to operations outside the EU in its overall lending activity, and that new lending outside the EU should continue to maintain a fairly even split between support for social and economic infrastructure and support for local private sector development; underlines that the EIB is operating under a development mandate and therefore needs to work in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Welcomes the reporting activities of the EIB’s to ensure an increasing level of transparency but demands a wider access to information concerning its activities and in particular with regards to the contracting and subcontracting system, as well as access to financial data relating to EIB-funded projects; calls on the EIB to strengthen the involvement of civil society and stakeholders;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Recalls that the EIB activities must reflect the Union’s internal and external policies; underlines that its lending conditions should facilitate the achievement of these goals and in particular the development of the Union’s peripheral regions by promoting growth and employment; calls on the EIB to greatly strengthen the arrangements for providing technical assistance and financial expertise to local and regional authorities before project approval in order to improve accessibility and involve all Member States, especially those with a lower success rate in terms of projects approved;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)

1d. Recalls that small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the European economy and therefore calls on the EIB to bridge their lack of access to credit by enhancing existing programmes, such as the European Progress Microfinance facility, and by allocating them increased funds; regrets the sometimes limited use of trade preferences by European companies and reiterates the need for SMEs to fully benefit from the potential unleashed by European economic and trade partnership agreements; reiterates its support to the financing of new internationalization programmes tailored on SMEs’ needs; suggests the establishment of more pro-active SME and micro-enterprise policy requirements for intermediary banks disbursing EIB funds;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)

1e. Demands the involvement of the EIB in the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund’s activities and calls on the EIB to establish a task force to support the entrepreneurial activities of displaced workers and of the ones left behind by the collateral effects of globalisation;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Regards it as important that the EIB advocates higher transparency and social and environmental performance standards in its cooperation with other development banks as a condition for any capital involvement; regrets that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the European Investment Fund and China’s Silk Road Fund (SRF) and the one signed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the New Development Bank, and the World Bank have not yet improved the business environment for European enterprises and workers; notes with concern that the AIIB governance structures do not yet foresee adequate involvement of shareholders in project financing decisions and that publically available project documentation lacks any detail on the fulfilment of the environmental and social measures that the AIIB requires from its lenders; expresses scepticism over the involvement of the EIB in the One Belt One Road initiative (OBOR) due to the lack of proper assessments on the project’s impact on working conditions and workers’ rights, on the environment, and on human rights; is concerned about the lack of transparency and good governance practices in the implementation of the project;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the rolling out by the EIB of the Economic Resilience Initiative that helps the countries in the Western Balkans and the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood to address the challenges posed by ~~irregular~~ migration and forced displacement; calls for increased funding to this Initiative and a strengthened involvement of the EIB in these regions in order to support humanitarian action, job creation, economic growth and infrastructure improvements; in this regard welcomes the approval of the first projects of the European External Investment Plan (EEIP) in Africa and looks forwards to a strengthened role for the EIB;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Is of the opinion that the EIB should continue to enhance its role in helping to achieve sustainable development, and that climate action lending should focus mainly on the transport and energy sectors.; reiterates its firm opposition to the financement of projects linked to the consumption of fossil fuels; calls on the EIB to pay greater attention to the impact of its operations on human rights and labour rights, and to further develop its policy on social standards into a human rights policy in the area of banking; suggests, for this purpose, the inclusion of human rights benchmarks in its project evaluations;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the EIB to ensure that companies participating in projects co- financed by the EIB shall be required to adhere to the principles of equal pay and pay transparency as well as gender equality as set out in Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation; also calls for EIB decisions on project financing to take into account action by candidate companies in the field of corporate social responsibility;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls on the EIB, taking into account the insufficient project generation capacity in the public and private sectors and the lower borrowing capacity in some Member States, and with a view to reducing the investment shortfall in the EU, to consider an approach whereby contributions made on a one-off basis to EIB-funded projects by Member States, whether by a Member State as such or by national promotional banks classified in the general government sector or acting on behalf of a Member State, would qualify as one-off measures within the meaning of Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97and Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1497;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2161(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. Calls on the EIB to publish detailed information on its website about decisions on the selection of projects to be financed, with particular reference to the reasons for rejection of projects submitted, the outcome of in-house investigations, the selection, supervision, and assessment of its activities and programmes, based on clear measurable indicators, and the methods used for, and the findings of, ex ante assessments and ex post reports for every project financed.

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that according to its operational strategy, the EIB aims to ~~(i) finance viable capital projects and (ii) borrow on the capital marke~~support European strategic objectives, such as restoring EU competitiveness and long term economic growth and job creation, to facilitate the access to finance for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), to foster energy transition by financing climate adaptation and mitigation projects, to ~~finance these project~~address the jobs crisis facing the EU’s young generation, to support infrastructure projects, and to contribute to the mitigation of migration’s causes;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recalls that Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union establishes the principle of policy coherence and therefore demands the EIB’s external lending activities to be more consistent with the Union’s external policies and strategy; underlines that the EIB is the financial arm of the European Union and as such it should facilitate the access to finance to those enterprises unable to raise funds through commercial banks; calls on the EIB to pay greater attention to the impact of its operations on human rights and labour rights, and to further develop its policy on social standards into a human rights policy in the area of banking; suggests, for this purpose, the inclusion of human rights and corporate social responsibility benchmarks in its project evaluations;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Underlines that EIB’s lending conditions should facilitate the development of the Union’s peripheral regions by promoting growth and employment; calls on the EIB to greatly strengthen the arrangements for providing technical assistance and financial expertise to local and regional authorities before project approval in order to improve accessibility and involve all Member States, especially those with a lower success rate in terms of projects approved;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Calls on the EIB to ensure that companies participating in projects co- financed by the EIB shall be required to adhere to the principles of equal pay and pay transparency as well as gender equality as set out in Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation; also calls for EIB decisions on project financing to take into account action by candidate companies in the field of corporate social responsibility;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the E~~uropean Union provides a guarantee to the EIB; warns that this may create moral hazard in lending~~IB operates under a development mandate and therefore needs to work in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals; reiterates its firm opposition to the financement of projects linked to the consumption of fossil fuels;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. 4. Notes with satisfaction that the EIB has committed 25 % of its total financing to projects relating to climate change, rising to 35 % by 2020; ~~urges the EIB to strongly reconsider this level of funding~~welcomes this contribution of the EIB to the EU’s efforts to address climate change and mitigate its consequences;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Notes that the EIB’s lending to Mediterranean Partner Countries will amount to EUR 15 billion over the next five years; cautions, however, that Transparency International considers these to be among the worst countries in the world for corruption~~; affirms that such lending should therefore cease until the appropriate auditing measures are in place;~~ and therefore affirms the need for continued strict monitoring of potential risks related to corruption and fraud; demands the EIB to remove from its transparency policy the presumption of non-disclosure related to information and documents collected and generated during inspections, investigations and audits on fraud and corruption, including once these have been closed; considers the lending activity in the Mediterranean region paramount for the achievement of the Union’s external and migration policies; therefore calls for an expansion of the external lending mandate (ELM) and a strengthened involvement of the EIB in these regions in order to support humanitarian action, job creation, economic growth and infrastructure improvements; in this regard welcomes the approval of the first projects of the European External Investment Plan (EEIP) in Africa and looks forwards to a strengthened role for the EIB;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Considers that the EIB should increase its transparency, vis-à-vis ~~not only~~ the European Parliament~~, but also the parliaments of the Member States; believes that it is only right that democ~~; in this regard welcomes the reporting activities of the EIB’s to ensure an increasing level of transparency but demands a wider access to information concerning its activities and in particular with regards to the contracti~~c representatives have more information about the activities of the EIB~~ng and subcontracting system, as well as access to financial data relating to EIB-funded projects; calls on the EIB to strengthen the involvement of civil society and stakeholders;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Emphasises that the~~re will have to be~~ special arrangements regarding the UK’s shareholding must preserve the EIB’s ability to achieve its policy objectives;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Believes that in order to achieve commercial control of projects, the EIB should replace with regional objectives the current system of horizontal high-level objectives set out in part 1 of the handbook.deleted

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Recalls that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the European economy and therefore calls on the EIB to bridge their lack of access to credit by enhancing existing programmes, such as the European Progress Microfinance facility, and by allocating them increased funds; calls for the establishment of more pro-active SME and micro-enterprise policy requirements for intermediary banks disbursing EIB funds;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2151(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 b (new)

10b. Regards it as important that the EIB advocates higher transparency and social and environmental performance standards in its cooperation with other development banks as a condition for any capital involvement; regrets that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the European Investment Fund and China’s Silk Road Fund (SRF) and the one signed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the New Development Bank, and the World Bank have not yet improved the business environment for European enterprises and workers; notes with concern that the AIIB governance structures do not yet foresee adequate involvement of shareholders in project financing decisions and that publically available project documentation lacks any detail on the fulfilment of the environmental and social measures that the AIIB requires from its lenders; expresses scepticism over the involvement of the EIB in the One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR) due to the lack of proper assessments on the project’s impact on working conditions and workers’ rights, on the environment, and on human rights; is concerned about the lack of transparency and good governance practices in the implementation of the project;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2109(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Strongly welcomes the ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) by the EU and recalls the importance of its full implementation by all WTO signatories in order to simplify and modernise export and import processes worldwide; encourages the Commission to share its best practices in the WTO TFA Committee in order to promote the coordinated implementation of modern procedures with EU trading partners; calls on the Commission to continue working closely with the OECD and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in reducing existing gaps in customs control systems;

2018/12/10
Committee: INTA

2018/2109(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Draws attention to the fact that globalisation is increasingly connecting economic operators across different countries and enhancing the complexity of value chains; Stresses that a fully functional customs union is essential in order to guarantee the credibility and strength of the EU when negotiating trade agreements; emphasises, in that context, that an efficient EU customs union should facilitate trade and reduce administrative burdens for legitimate traders as well as ensuring effective controls, to guarantee that products that enter our market are fully compliant with the rules and meet our standards, inter alia by fostering cooperation between the customs authorities of Member States and third countries;

2018/12/10
Committee: INTA

2018/2109(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that creating seamless customs processes across the Union through the reform of ~~IT infrastructure~~the Union Customs Code IT infrastructure, including alignment with WCO data model, is pivotal; considers that digitalisation has to the potential to make the exchange of information and the payment of duties more transparent and accessible, in particular for operators in third countries; Highlights that digitalisation of customs operations can also be a powerful tool in addressing border corruption;

2018/12/10
Committee: INTA

2018/2109(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. NDraws attention to the relevance of the EU Customs Union as one of the most important sources of the Union’s financial capacity; notes that the current divergent levels of controls and their quality, and of customs procedures and sanctions policies at points of entry into the customs union, often result in the distortion of international trade flows, feeding the problem of ‘forum shopping’ and putting at risk the integrity of the single market; strongly encourages, in this context and in light of Article 23 of the TFA, the transfer of responsibilities from national customs authorities to EU level;

2018/12/10
Committee: INTA

2018/2109(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Feels that better coordination is needed between the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), customs authorities and market surveillance authorities, in order not only to combat counterfeiting, but also to curb the trade in illegal products that infringe intellectual property laws in the EU;

2018/12/10
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 b (new)

– having regard to Article 5 of the Treaty of the European Union (TEU),

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 c (new)

– having regard to Article 208 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union(TFEU),

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 c (new)

– having regard to the Commission communication entitled ‘Trade for all: Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy’ (COM(2015)0497),

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 d (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 27 April 2017 on the EU flagship initiative on the garment sector1a, __________________ 1a Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0196.

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 e (new)

– having regard to its Resolution of 14 June 2017 on the state of play of the implementation of the Sustainability Compact in Bangladesh2a, __________________ 2a Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0265.

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 g (new)

– having regard to voluntary country-specific partnerships, such as the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact and the Myanmar Labour Rights Initiative,

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 h (new)

– having regard to the 2007 joint strategy of the EU and its Member States entitled ‘Aid for trade: Enhancing EU support for trade-related needs in developing countries’,

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 j (new)

– having regard to the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals,

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 l (new)

– having regard to the fundamental ILO Conventions on child labour, forced labour, discrimination, and freedom of association and collective bargaining,

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 n (new)

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 12 May 2016 on the EU and responsible global value chains,

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 o (new)

– having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development and the position in the form of amendments of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (A8-0269/2017),

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 7 p (new)

– having regard to the International Criminal Court Decision on the “Prosecution’s Request fora Ruling on Jurisdiction under Article 19(3) of the Statute” ICC-RoC46(3)-01/18-37

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)stipulates that the EU’s trade policy must be built on the principles and objectives of EU external policy; whereas Article 208 of the TFEU establishes the principle of policy coherence for development and sets the eradication of poverty as the main objective; whereas the Commission’s Trade for All communication bases EU trade policy on three key principles – effectiveness, transparency and values;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas Article 21 TEU provides that (i) the EU's action on the international scene must be guided, inter alia, by the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the respect for human dignity; and (ii) that the EU must define and pursue common policies and actions so as to, inter alia, support human rights;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)

Ac. whereas the Ombudsman made clear that (i) good administration necessarily requires observance and respect of fundamental rights; (ii) there cannot be good administration where fundamental rights are not respected; and (iii) the European Commission must accordingly always consider whether its actions both comply with fundamental rights and result in furthering the cause of human rights in third countries;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)

Ad. whereas the GSP Regulation requires that the European Commission take account of "all available information" in determining whether GSP beneficiary countries duly comply with their human rights obligations, including information provided by civil society; whereas in lack of an independent and formal complaints mechanism it cannot be guaranteed that the European Commission duly complies with its obligation to take account of "all available information";

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas several international conventions, guidelines and rules aim to prevent human rights abuses; whereas GSP beneficiary countries in particular have the obligation to implement them and to create the appropriate legal and economic conditions under which businesses can operate and find a place in global supply chains; whereas GSP beneficiary countries must also be able to implement international standards and norms, including drawing up, implementing and enforcing appropriate legislation, particularly in the area of establishing the rule of law and combating corruption;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas the EU should respond even more effectively to social and environmental dumping and unfair competition and trade practices, and ensure a level playing field;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)

Ec. whereas the particular situation of Export Processing Zones (EPZs) is such that in some countries they are exempt from local labour laws and forbid or limit union activity, and that workers have no recourse to legal redress there, which constitutes a clear violation of ILO standards; whereas corruption and exemptions from labour laws and taxation in EPZs could have a negative impact on human rights, in particular by undermining decent work and trade unions;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)

Ed. whereas gender equality in all EU policies is firmly established in Article 8 of the TFEU; whereas trade and investment agreements tend to affect women and men differently on account of structural gender inequalities; whereas according to the ILO, in 2012 21 million people worldwide, of whom 55 % were women and girls, were the victims of forced labour, with 90 % of these were exploited in the private economy by individuals or enterprises;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)

Ee. whereas the involvement of civil society and social partners in the implementation of the GSP scheme can enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Common Commercial Policy;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E f (new)

Ef. whereas since 1 July 2016, around 12 000 people, including women and children, have, reportedly, been killed in the Philippines during an ongoing campaign against drugs, internationally proclaimed as President Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’; whereas President Duterte has vowed to continue his anti-drug campaign until the end of his presidential term in 2022; whereas the EU remains deeply concerned about the high number of killings associated with the campaign against illegal drugs in the Philippines and about the clear violation of commitments undertaken in the framework of the GSP programme;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E g (new)

Eg. whereas, according to various reports, hundreds of garment workers have died in various factory fires in Bangladesh since 2006,for which regrettably the numerous culpable factory owners and managers have never been brought to justice; whereas it is estimated that every year some 11700 workers are killed in fatal accidents and another 24 500 die from work-related diseases, across all sectors in the country; whereas in different occasions the Government has announced its endeavours to apply for the GSP+ programme;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E h (new)

Eh. whereas Pakistan had a moratorium on the death penalty in place until 2015, but reinstated it in the wake of the massacre at the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014; whereas the moratorium was lifted initially only for terrorist activities, but was subsequently extended to all capital offences; whereas in its recent review of Pakistan’s implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Human Rights Committee raised concerns about restrictions on INGOs in the country and called for a review of the policy for regulation of INGOs in Pakistan, in particular its vague language regarding cancellation of INGO registration;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E i (new)

Ei. whereas Sri Lanka has committed to reform the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), and the Code of Criminal Procedures Act, and to implement the Convention against Torture in the framework of the GSP+ regime; whereas the country has fallen short of its commitments;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E j (new)

Ej. whereas trade unionists, human rights activists and civil society organizations are operating in an increasingly restricted space in Cambodia and face harassment, acts of intimidation and arbitrary arrest; whereas the 2015 amended Law on Association and Non- Governmental Organizations (LANGO) severely restricts freedom of association and expression, including by establishing government control and censorship over the work of NGOs; whereas the Trade Union Law restricts freedom of association and creates unnecessary obstacles and burdens in relation to registration procedures and the operations of trade unions;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E k (new)

Ek. whereas the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights described the circumstances surrounding the mass exodus of more than 700,000 Rohingya people from Myanmar as a “text book example of ethnic cleansing”;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E l (new)

El. whereas the European Commission is in the process of launching investigations on human rights abuses within the framework of potential withdrawals of Myanmar and Cambodia from the Everything But Arms arrangements;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital E m (new)

Em. whereas the GSP trade preferences are enshrined in the EU’s principle of promoting fair and free trade, and, therefore, allow the EU to suspend GSP benefits in the most serious cases of human rights violations on the basis of Chapter V, Article 19(1)(a) of the GSP regulation, which stipulates that preferential treatment may be withdrawn temporarily on a number of grounds, including serious and systematic violation of the principles laid down in the conventions listed in Part A of Annex VIII, among them the ILO’s eight fundamental conventions;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Recalls that the full potential of the GSP+ scheme to improve the situation with regards to workers’ rights, promotion of gender equality, and abolition of child and forced labour can only be fulfilled if monitoring of effective implementation of obligations under the 27 conventions is improved, and the incentive of trade preferences is accompanied by other support measures;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Emphasises that, overall, the GSP scheme appears to have created incentives for ratifying international conventions and has therefore created a better framework for progress; stresses the importance of measures to ensure that GSP enhances positive environmental development; nevertheless considers these achievements to be too limited and insufficient; stresses that much has to be done in beneficiary countries to achieve a sustainable development model;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Emphasises that acts of secondary EU law must be both designed and interpreted in line with primary EU law and general principles of EU law; thus calls for a reform of the GSP Regulation that would lead to bind the European Commission to withdraw GSP treatment from third countries that fail to adequately address established violations of human rights within their jurisdiction;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Calls on the Commission to lay down specific objectives and benchmarks with regard to the effective implementation of international conventions and systematically include these in the human rights country strategy papers with a view to ensuring consistency and mainstreaming human rights into trade policy;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5c. Encourages the establishment of an independent and formal complaints mechanism related to the effective implementation of obligations under international conventions under GSP+, in order to take into account all available information, including from reliable local stakeholders;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)

5d. Suggests that the future reform of GSP+ should take into consideration a progressive phase out of tariffs based on the achievements of the beneficiary country in terms of sustainable development; emphasises the conditionality of trade preferences to improvements on social and environmental protection;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Takes note~~Supports the launch of the first safeguard investigation under the regulation and considers that this clause should ensure that the EU’s financial and economic interests are protected ~~while being able to offer preferences for sensitive product~~; stresses that if trade preferences are not followed by reforms and the implementation of international conventions, the GSP programmes could potentially lead to increased levels of environmental and social dumping; calls on the Commission to assess the programmes’ effects on Union industry and workers;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Highlights that the GSP has made the corporate sector more dynamic, resulting in an increased number of women in the labour force in the industries of the export countries that trade with the EU; notes however that despite some limited improvements women continue to be discriminated and is concerned in particular for the condition of women in the Ready Made Garment (RMG) sector; in this regard deems regrettable that the Commission has not followed up the European Parliament resolution on the European Garment Initiative;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2107(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Welcomes the effect that the GSP has had on private corporations’ initiatives to adopt cleaner and safer technologies, and the direct positive impact thereof on workers and the environment; takes the view that measures to further encourage this development should be planned; nevertheless considers voluntary schemes to be ineffective; re-calls its various initiatives aiming at the establishing due- diligence obligations on European importers;

2018/12/19
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)

– having regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 31 May 2018 on the situation in Nicaragua (2018/2711(RSP)),

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 b (new)

– having regard to the Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the situation in Nicaragua of 2 October 2018,

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 c (new)

– having regard to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly Resolution on the Governance of Globalisation, adopted on 20 September 2018, in Vienna,

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 d (new)

– having regard to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly Resolution on Corporate Social Responsibility in the EU and in Latin American and Caribbean countries, adopted on 20 September 2018, in Vienna,

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)

– having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Trade and Sustainable Development Chapters in Free Trade Agreements 1a, __________________ 1a https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:5201 7IE5323&from=EN

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)

– having regard to Report on the fourth meeting of the Association Committee of 14 June 2018;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

– having regard to the "Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment on the Occasion of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017",

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas Opinion 2/15 of the European Court of Justice affirmed that the CCP is a values-based policy and promoting sustainable development constitutes an integral part of the CCP;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the European Parliament has repeatedly urged the Commission to strengthen the monitoring, implementation and enforcement mechanisms of TSD Chapters, including by considering, among others, a sanctions-based dispute settlement mechanism;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas since April 2018 violence has escalated in Nicaragua, leading to hundreds of civilians, particularly students, being killed, injured or arrested, which constitutes a severe violation of human rights and, particularly, of fundamental civil and political rights and freedoms, as well as the rule of law;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)

Dd. whereas respect for democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law forms an essential part of the Association Agreement, whose violation by one Party allows the other Party to take appropriate measures, including, as a last resort, suspending the Agreement;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recalls the importance of strengthening bi-regional cooperation to preserve and to reinforce the multilateral trade system, as an essential pillar to achieve the SDGs and to guarantee an economic governance based on rules, ensuring a more fair, inclusive and sustainable trade; in particular, recalls its support for the WTO, stressing its role in creating economic stability and supporting growth and development, and calls on the Parties to make use of the dialogue fostered by the Agreement to identify and to develop joint strategies towards the necessary modernization of the WTO;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Highlights that the AA relies on a rules-based fair and predictable relationship which promotes a more secure economic environment built upon the principles of sustainable development; considers that such predictability fosters the exchange of goods, the provision of services, participation in public procurement and the attractiveness of investment which, even if the flows do not always evolve in a linear fashion, are aimed at creating opportunities for quality employment, improved working conditions and living standards on both sides; recalls that liberalisation of trade and investment must go hand in hand with respect of human rights, labour and environmental standards and that this shall apply to all actors concerned, including companies and investors;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to deliver updated and comprehensive annual reports on the implementation of the AA as requested in the relevant implementing regulations; is of the opinion that the information included in the Report on Implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) is not sufficient and, in order to adequately assess the implementation of the AA, suggests that the parties improve the provision of updated, comparable and reliable statistical data; Urges the Commission to establish a mandatory review covering the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter of the Trade Pillar, which shall be conducted by independent experts; Recalls the commitment by the EU and other signatories of the "Buenos Aires Declaration on Gender and Trade" to mainstream gender equality into trade policy and, particularly, to carry out evaluations on the basis of gender- disaggregated data; Calls on the Parties, equally, to provide with regular and accurate data on the sectors and the degree of consolidation of SMEs' activities, in view of the opportunities created by the Agreement;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the fact that trade flows between the parties have generally proven to be resilient despite an unfavourable international economic context ; takes note that: a) EU exports have grown by 22 %, while imports from five Central American countries have increased by 18.3 %, b) the main destination of EU exports to CA is Costa Rica, followed by Panama and Guatemala, and c) the main exporter of goods to the EU is Costa Rica, followed by Honduras and Guatemala; notes with concern the significant drop in 2015 of 40.4% in exports of Costa Rica to the EU due to the relocation of a major IT equipment producer to South-East Asia, leading to an overall fall in imports from Central America of 16.8%;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Takes note that neither CA nor the EU make full use of their granted tariff rate quotas (TRQs) and therefore identifies potential sectors where further exchanges should be encouraged; regrets that figures on preference utilisation rates are only available in Costa Rica and strongly encourages other Central American partners to take the appropriate measures to start collecting such data; is concerned that only 16.6 % of the eligible EU exports to Costa Rica benefited from the FTA while the rate was 92 % for Costa Rican exports to the EU; recalls the key importance of making trade more inclusive and facilitating an appropriate integration of SMEs and particularly of small-scale farmers into value chains; in this regard, requests the Commission to take active measures to increase knowledge and to facilitate the use the opportunities created by the AA among European producers, particularly SMEs, with a view to increase preference utilisation rates and the use of existing TRQs;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Regrets that neither the Third Annual Report nor the latest Report on Implementation of FTAs covering 2016 include relevant data for evaluating investment flows; calls on the Commission to include such data in future reports;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Regrets the lack of a specific chapter on SMEs in the existing AA, and encourages the Commission, the EEAS, Member States and CA to include such a chapter in a future review of the Agreement; Calls on the Parties to place at the disposal of SMEs all the tools required to foster greater exchanges and enhance participation in order to reap the benefits of the AA, including through active measures to foster the internationalisation of SMEs and the setting up of contact points and a specialised website for SMEs; reiterates its call for action to raise awareness of the AA among stakeholders in both regions; reiterates its call for the promotion of cooperation with appropriate technical and financial resources in strategic sectors for both regions;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Insists on the effective implementation of the specific commitments related to Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) provisions, which are an integral part of the AA and are essential to the accomplishment of the objectives set; ~~welcomes, in particular, the fact that civil society advisory mechanisms are now established in all CA countries; regrets, in this~~recalls that the TSD chapter of the Trade Agreement envisages that each Party shall establish Domestic Advisory Groups or committees relevant for matters related to labour, the environment and sustainable development, comprising independent representative civil society organisations, with balanced representation of economic, social and environmental stakeholders, and that this commitment is an indispensable and essential element for the full implementation of the Agreement; welcomes the fact that civil society advisory mechanisms are now established in all CA countries, but notes that serious concerns have been raised with regards to their independence and capacity to participate in some CA count~~ext~~ries; regrets, equally, that the meetings of the Association Committee and Subcommittees and the Civil Society Dialogue Forum have not always taken place as foreseen, and insists that meetings take place on an annual basis;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Welcomes the recommendations made during the 3rd Joint Meeting of the EU and CA's DAGs on 16 June 2016 and calls on the Parties to implement them, particularly, with a view to ensuring the independence and balanced representation of DAGs, bi-annual meetings of the Parties with their DAGs and a full DAGs’ participation in the evaluation of the AA; Regrets that no joint meeting of the EU and CA DAGs have taken place since 2016 and calls on the Parties to include this practice into the institutional setting of this and all other EU Trade Agreements, as an important tool for improved exchange of information, best practices and the elaboration of joint recommendations to be presented to the Parties;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Takes note of the Commission 15- point plan to make TSD chapters more effective and recalls the need to continue its dialogue with the different actors involved, including the European Parliament, in order to design and ensure an effective enforcement mechanism for the human rights, labour and environmental protection commitments included in Trade Agreements;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)

12c. Recalls that the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter of the trade agreement includes legally binding provisions to effectively implement human rights, labour and environmental protection standards; Welcomes the fact that the Agreement has set the path for a regular dialogue on the implementation of the shared commitments; Regrets, however, the lack of enforceability of this chapter; Calls on the Parties to review the Agreement to introduce a suitable and effective dispute settlement mechanism, including sanctions as a deterrent measure to be used, as last resort, in the case of serious breaches, and enabling social partners and civil society to participate appropriately;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 d (new)

12d. Urges the EU and all CA countries to ratify and fully implement the Multilateral Environmental Agreements on fighting climate change, especially on the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement; Highlights the need to for the EU and CA step up cooperation in this regards;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Takes note of the different country reports carried out by the ILO and of the challenges that still remain; notes with concern the non-compliance by Guatemala and Honduras with the fundamental Freedom of Association Convention (No. 87) and by El Salvador with priority Tripartite Consultation Convention (No.144); highlights its particular concern about the anti-union violence in Honduras, including extra- judicial killings and impunity for the perpetrators; calls on the CA countries concerned to eradicate violence against trade unionists and indigenous peoples, and to take legislative measures to effectively implement and enforce ILO fundamental conventions on freedom of association, collective bargaining and non- discrimination, ands well as child labour; stresses the importance of strengthening labour inspections and enhancing social dialogue;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)

14a. Recalls that, in the light of the Stabilisation Mechanism and safeguard clause introduced in the Agreement, more thorough and regular information on market developments should be made available by the Commission, both to the European Parliament and the industrial sectors concerned;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Stresses that recent political and economic developments in some Central American countries can have a negative impact on the region as a whole and might lead to the destabilisation of the region; Strongly condemns the political violence in Nicaragua which erupted in April 2018, leading to hundreds of civilians, particularly students, being killed, injured or arrested, which constitutes a severe violation of human rights and, particularly, of fundamental civil and political rights and freedoms, as well as the rule of law; recalls, in this regard, that respect for democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law forms an essential part of the Association Agreement, whose violation by one Party allows the other Party to take appropriate measures, including, as a last resort, suspending the Agreement; Calls on the government of Nicaragua to ensure restoration of democratic principles and respect for human rights in full, ceasing violence, intimidation and repression against the opposition and protesters, as well as to immediately engage in dialogue with civil society, with a view to resolving the conflict; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to continue monitoring carefully the situation in Nicaragua and consider its trade relationship with the EU accordingly;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2106(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Recalls the obligation of the EU, as enshrined in Art. 8 of the TFUE, to mainstream a gender perspective in all its policies, including Trade; Calls on the Parties to visibly reinforce the gender focus of the Agreement and to include, in a future review, a specific chapter on gender and trade;

2018/10/18
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Commission to ensure that any future trade agreement provides a level playing field, particularly as regards competition and state aid; stresses that state aid should be allowed only in exceptional and justified cases that are regulated by law, so as not to distort competition on the market; recalls that “as companies go global, so must competition enforcers”, not least since the spread of ICTs and the emergence of the digital economy has led to excessive market and power concentration in some sectors; believes that global rules on competition and the highest level of coordination between competition authorities, including with respect to exchange of information in the course of competition proceedings, is a precondition for the development of global fair trade;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission to step up its efforts to show ambition in opening up international public procurement markets and in increasing European companies’ access to public-private partnerships in third countries; considers it necessary to reduce asymmetries in access to public procurement contracts between the Union and third countries, namely in the US and China; calls on all EU trade partners to allow non-discriminatory access for European businesses and workers to their public procurement markets; welcomes the renewed discussion on the International Procurement Instrument (IPI),which establishes the needed reciprocity in cases where trade partners restrict access to their procurement markets, and calls on the European Council for its swift adoption; supports the Commission’s efforts in opening up third countries’ public procurement markets through bilateral trade partnerships; recalls that companies operating in non-market conditions and driven by geopolitical considerations could virtually beat every competitor in European public procurement tenders; calls on the Commission to monitor public procurement tenders and prevent European businesses and workers to suffer from the unfair competition coming from state-orchestrated companies;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2 a. Points out that combating unfair trading practices, including through competition policy, is necessary to ensure a global level playing field which benefits workers, consumers and businesses, and is one of the priorities of the EU’s commercial strategy; emphasises that the reflection paper on harnessing globalisation states that the Union must take steps to restore fair conditions of competition; welcomes the inclusion of provisions on competition policies in the Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan and in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada, regrets however that these provisions remain limited in scope and do not provide for effective enforcement and dispute resolution; draws attention to the importance of incorporating ambitious provisions on competition in all trade agreements and of enforcing their implementation with a view to guarantee fair rules;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2 b. Welcomes the proposal for the establishment of a European framework for foreign direct investments screening considering it a useful instrument to protect European business of strategic interest from unfair trade practices that may harm security and public order and to safeguard the respect of fair competition principles in the EU;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2 c. Emphasises the importance of the anti-subsidy instrument in tackling unfair global competition, and establishing a level playing field with EU state aid rules; in this context, regrets that in 2017 once again the People’s Republic of China registered the highest number of newly constituted trade barriers for European businesses and workers and the majority of European anti-subsidy cases;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to step up its efforts to promote fair competition, including by combating the unjustified use of tariff barriers and subsidies, in the global market through stronger cooperation with other countries at forums such as the WTO, the OECD, UNCTAD, the G20 and the World Bank; recalls the work undertaken at the WTO between 1996 and 2004 on the interaction between trade and competition policy and regrets that this issue has not been part of the WTO work programme since; stresses that provisions in WTO agreements such as GATS Article IX provide a basis to further cooperation amongst WTO members on competition matters; therefore calls for fresh progress to be made at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference towards guaranteeing fair international competition;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4 a. Despite strongly believing in its fundamental role, expresses concern over the alleged inability of the WTO to tackle non-market economies and to address the competitive distortions provoked by subsidies and state intervention; welcomes the USA, Japan and EU’s tripartite action to reform it accordingly;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission to increase its support for small and medium- sized enterprises in the EU so that they can both protect and enforce their rights in the event of unfair commercial practices, i.e. dumping and subsidisation by non-EU countries; in this respect, acknowledges the Commission’s effort to combat unfair competition in high-profile cases against well-known companies, but stresses that the enforcement of fair competition in the case of SMEs is also of the utmost importance;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Draws attention to the importance of effective, harmonised EU customs checks in combating unfair competition; recalls on the importance of avoiding port shopping and competition among Member States, therefore calls for a stricter and more homogenous implementation of the Union’s Customs Code; notes with concern the OLAF conclusions that the “UK customs’ continuous negligence” deprived the EU of EUR 1.987 billion in revenues in lost duties on Chinese merchandise and calls on the United Kingdom to pay the EUR 2.7 billion fine as requested by the European Commission;

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2102(INI)

Wajid KHAN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that the effective implementation of the sustainable development provisions of trade agreements is important for improving living conditions in partner countries and protecting European businesses from unfair competition; calls for the inclusion of binding and enforceable trade and sustainable development provisions in all bilateral trade partnership agreements currently negotiated by the EU; regrets the damages provoked by unfair competition, carbon leakage and delocalisation that resulted in a global surge of CO2 emissions and a lower employment rate in the EU; welcomes the introduction of environmental and social criteria in the reform of anti-subsidies and anti-dumping measures, nevertheless calls on the Commission to present a legislative proposal on the establishment of a European border carbon tax.

2018/09/06
Committee: INTA

2018/2098(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)

29a. Urges the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, to stop the discriminatory measures taken since June 2017 against Qatari nationals, in particular those affecting mixed families, students, property owners, and pilgrims banned from travelling to Mecca for Hajj; praises the efforts made by the Qatari National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in supporting the victims of these violations; calls on the European Union to encourage all diplomatic efforts in resolving the situation;

2018/09/06
Committee: AFET

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

– having regard to the Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment on the Occasion of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 20175a, _________________ 5a https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/min ist_e/mc11_e/genderdeclarationmc11_e.p df

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15

– having regard to the declaration of 10 April 2018 by 221 EU Member States and Norway on the establishment of a European Blockchain Partnership8 , after which five more Member States have joined the Partnership, adding up to the current number of 27 signatory countries, _________________ 8 https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single- market/en/news/european-countries-join- blockchain-partnership

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Citation 15 a (new)

– having regard to the Commission's launch of the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum on 1 February 20182a, _________________ 2a http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP- 18-521_en.htm

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas blockchain can improve transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain, streamline customs checks and regulatory compliance, reduce transaction costs, ~~and~~ strengthen the immutability and security of data, and could function as a tool to combat corruption;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas blockchain in the area of international trade is still evolving and therefore needs an innovation-friendly, enabling and encouraging approach that provides legal certainty, while at the same time promoting consumer, investor and environmental protection, increasing the social value of the technology, reducing the digital divide and improving the digital skills of citizens;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Expresses regret that EU FTAs are ~~underutilised~~not fully utilised and supports analysis of technical solutions that may increase FTA utilisation and exports; notes that exporters could upload all their documents to a public authority application underpinned by blockchain, and instantly prove their compliance with preferential treatment granted by the FTA;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Stresses that blockchain has the potential to support the trade and sustainable development agenda by providing trust in the provenance of raw materials and goods; stresses the increasing demand from consumers who want to know where goods are coming from and know the conditions under which the goods were produced; stresses that blockchain could contribute to the sustainability work of companies and promote responsible business conduct;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Believes that blockchain could contribute to improved consumer protection through encouraging more transparent and traceable value chains, which may contribute to detect fraud, promote verifiability and transparency for goods protected by intellectual property rights, and combat trade in counterfeited goods;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that MRAs of AEOs enable businesses to diversify their supply chains; ~~feel~~believes that blockchain offers the potential to reduce the uncertainty associated with implementing MRAs of AEOs, through a seamless exchange of data;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Believes that the adoption of blockchain technologies throughout the supply chain can increase the volume of global trade, and can lead to increased consumer protection and confidence in digital trade;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Recognises cross-border data flows as ~~an integral function~~necessary for international trade and the design of blockchain architecture; recognises the growing importance of cross-border data flows both within the EU and globally;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Highlights the benefits blockchain could bring to SMEs by allowing peer-to- peer communication, collaboration tools and payments, increasing the ease of doing business; recognises the need for ensuring that the development of blockchain in international trade is SME inclusive;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5

Interoperability ~~and~~, scalability and interactions with related technologies

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Considers the possible interactions of blockchain technologies with other innovations in particular, for international trade, with the Internet of Things in developing sensors for transported goods; underlines the need to analyse the risks and opportunities connected with its developments;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the Commission to follow developments in the area of blockchain, in particular the ongoing pilots/initiatives in the international supply chain and external aspects of customs; invites the Commission to produce a strategy document on adopting blockchain technologies in trade and supply chain management;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Calls on the Commission to further analyse the practical uses of blockchain in international trade; believes that uncertainty regarding juridical and governance aspects of blockchain is an important concern; encourages further analysis of these issues through policy labs and through inclusive platforms for dialogue and exchange of practices; encourages the Commission and national competent authorities to build up technical and juridical expertise in the area of blockchain in international trade;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)

18b. Calls on the Commission to engage in, support and promote research in the area of blockchain in international trade, in this regard, recalls the Parliament’s position on the importance of promoting female participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and of closing gender gaps in access to and in the use of new technologies; demands that the gender perspective is incorporated in all digital initiatives, ensuring that that the ongoing digital transformation also becomes a driving force for gender equality, which is essential for Europe's long-term growth and prosperity;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)

18c. Calls on the Commission to raise awareness about blockchain and its potential in international trade, to undertake initiatives for information spreading, education of citizens, and competence building regarding blockchain technology, and to address the problem of the digital gap between Member States; calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop and pursue digital skills training and retraining strategies in order to ensure society’s active and inclusive participation in changes coming from the digital transformation;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls on the Commission to develop a set of guiding principles ~~tailored to industry to provide a level of certainty that encourages the use of blockchain and innovation in this area~~for blockchain application in international trade, in order to provide the industry, including SMEs, with a sufficient level of certainty that encourages the use of blockchain while still promoting innovation; believes that such guidelines should promote blockchain in suitable areas that may benefit from the technology;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)

21a. Calls on the Commission to examine ways in which blockchain could support trade and sustainable development; recalls the Parliament’s position that measures flanking an EU digital trade strategy should be fully in line with and contribute to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG5 on gender equality and women empowerment;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Calls on the Commission to assess the optimality of blockchain architecture that keeps private data off the chain; recognises the importance of cross-border data flows for growth and jobs, and repeats that any future trade policy provisions on cross-border transfers of data must be subject to the consent of the Parliament and safeguard EU citizens’ fundamental rights;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Encourages the Commission to collaborate with and contribute to the work of international organisations and feed into current projects on producing a set of standards and principles to underpin regulation aimed at facilitating the use of blockchain;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Calls on the Commission to play an active role in the process of standardisation and security of blockchain, and to work with the ~~industrie~~Members States, public sectors, industries, trade unions, civil society and other stakeholders to develop blockchain standards, including terminology, development, and deployment of the technology;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Calls on the Commission to work with relevant stakeholders in order to review and develop a framework for addressing challenges to interoperability and compatibility between blockchain systems;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2085(INI)

Aleksander GABELIC, Nicola DANTI, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)

25a. Reminds the Commission that the European Union has an opportunity to become a leading actor in the field of blockchain and international trade, and should be an influential actor in shaping its development globally together with international partners;

2018/10/22
Committee: INTA

2018/2046(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the Union has an increasingly ambitious trade agenda, as outlined in the ‘Trade for all’ strategy; underlines the need for giving enough political and administrative support to ensure that trade deals can be agreed within appropriate timeframes; stresses that the funding for Aid for Trade initiatives should be increased and sufficient resources should be allocated to DG Trade of the Commission to enable it to carry out the increasing number of activities, in particular to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the provisions included in both the bilateral and multilateral agreements; highlights the importance of performing assessments prior to, during and following the conclusion of such agreements in achieving a more inclusive strategy; in this regard recognises the need for gender-disaggregated data; reiterates the need to adequately finance the implementation of Trade Defense Instruments (TDIs) to promote quick investigations and to allow for their swift adoption;

2018/07/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2046(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1 a. Stresses that international trade is a core tool for the Union foreign policy which, if sufficiently funded and implemented by means of coherent strategies, contributes to sustainable development, particularly in developing countries; considers the Common Commercial Policy as one of the Union's most powerful tools to tackle migration causes;

2018/07/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2046(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Asks the Commission to assess the existing tools aimed at promoting SME internationaliszation regarding their coherence with other Union SME support instruments as well as regarding subsidiarity, non-duplication and complementarity in relation to Member State programmes; calls on the Commission to further finance SMEs internationalization programmes and to endeavour to provide a rules of origin calculator tailored to SMEs that should specifically enable them to use the preferences available under existing agreements with a view to increasing the preference utilisation rate;

2018/07/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2046(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the involvement of civil society and social partners in the implementation of trade agreements can benefit the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Common Commercial Policy, that the citizens of the Union are asking to be more involved and engaged with Union trade policy and that the Commission has made this citizens’ interest a priority; considers that it is crucial that enough resources are allocated to actively involve citizens in Union trade policy-making and to raise a higher degree of awareness of its benefits among European citizens; calls for the inclusion of Domestic Advisory Groups and Joint Platforms, that are now under budgeted, into citizens’ dialogue as they are the main vehicles for achieving the effective participation of civil society in the enforcement and monitoring of trade and sustainability chapters of trade agreements; calls for the development of the key performance indicators against which they wish to assess the performance of customs administrations at national and Union level; calls on Member States to take a more active role in explaining the added value of Union trade policy since it is the Member States that formulate the negotiating mandates;

2018/07/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2046(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Emphasises that the Brexit will constitute a significant diminution in EU revenues and in order to achieve a smooth transition of current EU policies until the time for the next multiannual financial framework, calls for higher preparedness for the expected loss of revenue.deleted

2018/07/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2046(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Recalls that any new Union initiative, including those in the field of defence, should be financed by additional funds and not be detrimental to existing budget lines;

2018/07/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2046(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5 b. Notes that, albeit varying results, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) is under budgeted, does not operate systematically and thus is inadequate to balance the side-effects of automation, digitalisation and globalisation; observes the success of similar initiatives in comparable economies; underlines the need for additional funds and resources to finance the EGF and to increase its effectiveness and its operability; in this regard considers the elimination of unnecessary burdens key in achieving a higher degree of efficiency; underlines the importance of trainings in providing un-employed workers with the instruments needed for a successful re-integration into the labour market;

2018/07/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2046(BUD)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)

5 c. Recalls that Article 8 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union firmly establishes that "In all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women" and that, therefore, the Union has a duty to mainstream gender equality in all its policies, guaranteeing that men and women benefit equally from social changes, economic growth and the creation of decent jobs, doing away with discrimination and promoting respect for women's rights in the world; in this regard calls on the Commission for the inclusion of Gender chapters in all the newly negotiated trade agreements and to provide the necessary resources for their implementation;

2018/07/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the EU Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru (the Agreement) is a rules-based relationship, anchored on common values and international standards for sustainable development, that has the potential of having a strong positive impact on the socio-economic development of the parties to the Agreement, on economic integration, on sustainable development, human rights and on bringing the countries and their citizens closer together;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recalls the importance of strengthening cooperation to preserve and to reinforce the multilateral trade system, as an essential pillar to achieve the SDG and to ensure an economic governance based on rules, ensuring a more fair, inclusive and sustainable trade; in particular, recalls its support for the WTO, stressing its role in creating economic stability and supporting growth and development, and calls on the Parties to make use of the dialogue fostered by the Agreement to identify and to develop joint strategies towards the necessary modernization of the WTO;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Underlines the opportunity that the Agreement offers to reinforce ~~cooperation and~~not only interregional, but also interaregional cooperation and trade between Colombia, Peru and Ecuador;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the integration of Ecuador into the Agreement ~~and stresses the constructive role played in this process by Colombia and Peru~~, as an additional element to help strengthening regional integration, and stresses the constructive role played all parties to make of this process a success; recalls that the Agreement is still open to further accessions;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Is of the opinion that the Agreement is an opportunity to foster the peace agreement in Colombia~~Recalls the potential benefits and the need to make the best possible use of the Agreement to help implementing the peace agreement and reconciliation process in Colombia, including specific challenges such as the diversification of the economy, productive development or the implementation of the land-use planning; Recalls that continuous and structured support to, and dialogue with, civil society is also key for the sustainability of peace from the ground up, particularly in rural areas;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the fact that the Agreement opens markets for, inter alia, goods, services, government procurement and investment, ~~thereby creating new emp~~which built upon the principles of sustainable develoypment can create opportunities ~~and contributing to~~for quality employment, improved working conditions and living standards ~~by liberalising and expanding trade and investment~~;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Points out that the Agreement has contributed to the modernisation and diversification of exports from Colombia and Peru and that it has had a positive impact on Colombian and Peruvian SMEs; Calls on the Parties to provide with regular and accurate data on the sectors and the degree of consolidation of the SMEs' activities to this regard;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Stresses that since the provisional entry into force of the Agreement, 1 155 Colombian companies – of which 328 are SMEs – and 2 328 new Peruvian companies – of which 90 % are SMEs – have begun to export to the EU; Calls on the Parties to further support the internationalization process of the SMEs and their reciprocal market access;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Takes the view that many SMEs in the EU, Colombia and Peru are not aware of the opportunities that the Agreement brings; calls, therefore, on the ~~Commission and the Member Stat~~Parties to study the preference utilisation rate of SMEs in particular, and to take effective steps to better communicate the opportunities and benefits offered by the Agreement, including through the setting up of contact points and the establishment of a specialised website for SMEs; considers that a future revision of the trade agreement should consider the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on SMEs;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Welcomes the fact that EU exports of agricultural products to both countries have increased significantly since the provisional application of the Agreement; Recalls the importance of making trade more inclusive and facilitating an appropriate integration of small-scale farmers into value chains;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recalls that safeguard clauses have been set for sensitive agricultural sectors and that, in this regard, more thorough and regular information on market developments should be made available by the Commission, both to the European Parliament and the industrial sectors concerned;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 – introductory part

13. Points out that further progress is needed, among others, on the following issues:

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Notes that both countries have raised specific concerns about their ability to meet certain food safety standards required for the EU market, in particular as regards recent EU legislative proposals on cadmium levels in cacao, endocrine disruptors, novel foods, and palm oil, which risk having a social impact in some of the countries’ ~~poorest~~most vulnerable areas, where such production tends to be concentrated; Calls on the EU, Colombia and Peru to strengthen and to make the best use of financial and technical cooperation in order to help meeting the given challenges;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Recalls that the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter of the EU-Colombia and Peru Trade Agreement includes legally binding provisions to effectively implement human rights, labour and environmental protection standards; Welcomes the fact that the Agreement has set the path for a regular dialogue on the implementation of the shared commitments; Regrets, however, the lack of enforceability of this chapter; Calls on the Parties to make use of the review clause included in the Agreement to introduce a suitable and effective dispute settlement mechanism, including sanctions as a deterrent measure to be used, as last resort, in the case of serious breaches, and enabling social partners and civil society to participate appropriately;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Insists on the ~~effective~~need to implement~~ation of~~, effectively and through concrete action plans, the specific provisions related to the road map on human, environmental and labour rights, as called for in its resolution of 13 June 2012 on the EU trade agreement with Colombia and Peru~~, such as enforcing and implementing legislation and policy measures that guarantee~~; In particular, recalls the commitment by the Parties to implement and to enforce standards on freedom of association, the right to bargain collectively ~~and~~, strict and effective labour inspections, violence against social and ethnic leaders and the protection of the environment through the appropriate prevention, control and enforcement mechanisms;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Welcomes the efforts made by Colombia to fight impunity in cases of criminal offences including through improved investigations; Condemns, however, the persisting violence against human rights defenders, environmental activists, trade unionists, ethnic and community leaders, with an increased rate of offences against women;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Likewise, condemns the violence against human rights defenders, social and ethnic community leaders, and particularly violence against women in Peru and calls for increased efforts to solve this persisting scourge;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Recalls the obligation of the EU, as enshrined in Art. 8 of the TFUE, to mainstream a gender perspective in all its policies, including Trade; Welcomes the fact that all the EU, Peru and Colombia have signed the Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment issued on the Occasion of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, in December 2017; Calls on the Parties to visibly reinforce the gender focus of the Agreement and, particularly, stresses the need to carry out evaluations on the basis of gender- disaggregated data; Call on the Parties to include, in a future revision of the Agreement, a specific chapter on gender and trade;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Acknowledges that an agreement concluded in 2017 between the Colombian Government and the public sector trade unions brought about improvements for more than one million workers; Expresses its concern about the particularly low level of trade Union membership and the increase of the unilaterally determined salary and benefit schemes ("pactos colectivos") over collective bargaining agreements;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Welcomes the fact that, according to the OECD’s Trade Union Advisory Committee, there has been an increase in the number of inspectors in Colombia; Stresses the need for increased resources in order to guarantee effective labour inspections; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to support Colombia in its efforts to strengthen labour inspections, which represent an enormous challenge for the Colombian Government given that the state had lost control of parts of the country during the long armed conflict, and expects that additional and effective controls are carried out, especially in rural areas;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. ~~Expresses~~Welcomes the efforts and commitments expressed by Peru to reinforce the implementation of its commitments under the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter of the Agreement; Expresses, however, its concerns over the lack of effective implementation in Peru of certain aspects of the chapter on trade and sustainable development (TSD) with regard to both labour and environmental provisions~~, and e~~; Especially ~~as regards th~~regrets the lack of effective implementation of ILO conventions 87 and 98, ~~which are fundamental;~~ on the Freedom of Association, the Right to Organise and to Collective Bargaining, which are fundamental, as well as the Right to Prior Consultation of the Indigenous peoples and expresses its concerns over recent legislative changes that may lead to the weakening of environmental protection;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Welcomes the latest measures taken in Peru to improve labour inspections and encourages the country to keep on reinforcing efforts, following the ILO recommendations;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Recalls that the TSD chapter of the Trade Agreement envisages that each Party shall establish Domestic Advisory Groups or committees relevant for matters related to labour, the environment and sustainable development, comprising independent representative civil society organisations, with balanced representation of economic, social and environmental stakeholders; Welcomes the decision of Colombia to create a consultation group independent of the government; calls on Peru to establish a similarly independent domestic advisory group, as an indispensable and essential element for the full implementation of the Agreement;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Welcomes the decision by the representatives of the EU and Andean Domestic Advisory Groups to hold annual joint meetings, that will allow for an improved exchange of information and best practices and the preparation of joint recommendations to be presented to the Parties; Considers that this practice should be included in the institutional setting all EU Trade Agreements;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. ~~Calls on~~Notes the Commission ~~to continue to implement fully the~~ 15-point plan to make TSD chapters more effective and recalls the need to continue its dialogue with the different actors involved, including the European Parliament in order to design and ensure an effective enforcement mechanism for the human rights, labour and environmental protection commitments;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2010(INI)

Elena VALENCIANO, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)

24a. Notes with concern the significant share of the informal economy in both Peru and Colombia, especially among women; emphasises the need to develop effective policies in order to reduce its share and considers that the Agreement could help in that regard, by helping to create more formal jobs, among others, by reinforcing measures to facilitate the economic activities SMEs;

2018/10/16
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that in the course of globalisation, international value chains have emerged; points out that these value chains restructure the international division of labour as well as the interdependence of countries; recalls that their extremely complex nature, lack of transparency and dilution of liabilities may lead to a higher risk of human and labour rights violations, factual impunity for environmental crimes and large-scale tax avoidance and tax fraud;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes that as a side effect of globalisation, finance has tended to generate huge private rewards disproportionate to its social returns and non-financial corporations have also become adept at using rent-seeking strategies to bolster their profits, therefore contributing to rising inequality; Notes with concern that despite the efforts since 2009 to address the excesses of the financial sector the underlying macro- financial structures have remained broadly intact and there has been almost no effort to tackle the connections between inequality and instability that have marked the rise of unregulated finance;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the benefits of globalisation are unequally distributed between regions and within societies; some regions and sectors profit to a large extent, while others suffer from structural change and rising unemployment; notes that this is a reason for the rising scepticism or rejection of globalisation within societies; notes that the financial and economic crises had a particularly negative effect on mid-range incomes; notes that the middle class has shrunk in many EU Member States, while their share of the overall income equally decreased; expresses the view that the combination of a declining middle class, citizens’ fears over losing their social and economic position, and scepticism towards globalisation, can result in nationalist and authoritarian tendencies, which then lead to the promotion of protectionism as an easy answer to common fears; notes that in this context, neither nationalist-protectionist nor business-as-usual policies are the adequate response;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that the economic importance of China and other Southeast Asian countries is growing significantly; points out that this trend will persist within the next years, while understands that this leads to a relative loss of importance for the present global economic centres of Europe and North America;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes that the Chinese new silk road strategy is China’s attempt at becoming the leading world economic power, while the America First strategy is an attempt at confronting the United states’ downturn that willingly accepts its own destructive force for the rule-based world economic order;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

~~6. N~~The EU is presented with the challenge to function successfully in this changed world economic setting, meaning that it needs to assure its competitiveness and increase its cooperation with the rising economies in South East Asia as well as India and China and to meet the increasing arbitrary protectionism of the United States; notes the importance of engaging 6. in the restructuring of the world economic order and of respecting the needs of developing countries, while stressing that the aim of fulfilling the SDGs and the conditions of the Paris Agreement must provide the overarching framework;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, Aleksander GABELIC, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. NAgrees with the Commission that the preservation of the international competitiveness is a prerequisite for a successful European strategy; notes that strengthening the EU’s internal market as well as consolidating the economic union is vital, since a solid internal market is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of international strategies; points out that being internationally competitive depends strongly on shaping digitalisation successfully and in a socially and environmentally responsible manner; notes that the shift to renewable energies needs to happen as soon as possible;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. APoints out that there is no level playing field for SMEs; asks the Commission to create a European trade strategy for SMEs in order to integrate SMEs into international value chains and overcome trade-specific hurdles such as non-tariff barriers; points out that access to information is one of the biggest obstacles to the market participation of SMEs, meaning that transparency and support need to increase; notes that the utilization rate of Free Trade Agreements, especially by SMEs, needs to increase as well;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Notes that effective trade defence instruments are needed, welcomes the recent reform of EU trade defence instruments which must be ~~checked regarding its capacity as a protective measure against arbitrary protectionism, on top of its ability to protect against dumping~~effectively implemented in order to protect industries and jobs from dumped and unfairly subsidised imports; supports the Commission's measures put in place following the US imposition of steel and aluminium tariffs; points out that the rules on investment screening need to be put in place as soon as possible in order to prevent foreign investments that are merely motivated by industrial policy and serve to acquire European technologies;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Notes that, as a minimum reply to globalisation-induced job losses, a reform of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund is needed; stresses that the EGF must become more proactive tool aiming at preparing workers and companies to fight the negative impacts of globalisation; points out that the Commission needs to reform the preconditions for receiving support; notes that employees of smaller enterprises must have access to EGF funding; notes that the resources of the fund must be increased ; points out that its scope should be widened to other policy-induced adjustments; calls for a reform of the programs monitoring and evaluation- mechanism;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Recalls that the European Court of Justice stated, in its 2/15 Opinion on EU- Singapore FTA, that sustainable development forms an integral part of the common commercial policy of the EU and therefore the EU has a legal obligation to integrate the objective of preserving and improving the quality of the environment and the sustainable management of global natural resources into the EU’s common commercial policy, that trade and sustainable development chapters have a direct and immediate effect on trade and that a breach on sustainable development provisions authorises the other Party to terminate or suspend the liberalisation provided for on other provisions of the FTA;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes that impact assessments conducted before the start of negotiations must take their possible effects on the fulfilment of the SDGs into account; notes that national sustainability strategies and implementation plans for the Paris Agreement must form the starting point for impact assessments; points out that every single provision of an agreement and its possible impacts must be checked on its compatibility with the SDGs; notes that if parts of an agreement hamper the fulfilment of the SDGs or the Paris Agreement, adjustments must be made; notes that ~~breaches of sustainability provisions must be counterweighted by corrective measures or lead to a sanction- based dispute settlement~~within the monitoring process the effect of the agreement on the fulfilment of the SDGs equally needs to be checked; calls for corrective measures or a sanction based dispute settlement in case of infringements of all trade and sustainable development related provisions throughout the entire agreement; Therefore reiterates its call on the EU to always include in its TSD-chapters binding and enforceable provisions which are subject to suitable and effective dispute settlement mechanisms, and consider, among various enforcement methods, a sanctions-based mechanism;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Notes that, in ~~lin~~coherence with SDG 17, the Commission ~~must~~needs to reform its system ~~for~~on implementing policy coherence for development; points out that the reciprocal effects of trade-, agricultural-, external-, fisheries-,environmental-, tax- and other policy areas must be evaluated on an equal footing between civil society, commission and parliaments; notes that breaches of sustainability provisions must be counterweighted by corrective measures and lead to a sanction-based dispute settlement;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ANotes that the EU has regulated the supply chains of timber, fish and conflict minerals and several Member States have developed due diligence frameworks in different sectors, showing the need to develop a broad EU framework in order to ensure a level playing field; therefore asks the Commission to meet the growing complexity of value chains and the increasing interdependence of producers with clear transparency and due diligence obligations for the whole supply chain; since the weak enforcement of existing labour laws and occupational safety standards – introduced to protect workers from exhaustive working hours and unacceptable conditions – in sourcing countries remains a pressing issue; notes that GVCs have also propelled some supplier firms to ignore labour laws, reallocate their economic activities outside the EU, engage workers in unsafe and unacceptable conditions, demand exhaustive working hours and deny workers their fundamental rights; recalls that these practices create unfair competition for suppliers that are compliant with labour laws and international labour and environmental standards, and for governments that want to improve wages and living standards; calls on the Commission to study the impact of the rise of GVCs and to present concrete proposals to improve conditions in them and to work towards a legally binding framework for corporate accountability and responsible business conduct (RBC) with regard to decent work, environmental sustainability and respect for human rights in close cooperation with the ILO and the OECD;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, Aleksander GABELIC, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Points out that active measures aiming to enhance opportunities for women to benefit from the opportunities provided by an FTA are necessary to reach the goal of gender equality; calls for trade agreements that include a specific chapter on trade and gender equality and women's empowerment, foreseeing to provide for measures aimed at, inter alia, a better work-family life balance and access to social and health services, to pursue an enhanced participation of women enterprises (particularly micro-enterprises and SMEs) in public procurement, to support the internationalisation of women enterprises and the participation of women in Mode 4 opportunities;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Notes that, in view of attacks on the multilateral world economic order, it is vitally important to preserve this order since any backsliding into protectionism would be damaging and would lead to trade war; notes that the multilateral order can only be upheld if it is reformed; notes that it is not the goal to secure free trade but to secure fair trade that fulfils the SDGs and gives room to the needs of developing countries, as referenced in the trade for all strategy; notes that, since multilateral initiatives currently bare little chance for success, the EU should strive for bilateral and plurilateral agreements in the meantime, in which fair trade is one of the guiding principles;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2005(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Notes that free, fair and sustainable trade is economically ~~desirable~~relevant and has vital political implications; notes that i~~t is~~n the light of the America First strategy as well as the new silk-road strategy it is of vital strategic importantce for Europe, to use trade as an instrument for the promotion of a democratic and sustainable development in the states of the Eeastern Ppartnership as well as the African states; points out that trade and investments need to be interlinked with strategies for sustainable development, both in the eastern and the African states; calls on the Commission to push for coherent implementation of the association agreements with the states of the eastern partnership in order to develop stable economic relations with the Eurasian economic union; notes that in the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreements with the African regions and states not only the trade related aspects are important but that interlinking them with the requirements of sustainable development in the African states is the vital element;

2018/07/02
Committee: INTA

2018/2003(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Notes with concern that deforestation is considered as one of the contributing factors to global climate change and recalls that seventy percent of the world’s plants and animals live in forests and are losing their habitats due to deforestation;

2018/03/26
Committee: INTA

2018/2003(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Urges the EU to always include in its TSD chapters enforceable provisions ~~in its TSD chapters~~ to halt illegal logging ~~and~~, forest degradation and land grabbing, including through the possible use of sanctions~~; calls on the Commission to add~~ and provisions to guarantee the right to property, prior consultation and informed consent. Calls on the EC to include such provisions toin already concluded FTA’s through the revision clause;

2018/03/26
Committee: INTA

2018/2003(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that Malaysia and Indonesia are the main producers of palm oil, with an estimated 85-90 % of global production, and that the growing demand for this commodity leads to deforestation, puts pressure on land use and has significant effects on local communities, health and climate change; stresses in this context to use negotiations for a trade agreement with Indonesia and Malaysia to improve the situation on the ground;

2018/03/26
Committee: INTA

2018/2003(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Urges the Commission to include illegal forest practices, as under-pricing of wood in concessions, harvesting of protected trees by commercial corporations, smuggling of forest products across borders, illegal logging and processing forest raw materials without a license into the scope of the anti-corruption chapters in FTA’s;

2018/03/26
Committee: INTA

2018/2003(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Recalls that responsible governance of tenure of land and forests is essential to ensure social stability, sustainable use of the environment and responsible investment for sustainable development;

2018/03/26
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7

(7) The aim of this Regulation is to ensure that manufacturers established in the Union are able to compete effectively in those third country markets where supplementary protection does not exist or has expired. It is intended to complement the efforts of the Union’s trade policy to ensure open markets for Union-based manufacturers of medicinal products. I~~ndirectly, i~~t is also intended to put those manufacturers in a better position to enter the Union market immediately after expiry of the relevant supplementary protection certificate, namely Day-1 entry. It would also help to serve the aim of fostering access to medicines in the Union by helping to ensure a swifter entry of generic and biosimilar medicines onto the market after expiry of the relevant certificate.

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8

(8) In those specific and limited circumstances, and in order to create a level playing field between Union-based manufacturers and third country manufacturers, it is appropriate to restrict the protection conferred by a supplementary protection certificate so as to allow ma~~king for the exclusive purpose of~~nufacturing exclusively for (i) exporting to third countries and any related acts strictly necessary for ~~making or for the actual export itself~~this manufacturing and (ii) entering the Union's market as soon as the supplementary protection certificate expires.

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9

(9) That exception should cover the making of the product, including the product which corresponds to the medicinal product protected by a supplementary protection certificate in the territory of a Member State, for the exclusive purpose of export to third countries and to prepare for Day-1 entry in the Union's market, as well as any upstream or downstream acts by the maker or by third parties in a contractual relationship with the maker, where such acts would otherwise require the consent of the certificate-holder, and are strictly necessary for making for the purpose of export or, for the actual export itself and for Day-1 entry. For instance, such acts may include the supply and import of active ingredients for the purpose of making the medicinal product to which the product covered by the certificate corresponds, or temporary storage of the product or advertising for the exclusive purpose of export to third country destinations or Day- 1 entry in the Union's market.

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11

(11) By limiting the scope of the exception to making for Day-1 entry in the Union's market and for the purpose of export outside the Union, and acts strictly necessary for such making or for the actual export itself, the exception introduced by this Regulation will not unreasonably conflict with normal exploitation of the product in the Member State where the certificate is in force, nor unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the certificate-holder, taking account of the legitimate interests of third parties.

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12

(12) SReasonable and proportionate safeguards should accompany the exception ~~in order to increase transparency, to~~, for the exclusive purpose of helping the holder of a supplementary protection certificate to enforce its protection in the Union and to reduce the risk of illicit diversion onto the Union market during the term of the certificate. Those safeguards should not negatively affect competition among companies and should allow the exception to work effectively with no disruption to the main objectives of the exception. At the same time the safeguards should also ensure the necessary confidentiality and protection of commercially sensitive information of the applicant, in compliance with existing EU legislation and recommendations, such as Directive (EU) 2016/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on trade secrets and the EMA/HMA Guidance Document on the identification of commercially confidential information and personal data.

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) To this end, this Regulation should impose a once-off duty on the person making the product for the exclusive purpose of export, requiring that person to provide certain information to the authority which granted the supplementary protection certificate in the Member State where the making is to take place. The information should be provided before the making is intended to start for the first time in that Member State. The making and related acts, including those performed in Member States other than the one of making in cases where the product is protected by a certificate in those other Member States too, should only fall within the scope of the exception where the maker has sent this notification to the competent industrial property authority (or other designated authority) of the Member State of making. The once-off duty to provide information to the authority should apply in each Member State where making is to take place, both as regards the making in that Member State, and as regards related acts, whether performed in that or another Member State, related to that making. The authority should ~~be requi~~keep the notification and the information it contains confidential and take appropriate measureds to p~~ublish that information, in the interests of transparency and for the purpose of informing~~rotect such confidentiality. The authority may disclose the information to the holder of the certificate only if disclosure is ordered by a court (i) upon request from the holder of the certificate (and other persons entitled under national law to start an infringement action on the basis of the certificate), (ii) after the maker was given the opportunity to attend and to be heard, (iii) if the holder of the certificate has provided evidence rendering plausible that the maker did not comply with the conditions for the exception to apply, and (iv) if the holder of the certificate ~~of th~~and the court have mtake~~r’s intention~~n appropriate measures to keep the notification and the information it contains confidential and avoid their disclosure to third parties.

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14

(14) In addition, this Regulation should impose certain due diligence requirements on the maker as a condition for the exception to operate. The maker should be required to inform persons within its supply chain, through appropriate means, in particular contractual means, that the product is covered by the exception introduced by this Regulation and is intended for the exclusive purpose of export, or Day-1 entry. A maker who failed to comply with these due diligence requirements would not benefit from the exception, nor would any third party performing a related act in the same or a different Member State where a certificate conferring protection for the product was in force, and the holder of the relevant certificate would therefore be entitled to enforce its rights under the certificate.

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15

(15) Furthermore, this Regulation should impose labelling requirements on the maker, in order to facilitate, by means of a logo, identification of the product as a product exclusively intended for the purpose of export to third countries. The making and related acts should only fall outside the protection conferred by a supplementary protection certificate if the product is labelled in this manner. This labelling obligation would be without prejudice to labelling requirements of third countries.deleted

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0161(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19

(19) In order to ensure that holders of supplementary protection certificates already in force are not deprived of their acquired rights, the exception provided for in this Regulation should only apply to certificates ~~that are granted on or after a specified date after~~following a transition period of 1 year after the Regulation's entry into force, irrespective of when the application for the certificate was first lodged. The ~~date specifie~~transition period should allow a reasonable time for applicants and other relevant market players to adjust to the changed legal context and to make appropriate investment and manufacturing location decisions in a timely way. The date should also allow sufficient time for public authorities to put in place appropriate arrangements to receive and publish notifications of the intention to make, and should take due account of pending applications for certificates.

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN

Proposal for a regulation
Annex I

~~THIS SUBHEADING IS MISSING. THANK YOU FOR USING ANOTHER LANGUAGE Logo~~deleted deleted

2018/11/12
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4

(4) The follow up and review of the Agreements, the conduct of investigations and, where appropriate, the imposition of safeguard measures should be carried out ~~transparently~~in the most transparent manner possible. The European Parliament should be kept informed and involved at all stages of the procedure and, in particular, prior to the adoption of any safeguard measures.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13

(13) It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level and with civil society organisations and Domestic Advisory Groups of the Union. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2

2. Upon a duly justified request by the Union industry concerned or the trade unions, the Commission may extend the scope of the monitoring to other products and sectors, if any, than those mentioned in the Annex.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. The European Commission shall monitor the observance by third countries of the social and environmental standards as laid down in their respective trade and sustainable development chapters.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Upon request by the responsible committee of the European Parliament, the Commission will report to it on any specific concerns relating to the implementation by the countries concerned of their commitments on trade and sustainable development.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3

3. The Commission shall present an annual monitoring report to the European Parliament and to the Council on statistics on imports of sensitive products, and those products and sectors, if any, to which monitoring has been extended as well as on the fulfilment of obligations by the countries concerned under the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1

1. An investigation shall be initiated by the Commission upon request by a Member State, by any legal person or any association not having legal personality acting on behalf of the Union industry and by trade unions, or on the Commission's own initiative, where there is sufficient prima facie evidence, as determined on the basis of factors referred to in Article 6(5).

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 4

4. An investigation may also be initiated where there is a surge of imports concentrated in one or several Member States or outermost regions, provided that there is sufficient prima facie evidence, as determined on the basis of factors referred to in Article 6(5).

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Where the European Parliament adopts a recommendation to initiate a safeguard investigation, the Commission shall carefully examine whether the conditions for ex-officio are fulfilled and if so, then proceed as laid down in this regulation. If the Commission considers that the conditions are not fulfilled, it shall present a report to the responsible committee of the European Parliament including an explanation of all the factors relevant to the rejection of such an investigation.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3

3. The investigation shall, where possible, be concluded within ~~six~~four months of its initiation. That time limit may be extended by a further period of t~~hree~~wo months in exceptional circumstances such as the involvement of an unusually high number of interested parties or complex market situations. The Commission shall notify all interested parties of any such extension and explain the reasons therefor.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 10

10. Where information is not supplied within the time limits set by the Commission, or where the investigation is significantly impeded, the Commission may reach a decision on the basis of the available facts. Where the Commission finds that any interested party or any third party has supplied it with false or misleading information, it shall disregard that information ~~and~~, may make use of the facts available and assess the potential actions to be taken against that party.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI

Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament of any decision to impose provisional safeguard measures.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 a (new)

Article 11a Outermost regions of the Union Where any product is being imported in such increased quantities and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause serious deterioration in the economic situation of one or several of the Union’s outermost regions, as referred to in Article 349 TFEU, a safeguard measure may be imposed, in accordance with the procedure laid down in this regulation.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0101(COD)

Costas MAVRIDES, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN

Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. The report shall include information on the activities of the various bodies responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Agreement, as well as information regarding the fulfilment of obligations under the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter and on activities with civil society advisory groups.

2018/09/11
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

– having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the role of civil society in the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement of October 2014,

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 b (new)

– having regard to the analysis on the economic impact of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement of the European Commission’s Directorate- General for Trade of June 2018,

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has a strategic dimension and is the most important bilateral trade agreement ever concluded by the Union as it covers nearly a third of world GDP, almost 40 percent of world trade and more than 600 million people;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Welcomes the fact that Japan will, notably, grant non-discriminatory access for EU suppliers to the procurement markets of ~~48 cities~~54 core cities, and may enlarge the number of cities covered even further, remove the ‘operational safety clause’, which has in practise prevented EU rail suppliers to access the Japanese market, and maximise transparency in tendering for public contracts;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes that the agreement provides significant export opportunities for EU agri-food products, such as wine, pig meat and cheese, and that it protects 205 European geographical indications (GIs), with the possibility to add further GIs, which is particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food sector;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Highlights the fact that the agreement promotes best practices for providing safe and high-quality food and products for consumers; recalls the EU’s application of the precautionary principle and welcomes the inclusion of a clear reference to the precautionary approach in the agreement; calls on both partners to mainstream consumer protection and consumer welfare in the implementation of the agreement;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC, David MARTIN, Bernd LANGE

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Stresses that both parties are committed to ensure high levels of environmental and labour protection and that those high standards should not be regarded as trade barriers; recalls Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, welcomes the fact that both Japan and the EU have adhered themselves to the “Buenos Aires Declaration on Women and Trade” and calls on both parties to strongly reinforce commitments on gender and trade in this agreement; expects the EU and Japan to show their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals in all their actions, including the implementation of this agreement;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Welcomes the commitment to the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement to combat climate change and of other multilateral environmental agreements, as well as to the sustainable management of forests (including fighting illegal logging) and fisheries (combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing); recalls that EU legislation remains applicable to products imported into the European market; calls on both parties to cooperate closely under the sustainable development chapter to exchange best practices and to strengthen the enforcement of legislation in these matters;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Bernd LANGE, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Highlights the fact that the agreement includes the clear commitment to pursue the ratification of fundamental ILO conventions; regrets that Japan has not yet ratified two ILO core conventions (on discrimination and on the abolition of forced labour) and expects, in light of commitments made in the EPA, concrete ~~progress~~and swift progress in a reasonable timeframe on the part of Japan towards the ratification of these conventions;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Bernd LANGE, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Welcomes that Japan will establish an inter-ministerial framework to deal with the implementation of sustainable development commitments, including the ratification of the ILO core conventions, and that the trade and sustainable development committee foreseen by the agreement is tasked with interacting with civil society on the implementation of the sustainable development chapter;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Points out that the EPA foresees the temporary movement of professionals across borders (so-called mode 4), committing both sides to intra-corporate transfers in about 40 sectors and for independent professionals in about 20 sectors, which contributes to facilitate EU-Japan foreign direct investment ties;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Underlines that the EPA includes an anti-fraud clause, which makes it possible for the EU to withdraw trade preferences in cases of fraud and refusal to cooperate on customs matters, while ensuring that legitimate traders are not adversely affected;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Takes note that negotiations continue on a separate investment agreement, which the European Parliament will monitor closely, and reiterates that it is unacceptable to return to the old, private ISDS mechanism;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Bernd LANGE, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Notes that the agreement includes a rendezvous clause to assess the issue of cross-border transfer of data provisions within three years and recognises the growing importance of the digital economy for growth and jobs; calls on the Commission to fully respect the EU law on data protection and on the protection of privacy and stresses that any future outcome must be subject to the consent of Parliament and safeguard EU citizens’ fundamental rights;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Bernd LANGE, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Calls on the Commission to enhance cooperation and coordination with Japan on multilateral issues, in close cooperation with other strategic partners, to defend and to develop further the global trading system based on the respect of WTO law and other international norms;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls for the prompt establishment of the SME contact points and website to make sure that relevant information on market access is made available to small companies;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Bernd LANGE, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Urges both partners to ensure the active involvement of social partners and civil society in the monitoring and implementation of the EPA, notably through the joint dialogue with civil society and the domestic advisory group; calls on the Commission to actively establish and share best practices with Japan on the functioning of domestic advisory groups and the joint dialogue; calls on both parties to ensure a speedy set-up of well-functioning, effective and balanced domestic advisory groups with a proper code of conduct and to ensure that their views are taken into account in a transparent manner in the government to government consultations foreseen in the agreement;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2018/0091M(NLE)

Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Bernd LANGE, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Aleksander GABELIC

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)

22a. Expects full transparency on the functioning of the sectorial committees to be established under the agreement both with regard to the Parliament and the general public;

2018/10/03
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Citation 15 a (new)

- having regard to special paragraph in the ILO Committee on Application of Standards of the ILO Conference of 2016, the ILO High Level Tripartite Mission Report and the 2017 observations of the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations concerning Conventions 87 and 98

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Maria ARENA

Citation 15 b (new)

- having regard for the complaint filed in 2017 with the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association concerning the government's crackdown on garment workers in Ashulia in December 2016 and the complaint filed with the UN special mandates concerning the crackdown in Ashulia

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Recital C

C. whereas the ready-made industry (RMG) is currently employing 4.2 million people in as many as 5000 factories and indirectly supports the livelihoods of as many as 40 million people – -about a quarter of Bangladesh’'s population; whereas the RMG industry has importantly contributed to poverty reduction and to empowerment of women; whereas women, mostly from rural areas, represent 80% of the RMG sector in Bangladesh; whereas however 80% of workers are still employed in the informal sector; whereas the complex nature of the garment supply chain and its low level of transparency facilitate human rights violations and increase exploitation;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Recital C a (new)

C a. whereas gender equality is a driver of development; whereas women rights fall under the human rights spectrum; whereas it is firmly established in Article 8 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union that "In all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women" and, therefore, the EU has a duty to mainstream gender equality in all its policies, guaranteeing that men and women benefit equally from social changes, economic growth and the creation of decent jobs, doing away with discrimination and promoting respect for women's rights in the world;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital C b (new)

C b. Whereas approximately 10% of the workforce in the RMG sector is employed in Export Processing Zones (EPZ), whereas under the EPZ Labour Act falls short of granting sufficient basic rights to workers in comparison to those elsewhere in Bangladesh, whereas a vast expansion of EPZ is planned.

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital D

D. whereas the EU’s generous unilateral trade preference under the so- called “Everything, but arms” initiative for least-developed countries (LDCs) enshrined in the EU GSP regulation granting tariff-free access for Bangladesh textiles under flexible rules of origins have significantly contributed to this success story;growth in export and employment

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital E a (new)

E a. Whereas Bangladesh will cease to be eligable for EBA in 2021, due to its good growth performance, and will have to apply for GSP+ to maintain the current level of market access; whereas GSP+ obligates the receiving country to strict compliance with 27 international conventions on, among others, good governance, labour law and freedom of association; whereas Bangladesh does not meet all of these criteria at the present;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas the Directorate-Generals of EMPL, DEVE and TRADE of the European Commission send a letter on March 16 2017 to the Goverment of Bangladesh demanding tangible progress by May 18 2017 on the following four points: 1) Undertake amendments to the 2013 Labour Act, 2) ensure that the law governing the EPZs allows for full freedom of association, 3) investigate as a matter of urgency all acts of anti-union discrimination and 4) ensure that applications for union registration are acted upon expeditiously and are not denied unless the fail to meet clear and objective criteria set forth in law;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL

Recital F b (new)

F b. Whereas the International Labour Organisation gave Bangladesh a special paragraph in the ILO Committee on Application of Standards of the ILO Conference in 2016 stating that the country is in serious breach of its obligations under convention 87 (freedom of association); Whereas in 2015, the ILO reported that 78% of trade union registration applications were rejected due to a mix of hostility to unions by factory managers, certain politicians and an administrative incapacity to register them.

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital G

G. whereas, according to various reports, hundreds of garment workers died in various factory fires in Bangladesh since 2006, for which regrettably many culpable factory owners and managers have never been brought to justice, whereas it is estimated that 11.7 thousand workers suffer from fatal accidents and a further 24.5 thousand die from work related diseases across all sectors each year;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital I

I. whereas since 21st December 2016, following strikes and demonstrations by Bangladeshi garment workers seeking higher wages, the Bangladeshi authorities ~~have~~arbitrarily arrested orand detained at least 1435 unions leaders and ~~worker rights advocates~~advocates, shut union and NGO offices and put them under police surveillance, and suspended or dismissed 1600 workers for protesting the low wages in the garment industry;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital K

K. whereas a number of promising initiatives led by the private sector such as the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety (the Accord) have contributed moderately positively to improving supply chain standards and workforce safety over the last 20 years in terms of increasing workers’ rights in the garment supply chain;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital L

L. whereas the conclusions of successive reviews of the Compact in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are reporting tangible improvements achieved by the Bangladeshi authorities in some areas, and are recognizing the contribution of the Compact in moderately improving health and safety in factories and working conditions in the RMG industry; whereas progress relating to worker’'s rights has been more challenging and no ~~substantial~~ progress has been witnessed for the last ~~month~~years in this area;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Recital M a (new)

M a. whereas global trade unions (ETUC, ITUC, Uni Global Union, IndustriAll) have been calling for the European Commission to carry out a GSP investigation due to, as the unions state: 'the government [of Bangladesh] has demonstrated beyond any doubt that continued dialogue mechanisms have failed and will do little if anything to improve conditions of the more than 4 million garment workers and the many millions more in other sectors'

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Paragraph 9 a (new)

9 a. Supports the Commission's stated intent to launch an official GSP investigation when by May 18 2017 if no tangible progress is put in place by the GOB;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Paragraph 9 b (new)

9 b. Calls on the European Commission to use the leverage granted by the future GSP+ negotiations with Bangladesh to the fullest extend and firmly hold the country to the international obligations it has to meet before being considered for GSP+;

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2636(RSP)

Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Maria ARENA, Emmanuel MAUREL, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ

Paragraph 9 c (new)

9 c. Underlines that failure to improve the security situation and systematically confront the threats posed by extremists in Bangladesh will have a direct effect on investment in the country, which will ultimately hold back long term development and the lives of ordinary people.

2017/05/08
Committee: INTA

2017/2278(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Maria ARENA, Goffredo Maria BETTINI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Points out that public procurement markets in third countries are often de jure and/or de facto closed to EU bidders; recalls that the Commission estimates that more than half of the global procurement market is currently closed to free international competition owing to protectionist measures, which are globally on a rise, while approximately EUR 352 billion in value of EU public procurement is open to bidders from member countries of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)1 ; Recalls that the reciprocity principle in public procurement should be respected and implemented by third countries and our trading partners to ensure that European companies get similar market access as our competitors enjoy in the EU market; Points out that a level-playing field could be restored with the approval of the international procurement instrument; Calls on the Council to unlock the current stalemate with regard to this instrument and calls for a rapid adoption; __________________ 1 Amended IPI proposal (2016).

2018/04/10
Committee: INTA

2017/2278(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Maria ARENA, Goffredo Maria BETTINI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses that an annex on government procurement should be included in each future trade agreement with a view to maximising the participation of European companies in foreign tenders and promoting the application of social and environmental criteria, including gender equality criteria in awarding public procurement contracts; Regrets in this regard that 55% of procurement procedures still use the lowest price as the only award criterion instead of MEAT (most economically advantageous tenders);

2018/04/10
Committee: INTA

2017/2278(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Notes that high quality public services depend on modern, transparent and efficient public procurement processes; Recalls therefore that public procurement should be used in a more strategic manner, to obtain better value for each euro of public money spent and to contribute to sustainable growth and jobs and to a more innovative, inclusive economy;

2018/04/10
Committee: INTA

2017/2278(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Maria ARENA, Goffredo Maria BETTINI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Regrets that clear and consolidated procurement data is often not available and therefore citizens cannot access details of procurement procedures;

2018/04/10
Committee: INTA

2017/2278(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Maria ARENA, Goffredo Maria BETTINI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Welcomes the fact that one of the six priority areas for the Commission’s action in the field of public procurement is the improvement of access to procurement markets; stresses that improving access to public procurement markets in third countries, including at the sub-national level, constitutes a strong offensive interest for the EU in trade negotiations on public procurement, given that many EU companies are highly competitive in various sectors; recalls that ~~improved market access to third-country public~~trade agreements should be used as a lever to improve access to non-EU procurement markets, and that improved market access, enhanced rules for transparent procurement procedures and innovative, green and social procurement, should be key elements for any trade agreement to be concluded by the EU;

2018/04/10
Committee: INTA

2017/2278(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that any strategy to open up public procurement markets in third countries should take into account the specific needs of SMEs to facilitate their access to markets, as access to third- country public procurement markets can be particularly difficult for them; Notes that cooperation to procure together and to promote joint cross-border public procurement could be helpful in this regard; Calls on the Commission to encourage SMEs-friendly procurement procedures (including cross-border initiatives and tenders division into lots) to be included in trade agreements.

2018/04/10
Committee: INTA

2017/2278(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, Maria ARENA, Goffredo Maria BETTINI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Notes that procurement procedures are often associated with complex rules and unnecessary administrative burden; Urges Member States to boost digital transformation and the use of digital technologies of procurement processes, to simplify and accelerate procurement procedures; Stresses that improving procurement skills at all stages of the procurement process, including e-skills, is of vital importance and together with enhanced transparency and openness, can contribute to fighting collusion and eliminating cases of misconduct;

2018/04/10
Committee: INTA

2017/2278(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Maria ARENA, Goffredo Maria BETTINI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Highlights the importance of the GPA not only for providing de jure access to procurement markets in third countries, but also for enhancing the transparency of procurement procedures; encourages the Commission to promote the development of global and convergent standards for transparent procurement as an important tool for combating corruption; Recalls that enabling the reporting of corruption, simplified procedures and stronger provisions on integrity and transparency for bidders can also be effective tools to combat corruption and foster integrity in public administration; Calls on the Commission to set up effective reporting mechanisms and to strengthen the protection of whistle-blowers against retaliation;

2018/04/10
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that ~~China~~the People's Republic of China, hereinafter PRC, is the EU’s second-largest trading partner and that the EU is ~~China~~the PRC’s largest trading partner, and that the trade balance has a significant deficit in China’s favour;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Notes that ~~China~~the PRC is a major global trade player and that this could represent a good opportunity for EU businesses;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that EU outward foreign 3. direct investment in ~~China~~the PRC has steadily decreased since 2012, while ~~China~~the PRC’s investment in the EU ~~has grown exponentially over the past years~~, including some high profile takeovers such as the port of Piraeus, has grown exponentially over the past years; acknowledges that since 2016 the PRC became a net investor into the EU; takes note that in 2017 68 percent of Chinese investments into Europe came from state-owned enterprises; is concerned about state-orchestrated acquisitions that might hinder European strategic interests, public security objectives, competitiveness and employment; in this regard welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for an investments’ screening mechanism and calls for its swift adoption;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on ~~China to act on~~the PRC to fulfil the commitments enshrined in China’s Accession Protocol to the WTO and those made by President Xi Jinping~~’s commitments~~, as a result of increased trade tensions, to further open up the Chinese market to foreign investors, strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights and level the playing field by making China’s market more transparent and better regulated, and by ceasing all the discriminatory practices against foreign investors, in this respect recalls that those reforms will benefit both Chinese and European businesses, especially MSMEs;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that Chinese companies benefit from the openness of European public procurement market while, on the contrary, European businesses suffer discrimination and lack of access to the Chinese market; calls on the PRC to allow non-discriminatory access to European businesses and workers on public procurement; calls on the Council for a swift adoption of the International Procurement Instrument; calls on the Commission to be vigilant and eventually take action against contracts awarded to foreign enterprises suspected of dumping practices;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for coordinated cooperation with ~~China~~the PRC on the Belt and Road Initiative ~~on the basis of~~based on reciprocity, sustainable development, good governance, and open and transparent rules, in particular regarding public procurement; in this respect regrets that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the European Investment Fund and China’s Silk Road Fund (SRF) and the one signed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the New Development Bank, and the World Bank have not yet improved the business environment for European enterprises and workers;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Nicola DANTI, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Supports the on-going negotiations on a comprehensive EU-~~China~~ PRC Investment Agreement~~; calls for further reciprocity in market access~~ that were launched in 2013; calls on the Parties to renew efforts to advance in the negotiations aimed at achieving a genuine level playing field for European businesses and workers and to ensure reciprocity in market access; calls for the inclusion of a binding and enforceable Trade and Sustainable Development chapter;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on ~~China~~the PRC to strive to play a responsible role on the global stage, including giving its active support to the multilateral rules-based trading system and the WTO; in the context of increasing bilateral trade tensions, reiterates the need to pursue multilateral solutions; in this respect calls for the fulfilment of WTO obligations and the protection of its operative mechanisms;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls for the resumption of negotiations, in line with the European Parliament’s resolution, on the Trade in Service Agreement (TiSA) and on the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA), building on the fruitful EU-PRC cooperation in the fight against climate change and the strong joint commitment towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Regrets that the PRC, despite the conclusion of the procedure on the reform of the European calculation methodology for anti-dumping duties, has not yet withdrawn its case against the EU at the WTO appellate body;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8

8. Expresses concern about the number of restrictions that European companies, and MSMEs in particular, continue to face in ~~China~~the PRC, especially in sectors covered by the ‘Made in China 2025’ plan; in this regard takes note of the PRC’s preference towards the creation of an alternative economic model rather than the integration of China into the existing global trade system;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9

9. Expresses concern about market access being increasingly conditional on forced technology transfers, as stated in the EU Chamber of Commerce in China’s 2017 position paper;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Takes note with concern of the conclusions of the Commission’s report on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in third countries that indicates the PRC as the chief concern; reiterates the need to ensure protection to European knowledge-based economy; calls on the PRC to fight the illicit use of European licences by Chinese companies;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 b (new)

9b. Welcomes the EU-PRC’s 2017 joint announcement over a list of 200 Chinese and European GIs whose protection will be negotiated; however, considering that negotiations were launched in 2010, considers it a very modest result and regrets the lack of progress in this regard;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10

10. Expresses concern about industrial overcapacity in ~~China~~the PRC’s steel sector; recalls the commitments made at the first ministerial meeting of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity in 2017 to refrain from providing market-distorting subsidies. ; regrets that the Chinese delegation has failed to deliver the data on capacity at the Global Forum on Excess Capacity; calls on the PRC to fulfil its commitment to identify and disclose data on its subsidies and support measures to the steel and aluminium industries by June 2018; takes note of the proposed tripartite action by the US, Japan and the EU at the WTO level;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2274(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI, Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Recalls its 2015 report on the relations between the EU and China with which it called for the launch of negotiations for a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan; points out that the Commission has announced on more than one occasion the launch of negotiations about investment with Hong Kong and Taiwan, and deems it regrettable that no such negotiations have yet begun;

2018/05/02
Committee: INTA

2017/2271(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Reiterates its support for the WTO’s role within the multilateral system, as the best option for guaranteeing an open, fair and rules-based system, which takes account of, and balances, the many varying interests of its members; calls on the Commission to further work with the US on a positive response to the current institutional and systemic challenges;

2018/05/23
Committee: INTA

2017/2271(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Appeals to the EU and the US to scale up cooperation on climate change; Calls the EU and the US to make use of the current and future trade negotiations, at all levels, to ensure the application of internationally agreed standards, such as the Paris Agreement, to promote trade in environmentally sound goods, including technology, as well as to ensure global energy transition, with a clear and coordinated international trade agenda, both to protect the environment and to create opportunities for jobs and growth;

2018/05/23
Committee: INTA

2017/2271(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)

8b. Recalls the importance of the existing EU-US dialogue and cooperation on Science and Technology; recognizes the role of EU-US endeavours in the field of research and innovation as key drivers of knowledge and economic growth; and supports the continuation and expansion of the EU-US Science and Technology Agreement beyond 2018, with a view to foster research, innovation, new emerging technologies, as well as protection of intellectual property rights, to create more and better jobs, sustainable trade and inclusive growth;

2018/05/23
Committee: INTA

2017/2271(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)

9a. Reasserts the importance for the EU and the US to address, in a coordinated and constructive manner, the necessary modernisation of the WTO, with a view to make it more effective, transparent and accountable, as well as to ensure that, in the process of elaborating international trade rules and policies, the gender, social, environmental and human rights dimensions are adequately integrated;

2018/05/23
Committee: INTA

2017/2271(INI)

Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI, David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls on the EU and the US to reinforce cooperation and efforts to implement and expand due diligence schemes for enterprises to reinforce the protection of Human Rights internationally, including in the area of trade in minerals and metals from conflict-affected areas;

2018/05/23
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

- having regard to the European Commission´s study of 15 November 2016 on the Cumulative Economic Impact of future trade agreements on EU agriculture;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

D a. whereas the EU concluded negotiations on the EU-New Zealand Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation (PARC) on 30 July 2014;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas New Zealand is among the EU’s oldest and closest partners, sharing common values and committed to promoting prosperity and security within a rules-based system globally;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas New Zealand is one of only six WTO members for which there is still no preferential access to the EU market or negotiations in progress to that end;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

H a. whereas the conclusion of the EU- New Zealand free trade agreement will deepen the trade and investment relationship and whereas it could not be contemplated if the agreement adversely affected the ability of the parties to introduce, maintain or enhance their social, environmental or labour standards;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)

H b. whereas, the Belgian national government has on the 6 September 2017 requested the European Court of Justice to review if ICS is compatible with EU treaties;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)

H c. whereas following the EU-New Zealand draft negotiating mandate investment-protection is not included;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)

H d. whereas the European Parliament will be required to decide whether to give its consent to the potential EU-New Zealand-FTA;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital H e (new)

H e. whereas the European Court of Justice opinion on the EU-Singapore agreement of 16 May 2017 clarifies that, except for portfolio investment and investor-to-state-dispute stellment, the agreement is of EU exclusive competence, showing the need to strengthen the democratic accountability of EU trade policy by enhancing the role of the EP in negotiating trade agreements at all stages;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Considers that the ~~full~~ potential of the Union’s bilateral and regional cooperation strategies can ~~only be realis~~be improved by concluding a high-quality ~~FTA~~, balanced and fair trade agreement with New Zealand in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit while under no circumstances undermining the ambition to achieve progress multilaterally or the implementation of already concluded multilateral and bilateral agreements;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Believes that the negotiation of a modern, ambitious, balanced, fair and comprehensive FTA is a pragmatic way of deepening the bilateral partnership and further reinforcing the existing, already mature bilateral trade and investment relationships; while keeping social and environmental concerns high on both partners´ agendas;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission to conclude, as soon as possible, its assessments of the potential impact of such a trade deal, with a view to being able to evaluate thoroughly ~~evalua~~the possible gains and losses from the enhancement of the EU- New Zealand trade and investment relationships, for the benefit of citizens and businesses on both sides, including in the outermost regions and the overseas countries and territories, and paying special attention to environmental and social impacts, including the EU labour market and to take into account the impact Brexit might have on the increase of exportations from New Zealand to the EU;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6 a. Calls on the Commission to duly take into account and to respect the opinion of the European Court of Justice about the compatibility of ICS with EU treaties;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Council to authorise the Commission to start negotiations ~~for a trade and investment agreement and an investment protection agreement~~ with New Zealand on the basis of the outcome of the scoping exercise, the conditions set out in this resolution, the impact assessment and with clear targets;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7 a. Welcomes the Commission's step to publish the proposed negotiating directive and considers this a positive precedent;urges the Council to follow suit and publish the negotiating directive as soon as it is adopted;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Calls on the Commission ~~and the Council to clearly distinguish between an agreement on trade and the liberalisation of foreign direct investment (FDI),~~to make as soon as possible a proposal about the future architecture of trade agreements taking into account the ECJ opinion on the FTA-Singapore and if there will be in future a distinction between a trade and investment agreement which only contain~~ing~~s issues under EUthe Union´s exclusive competence, and a second agreement ~~on investment protec~~which covers subjects whose competences are shared with Member States; stresses that such distinction would have implication,s in~~cluding on FDI and non-direct investment, which would be subject to an Investment Court System~~ the parliamentary ratification process and that it should not be perceived as a way to circumvent national democratic processes; calls for stronger EP involvement in all ongoing and future FTA negotiations at all stages of the process;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Calls on the Commission to conduct negotiations asin full transparen~~tly as possible and fully respect best practice as established in o~~cy, through constant dialogue with EP, social partners and civil society and calls on the Council to inform and involve national parliaments before the approval of ther negotiati~~ons; requests that~~ng mandate; Calls on the Council to make the negotiating mandate public;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Stresses that an FTA must lead to ~~genuine market openness and trade facilitation on the ground~~improved market access, creating decent jobs, gender equality for the benefit of citizens on both sides, sustainable development, upholding EU standards, safeguarding services of general interest, and respecting democratic procedures whilst boosting EU export opportunities;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Emphasises that an ambitious agreement must address, in a meaningful way, high quality sanitary and phyto- sanitary standards and other norms in agricultural and food products, without weakening EU´s high standards; robust and enforceable commitments on labour and environmental standards, the fight against tax avoidance and corruption, investment, trade in goods and services (drawing on recent European Parliament recommendations as regards reservations of policy space and sensitive sectors), e- commerce, public procurement, energy, state-owned enterprises, competition~~, regulatory issues such as sanitary and phytosanitary barriers, as well as technology research~~ and, especially, the need of micro-enterprises and SMEs;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13 a. Calls on the Council to recognise explicitly the other Party's obligations towards indigenous peoples in the negotiating directives and to allow for reservations for domestic preference schemes in this regard;the Agreement should reaffirm both Parties' commitment to ILO Convention 169 on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a

a) Real market access opportunities for both sides to each other’s goods and services market through the elimination of regulatory barriers: nothing in the agreement however should prevent either side from regulating to achieve legitimate policy objectives; considering in this respect that no EU trade agreement has ever privatised public services, such as water, education, health and social services, nor decreased our high European health, food, consumer, environmental, labour and safety standards, nor constrained public funo address unnecessary barriers, while applying a positive list schedule to both market access and national treatment commitments; to consider that commitments should be taken building ofn the ~~arts and culture, education, and health and social services~~General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS);

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a a (new)

a a) to ensure and explicitly foresee that this agreement does not prevent the parties’ ability to define, regulate, provide and support services of general interest, that it will by no means require governments to privatise any service nor preclude governments from expanding the range of services they supply to the public, and that it will not prevent governments from providing services of general interest previously supplied by private service suppliers or from bringing back under public control services that governments have previously chosen to privatise;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a b (new)

a b) to ensure that the right and the ability of the parties to adopt and apply their own laws and regulations in the public interest is enshrined throughout the entire text in order to achieve legitimate public policy objectives such as the protection and promotion of public health, social services, public education, safety, the environment, public morals, social or consumer protection, privacy and data protection, and the promotion and protection of cultural diversity;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a c (new)

a c) in as far as the Agreement may include a domestic regulation chapter calls on the negotiatiors not to include any necessity tests;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point b

b) The reduction of unjustified non- tariff barriers ~~and the strengthening and extension of regulatory cooperation dialogues with binding disciplines to improve respect for int~~but to ensure that any cooperation on regulatory matters remains voluntary, respects the autonomy of regulatory authorities, must be purely based on enhanced information exchange and administrative cooperation with a view to identifying unnecessary barriers and administrative burdens; to recall that regulatory coopernation~~al standards and regulatory harmonisation, in particular through the adoption and implementation of the standards set by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)~~ must aim to benefit governance of the global economy by intensified convergence and cooperation on international standards for example through the adoption and implementation of the standards set by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) while guaranteeing the highest level of consumer (e.g. food safety), environmental (e.g. animal health and welfare, plant health), social and labour protection;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point c

c) Significant concessions on public procurement guaranteeing market access for European companies ~~in strategic sectors~~ and the same degree of openness as that of the EU’s public procurement markets; to consider that simplified procedures and transparency for bidders, including those from other countries, can also be effective tools to combat corruption and foster integrity in public administration while providing value for money to taxpayers, in terms of the quality of delivery, efficiency, effectiveness and accountability; to guarantee that ecological and social criteria, including gender equality criteria, are applied in awarding public procurement ~~marke~~contracts;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d

d) A separate chapter taking into account the needs and interests of micro- enterprises and SMEs with regard to market access facilitation issues in order to generate concrete business opportunities;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d a (new)

d a) relating to the ECJ-opinion on the FTA-Singapore that trade and sustainable development is an EU-exclusive competence and that sustainable development forms an integral part of the common commercial policy of the EU a robust and ambitious sustainable development chapter with a sanction- based mechanism, covering, among other things, core labour standards, the four ILO priority governance conventions and multilateral environmental agreements, is an indispensable part of any potential trade agreement;considers that the agreement should also include the establishment of a joint civil society forum that monitors and comments on its implementation and how the parties respect their commitments and obligations on human rights, labour standards and environmental protection;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d b (new)

d b) to include in the negotiating directives the requirement for the parties to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) via binding standards, including with regard to internationally recognised instruments, and the uptake of sectorial OECD guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d c (new)

d c) to ensure that the parties include a specific chapter on trade and gender equality and women’s empowerment, foreseeing active measures aiming to enhance opportunities for women to benefit from the opportunities provided by the FTA;to provide for measures aimed at, inter alia, a better work-family life balance and access to social and health services;to pursue an enhanced participation of women enterprises (particularly micro-enterprises and SMEs) in public procurement;to support the internationalisation of women enterprises and the participation of women in Mode 4 opportunities;to ensure, inter alia, that the parties commit to collecting disaggregated data allowing for thorough ex ante and ex post analysis on the impact of the FTA on gender equality;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point f

f) EStrong and enforceable measures covering the recognition and protection of intellectual property rights, including geographical indications (GIs) for agricultural and foodstuff products, and for wines and spirits; to simplify rules of origin and customs procedures with a view to adapting them to the reality of increasingly complex global value chains, including in terms of enhancing transparency and accountability within them;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point g b (new)

g b) to increase cooperation in the fight against corruption and therefore include commitments to multilateral Anti- Corruption Conventions, such as the UNCAC and the OECD Anti-bribery Convention;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point g c (new)

g c) to include digital innovations and data flows, as they are crucial drivers of the services economy and an essential element of the GVC of traditional manufacturing companies and therefore forced localisation requirements should be curbed to the extent possible within and outside Europe while accommodating necessary exemptions based on legitimate public purposes such as consumer protection and the protection of fundamental rights;recalls that data protection and privacy are not a trade barrier but fundamental rights, enshrined in Article 39 TEU, Articles 7 and 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union as well as Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point g d (new)

g d) to incorporate robust provisions on animal welfare issues such as housing, transport and slaughter and to promote continued cooperation and exchanges on animal welfare through the FTA;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Looks forward to the launch of negotiations with New Zealand and to following them closely and contributing to their successful outcome;~~stresses that following the ECJ opinion on the EU-Singapore FTA, the EP should see its role strengthened at all stages of EU FTA negotiations, from the adoption of the mandate to the final conclusion of the agreement, and calls for necessary arrangements to be made in the interinstitutional agreement; in this regard, reminds the Commission of ~~its obligation~~the need not only to inform the Parliament ~~immediately and fully at all stages of the negotiations (both before and after the negotiating rounds)~~but also to associate Parliament fully at all stages; is committed to ~~address~~examinge the legislative and regulatory issues that may arise in the context of the negotiations and the future agreement without prejudice to its prerogatives as a co-legislator; reiterates its fundamental responsibility to represent the citizens of the EU, and looks forward to facilitating inclusive and open discussions during the negotiating process;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2193(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that the European Parliament will ~~endeavour to~~ monitor the implementation of the future agreement;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 8 a (new)

- having regard to the European Commission´s study of 15 November 2016 on the Cumulative Economic Impact of future trade agreements on EU agriculture,

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

D a. whereas the EU concluded negotiations on the EU-Australia Framework Agreement (FA) on 22 April 2015;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

F a. whereas Australia is among the EU’s oldest and closest partners, sharing common values and committed to promoting prosperity and security within a rules-based system globally;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)

G a. whereas Australia is one of only six WTO members for which there is still no preferential access to the EU market or negotiations in progress to that end;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)

H a. whereas the conclusion of the EU- Australia free trade agreement will deepen the trade and investment relationship and whereas it could not be contemplated if the agreement adversely affected the ability of the parties to introduce, maintain or enhance their social, environmental or labour standards;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Recital H b (new)

H b. whereas, the Belgian national government has on the 6 September 2017 requested the European Court of Justice to review if ICS is compatible with EU treaties;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital H c (new)

H c. whereas following the EU- Australia draft negotiating mandate investment-protection is not included;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital H d (new)

H d. whereas the European Parliament will be required to decide whether to give its consent to the potential EU-Australia- FTA;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a b (new)

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a c (new)

a c) in as far as the Agreement may include a domestic regulation chapter calls on the negotiatiors not to include any necessity tests;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point b

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point c

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point g c (new)

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point g d (new)

g d) to incorporate robust provisions on animal welfare issues such as housing, transport and slaughter and to promote continued cooperation and exchanges on animal welfare through the FTA;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Joachim SCHUSTER, Maria ARENA, Sorin MOISĂ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. ~~Looks forward to the launch of negotiations with Australia and to following them closely and co~~stresses that, following the ECJ opinion on the EU-Singapore FTA, the EP should see its role strengthened at all stages of EU FTA negotiations, from the adoption of the mandate to the final conclusion of the agreement, and calls for necessary arrangements to be made in the interi~~buting to their successful outcome;~~nstitutional agreement; in this regard, reminds the Commission of ~~its obligation~~the need not only to inform the Parliament ~~immediately and~~but to associate Parliament fully at all stages of the negotiations ~~(both before and after the negotiating rounds)~~; is committed to ~~address~~examinge the legislative and regulatory issues that may arise in the context of the negotiations and the future agreement without prejudice to its prerogatives as a co-legislator; reiterates its fundamental responsibility to represent the citizens of the EU, and looks forward to facilitating inclusive and open discussions during the negotiating process;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2192(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Maria ARENA, Eric ANDRIEU, Sorin MOISĂ, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Recalls that the European Parliament will ~~endeavour to~~ monitor the implementation of the future agreement;

2017/09/21
Committee: INTA

2017/2190(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that 10 % of the EIB’s overall lending activity is dedicated to operations outside the Union; stresses, for this reason, the importance of the annual reporting by the EIB on its operations outside of the Union with regard to compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals and the general principles guiding the external action of the Union by specifically strengthening humanitarian action, supporting the creation of decent jobs and education, ensuring full respect for human, labour and environmental rights, promoting gender equality, equal pay and pay transparency;

2018/01/26
Committee: INTA

2017/2190(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights that access to finance ~~is one of the main hurdles SMEs face; believes that~~and internationalization are important hurdles for SMEs; notes that 33.7 billion euros were allocated during the concerned period supporting 300 000 SMEs; believes that, despite having taken the right direction, more must be done by the EIB to ensure that SME finance is geared at ensuring that these firms can integrate into global ~~supply~~value chains; notes that the EIB must support EU enterprises who want to do business abroad, including via the Trade Finance Facility;

2018/01/26
Committee: INTA

2017/2190(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Notes that there has been a lack of foreign direct investment (FDI) support operations towards Asia in the last few years; stresses that EU investors should have a greater presence on the Chinese market and benefit from a level playing field; calls on the EIB to provide direct financing to EU companies in support of outward investment, including through the external lending mandate (ELM);deleted

2018/01/26
Committee: INTA

2017/2190(INI)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Notes that in 2016, the EIB approved three new facilities for microfinance, one for the Caribbean, one for the Pacific and two of them for Africa, for a total amount of 110 million euros and one for the Southern Neighbourhood with 75 million euros; recalls that the EIB microfinance facilities and technical assistance have brought 300 million euros to more than 1.5 million beneficiaries; calls on the EIB to include in its next report the leverage effects of these facilities together with the funds allocated through the external action financial instruments;

2018/01/26
Committee: INTA

2017/2190(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the EIB to improve access to information regarding the system of contracts and subcontracts, and the financial data concerning projects financed by the EIB as well as their compliance with SDGs; calls on the EIB to report to the European Parliament any reallocation of funds, together with an impact assessment and a justification report; stresses the importance of an inclusive decision making process with the participation of relevant stakeholders and civil society organizations.

2018/01/26
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 5 July 2016 on the implementation of the 2010 recommendations of Parliament on social and environmental standards, human rights and corporate responsibility (2015/2038(INI));

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 3 February 2016 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Commission on the negotiations for the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) (2015/2233(INI));

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 12 September 2017 on the impact of international Trade and the EU’s trade policies on global value chains (2016/2301(INI));

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Citation 10 a (new)

– having regard to its resolution of 12 December 2017 Towards a Digital Trade Strategy (2017/2065(INI));

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas the Common Commercial Policy comprises a body of trade agreements and legislative measures to safeguard the Union’s offensive and defensive trade interests, contribute to sustainable shared growth and decent job creation, ensure that EU rules and standards are observed, safeguard states’ right to regulate and citizens’ well-being, and promote EU values; and whereas adherence to these aims requires that Union trade policy be implemented and monitored fully and effectively;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas the implementation and enforcement phase is of crucial and fundamental importance in ensuring that Union trade policy is effective;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER, Nicola DANTI, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas the involvement of civil society and social partners in the implementation of trade agreements can benefit the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Common Commercial Policy;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital G

G. whereas the questions raised in public debate about the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Common Commercial Policy and the way it is implemented need to be answered clearly and precisely by the European Institutions;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital H

H. whereas the Union’s trade policy must be consistent with its other external and internal policies and the Union’s overarching principle of policy coherence for development;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1

1. Points out that the international context has changed profoundly since the Trade for All strategy was published and that new trade challenges now need to be addressed; is concerned to see protectionist practices being pursued and reiterates its support for an open, balanced, fair, sustainable and rules- based tradeing system;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Takes note of the growing might of Asia and of the USA’s gradual withdrawal on the trade front, as well as increasing domestic criticisms to the EU trade agenda, which were made evident by developments such as the decision of the ECJ to authorise a European Citizens’ Initiative against the TTIP negotiations, a referendum in the Netherlands which rejected the Ukraine-EU association agreement, or the referral of CETA to the ECJ by Belgium generating uncertainty for trade internationally; calls on the Commission to adapt its trade policy to address these developments ~~at international level~~ and to be more responsive;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Highlights the growing importance of services, especially digital services, and of e-commerce in international trade, and underscores the need to strengthen the domestic and international rules governing these sectors, in particular with respect to data flows and labour rights so as to secure real benefits for European workers and consumers, improve European companies’ access to international markets and safeguard the observance of fundamental rights in the EU and throughout the world; insists that rules for cross-border data transfers must fully comply with the EU’s existing and future data protection and privacy rules; calls on the Commission to incorporate into the EU’s trade agreements a horizontal, unambiguous and legally binding provision, which fully maintains the right of a party to protect personal data and privacy, provided that such a right is not unjustifiably used to circumvent rules for cross-border data transfers for reasons other than the protection of personal data; stresses that any disciplines in this regard should be exempted from the scope of application of any chapter dealing with investment protection;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Emphasises that the United Kingdom’s departure from the EU will have consequences for internal and external trade; calls on the Commission to take immediate steps to anticipate the impact of Brexit on the Union’s trade policy so as to ensure continuity in its implementation; calls on the Commission to publish impact assessments of the various options envisioned for the future EU-UK relationship prior to the conclusion of the article 50 negotiations;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Takes note of Opinion 2/15 of the CJEU, of 16 May 2017, establishing that, apart from the question of portfolio investment and the arrangements for investor-state dispute settlement, the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore lies within the exclusive competence of the Union; asks the Commission and Member States to clarify at the earliest possible date ~~its~~their decision on the structure of free trade agreements in the future, taking account of the limits of EU exclusive competence set by the Court ruling; points out that Parliament must be involved from the onset of all trade negotiations, prior to the adoption of negotiating guidelines and must be kept fully informed, in a timely manner, at all stages in the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements; demands that the necessary arrangements are made through an inter-institutional agreement to enhance the legitimacy and accountability of the EU’s CCP;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Deplores the failure to reach agreement at the WTO ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires; recalls its previous demands to the Commission to actively engage in framing the WTO agenda, in particular with respect to Corporate Social Responsibility and Trade and Sustainable Development; reiterates its support for the multilateral system and calls on the Union actively to advance proposals for updated, multilateral rules; welcomes the entry into force of the Trade Facilitation Agreement; considers it regrettable that certain multilateral agreements are not being observed and calls on the Commission to work harder, within the WTO, on the effective implementation of multilateral rules and agreements;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Is concerned at the stand-off in plurilateral negotiations on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) and the Environmental Goods Agreement; asks the Union to take the initiative to get the negotiations moving again on the basis of the European Parliament’s position on TiSA;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Emphasises that the agreements concluded and the Union’s ongoing and forthcoming bilateral negotiations represent opportunities for market access and the lifting of trade barriers while at the same time they should prevent threats and challenges to the EU’s social model and the environment; issues a reminder that priority must be given to the substance of the negotiations rather than their pace, that the aims of reciprocity and mutual benefit must be guiding threads, that EU rules and standards cannot be watered down, and that current and future public services including services of general interest and services of general economic interest, as well as audiovisual services, must be fully excluded from the scope of all trade agreements, in line with Articles 14 and 106 TFEU and Protocol 26, irrespective of how the public services are provided and funded; stresses that the Commission must ensure in all trade negotiations that EU, national and local authorities retain the full right to introduce, adopt, maintain or repeal any measures with regard to the commissioning, organisation, funding and provision of public services;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Asks the Commission and Member States to update their negotiating mandates every five years to reflect the changing context and challenges, and to include review clauses in trade agreements to ensure that they are implemented as effectively as possible and that they are adaptable, provided that full parliamentary scrutiny and transparency are guaranteed;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Welcomes the publication by the Commission of its recommendation for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a Convention establishing a multilateral court for the settlement of investment disputes (MIC); highlights the importance to the European economy of internal and external investment and the need to ensure that EU investors abroad are protected~~; asks the Commission to pursue its work on the new system for ruling on investment disputes, which must be based, inter alia, on a guarantee of states’ right to regulate and on transparency~~ while points out that this can be normally achieved through the domestic legal systems of our trading partners when they respect the rule of law; also acknowledges that, while the MIC will benefit developing countries which have concluded old-fashioned BITs with ISDS, those countries will have to continue to strengthen their judiciary systems; asks the Commission to pursue its work on the new system for ruling on investment disputes, which must be based, inter alia, on a guarantee of states’ right to regulate and on transparency, and provide for an appeal mechanism, strict rules on conflict of interest, a code of conduct, sanctions in case of non-compliance and to explicitly allow for the possibility of counterclaims; this new system must address investors’ obligations, avoid regulatory chill, prevent frivolous litigation and guarantee judicial equality (with particular attention to micro- enterprises, SMEs and domestic investors), judicial independency, transparency and accountability and the possibility for other actors, such as civil society organisations and trade unions, to use the system if their rights are infringed by investors;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Calls on the Member States to finally unblock the procedure regarding the Mauritius Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor- State Arbitration now that the European Court of Justice has brought clarity regarding questions of competence and on the Commission to redouble its efforts in this respect; also request to bring forward from 2020 the review of the grandfathering regulation for bilateral investment treaties maintained by the Member States and to couple it, if opportune, with a legislative proposal discontinuing the application of Chapter III;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)

12b. Expects a reinforced engagement of the EU and its Member States in deliberations within the UN regarding a Binding Treaty on Business and Human Rights;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Urges that an updated and easily applicable rules-of-origin system be developed; c~~Considers it regrettable that no progress has been made on negotiating the Regional Convention on pan-Euro- Mediterranean rules of origin; reiterates its call to the Commission to draw up a report on the state of play with regard to rules of origin, and to endeavour to provide a rules of origin calculator tailored to SMEs that should specifically enable them to use the preferences available under existing agreements with a view to increasing the preference utilisation rate;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14

14. Points out that, in the implementation of Union trade policy, special attention needs to be paid to agricultural products and to the interests of European producers and consumers, in particular in light of the cumulative impact of all FTAs on the sector; emphasises that trade agreements, and notably the agreement with Japan, can open up new business horizons for the agrifood sector; highlights the importance of striking the right balance between protecting sensitive agricultural products and advancing the Union’s offensive interests in relation to agrifood exports, with provision for, inter alia, transition periods and suitable quotas, and in certain cases for the exclusion of the most sensitive products; points out that it is essential to safeguard a robust system of health and plant-health rules while combating any form of discriminatory treatment in this area;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

15. Welcomes the multiple references to the principle of reciprocity in the report on implementation of the Union trade strategy; ~~reiterat~~deplores that reciprocity ~~must be~~is still not guaranteed as a pillar of Union trade policy; emphasises the importance for the Union of having an international instrument on public procurement, and deplores the fact that the relevant proposal has been held up in the Council; takes the view that the Commission proposal on the monitoring of foreign investment could make for greater reciprocity in the area of access to markets;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Points out that trade policy must be implemented in such a way as to help ensure that companies can compete fairly on a level playing field; welcomes the adoption of the new method for calculating anti-dumping duties in cases of distortion of competition in third countries; takes note of the interinstitutional agreement reached on the modernisation of trade defence instruments; ~~highlights the importance of ensuring that these new instruments are implemented properly by intervening immediately to rectify any dysfunctions or abuses~~encourages the Commission to make the most of these reforms and use the new possibility they offer, in particular with respect to imposing duties above the injury margin; highlights the importance of ensuring that these new instruments are implemented properly by intervening immediately to rectify any dysfunctions or abuses; welcomes the Commission pro-active stance in the deployment of trade defence instruments in 2016, and calls for similar resolve and reactivity when these instruments are used unduly against EU exports by some of our trading partners, in particular the United States of America;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Considers it regrettable that the Commission report on the implementation of the trade policy strategy makes scarcely any mention of the task of coordination which needs to be undertaken with customs services; makes the point that trade policy must work to combat unlawful trading in order to keep EU companies competitive and to underpin consumer safety; also points to the important role of competition policy in this respect, and the need for bilateral and multilateral negotiations to this end;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Urges the Commission, in cases of dysfunction or hindrance or where a partner fails to observe a commitment, to make immediate use of the tools at its disposal, particularly through recourse to the disputes settlement procedure as well as the existing ad-hoc processes foreseen for Trade and Sustainable Development provisions in the Union’s FTAs;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Calls on the Commission to ~~invest more human and financial resources in~~ improv~~ing~~e the way that trade policy is implemented, and asks that a special trade policy implementation monitoring unit be set up within the Commission;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21

21. Urges the Commission and Member States to do more, particularly through the use of IT, to ~~eliminate all administrative obstacles and red tape, to simplify technical~~simplify technical and administrative procedures ~~and~~ to support companies taking steps to benefit from trade agreements and instruments;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Agnes JONGERIUS, Bernd LANGE, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22

22. Highlights the vital work done by Union delegations, in conjunction with Member State embassies, enabling swift and direct action to be taken to ensure that trade provisions are properly implemented; believes that Union delegations would benefit from a streamlined system based on a single set of rules and guidance in this respect, as the effectiveness of delegations in the monitoring of FTAs varies markedly from country to country; encourages the Commission and the EEAS to pursue their work in the field of economic diplomacy;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23

23. Asks the Commission to conduct a study of the cumulative impact of trade agreements, sector by sector and country by country, as a contribution to the evaluation of our trade policy and with a view to anticipating and amending its effects;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24

24. Highlights the fact that certain sectors ~~may~~ experience economic difficulties which are trade related; calls on the Commission and Member States to develop effective support policies such as social flanking measures in order to maximise the benefits and minimise the ~~potential~~ negative effects of trade liberalisation, and to re- evaluate the EU’s trade strategy in this light; asks the Commission, in this context, to reinforce the effectiveness of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund and make it more pro-active, anticipating those cases where negative effects have to be accounted for instead of purely reactive;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25

25. Encourages the Commission to pursue and intensify its cooperation with international organisations and forums, including the G20, the United Nations, the OECD, the ILO ~~and~~, the World Bank and the International Organisation for Standardisation, on the development of international standards, their implementation and the monitoring of trade; in particular with respect to its social and environmental impact;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26

26. Welcomes the publication by the Commission of the first report on implementation of FTAs; asks the Commission to continue publishing the report annually and to cover the topic in greater depth, including interpretations of data, placing in context the figures published and providing additional qualitative information; but regrets its many shortfalls, in particular the lack of qualitative analysis and concrete recommendations; notes that while the Commission is increasingly acknowledging the negative impact of trade liberalisation on certain sectors, the report is entirely biased towards presenting “success stories” and therefore fails at providing a balanced and comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the EU’s FTAs; asks the Commission to continue publishing the report annually and to cover the topic in greater depth, including interpretations of data, placing in context the figures published and providing additional qualitative information, most importantly on the implementation of the rule parts of FTAs such as TSD and Government Procurements, so as to make this report effective in guiding the EU institutions in the definition and conduct of the Union’s trade strategy;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27

27. Points out that various elements of information, as well as figures, are missing from the report; notes that, when it comes to quantitative analyses the implementation report fails to provide an economic assessment of: the impact on growth and jobs of all FTAs; the contribution of FTAs to the evolution of trade flows, compared to other factors such as internal demand in the EU partners’ domestic markets; the impact of trade and investment agreements on investment flows and Mode 3 trade in services; asks the Commission to work more closely with the Member States and partner countries in order to obtain more data and information on the implementation of the agreements;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28

28. Is concerned by the fact that European companies are making relatively poor use of trade preferences by comparison with companies in partner countries which can therefore be deemed to benefit more from the EU’s FTAs than the EU itself; asks the Commission to determine the causes of the imbalance as quickly as possible and to address them; calls on the Commission and Member States to move swiftly on developing measures to give economic operators more information about the trade preferences provided for in the FTAs; believes that detailed information, including at micro level, is required in order to properly assess the implementation of the EU’s FTA, and that the experience of companies failing to use the possibility offered by FTAs matters just as much as the experience of those companies benefiting from them;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29

29. Invites the Commission to take a diversified approach to the various sectors studied and to set out the consequences of the implementation of trade agreements for those sectors which are considered sensitive, including an analysis of the cumulative impact of all FTAs;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30

30. Welcomes the announced introduction of implementation roadmaps for all trade agreements, and asks the Commission to involve all the interested parties in preparing them including civil society and social partners; calls on the Commission to set out intended objectives as well as specific criteria on which to base a clear evaluation, such as the state of progress on the removal of non-tariff barriers, the rate of use of quotas, or the situation with regard to regulatory cooperation; as~~ks that the state of progress with the roadmaps be published to coincide with publication of~~ well as progress in terms of Trade and Sustainable Development ; expects the implementation roadmaps to be transmitted to Parliament in parallel to the saisines for concluded agreements so that they may be taken into account during the consent procedure and asks that the state of progress with the roadmaps be incorporated into the annual report on implementation of FTAs;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32

32. CWelcomes the introduction of specific chapters dedicated to SMEs in FTAs currently in negotiation; calls on the Commission to evaluate the entire toolkit for SMEs, with a view to developing a more integrated overall approach and a real SME internationalisation strategy, supporting them in becoming exporters; encourages the Commission to promote this approach in international forums;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35

35. Notes that the protection of geographical indications is one of the Union’s offensive points in trade agreement negotiations; highlights the finding in the report on implementation of FTAs that certain partners are not complying with provisions on the protection of geographical indications, and calls on the Commission to act without delay to ensure compliance with these provisions; also calls on the Commission to reassess its communication on the benefit of trade agreement, in light of these poor compliance outcomes;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36

36. Points out that the Union’s public procurement markets are the most open in the world; is concerned at certain partners’ non-compliance with provisions on public- procurement market access, to the detriment of EU companies; asks the Commission to work to secure greater access to third countries’ public procurement markets and to consider~~, as part of a range of measures, the introduction of rules al~~ measures directed at third countries which give domestic companies priority access to their public procurement markets; also calls ong the ~~lines of a ‘Buy European Act’, directed at third countries which give domestic companies priority access to their public procurement market~~Commission to collect and publish company-level data on the use of public procurement provisions in FTAs (e.g. percentage of EU companies applying for and winning tenders abroad), so as to better understand the difficulties encountered by EU businesses;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38

38. Points out that the Common Commercial Policy must contributes to the promotion of the values for which the Union stands, set out in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, and to the pursuit of the aims enumerated in Article 21, including the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, respect for human rights, as well as fundamental rights and freedoms, equality, respect for human dignity and the protection of the environment and of social rights; believes that achieving these objectives requires resolute and sustained actions from the Commission, and a radical change in the way human rights and sustainable development are dealt with in FTA negotiations;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39

39. Calls on the Commission systematically to monitor the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), particularly the GSP+, and to continue publishing reports every two years; calls on the Commission to work harder with beneficiary countries, the EEAS, the Union delegations, international organisations, companies, the social partners and civil society in order to improve its information gathering and provide more in-depth analysis of the monitoring exercise so that the implementation of all aspects of the system can be clearly evaluated; stresses that the credibility and thus effectiveness of the GSP rests on the ability of the Commission to implement the provisions of the legislation in full in cases of failure to implement international labour or environmental conventions, including conducting formal investigations when required and removing or suspending preferences;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40

40. Points out that the new-generation agreements include human rights clauses and sustainable development chapters, to be implemented comprehensively in their entirety in order to safeguard and promote the observance of human rights, the Union’s values and high social and environmental standards; ~~notes the~~therefore calls for a timely implementation of existing TSD provisions; regrets the insufficient evaluation of the sustainable development chapters included in the Commission report on implementation of FTAs; asks the Commission to develop a precise and specific method of monitoring and evaluating the implementation of these chapters, given that such an evaluation cannot be made on the basis of quantitative data only; recalls in this context the important role of Domestic Advisory Groups and calls on the Commission for a more inclusive involvement of civil society in monitoring processes; underlines in particular the importance of civil society contributions regarding the negative consequences of Free Trade Agreements, especially when they concern developing countries or regions; also reiterates its call to strengthen the enforcement of TSD chapters, in particular through a greater involvement of social partners and civil society organisations, as well as the use of sanctions as a last resort in case of non- compliance; expresses in particular concern about the ineffective implementation of the TSD provisions in the case of the EU-Korea FTA;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41

41. Welcomes the review of the Aid for Trade strategy and supports the aim of capacity building for developing countries so that they can take greater advantage of the opportunities offered by EU trade agreements; emphasises, too, that the strategy must help to promote fair and ethical trade, and retain sufficiently asymmetrical liberalisation schedules to support economic development in the EU partner countries;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42

42. Reaffirms its support for the inclusion in all future trade agreements of ambitious provisions on combating corruption and protecting whistle-blower; welcomes the inclusion of anti- corruption provisions in the ongoing negotiations on updating the EU-Mexico ~~FTA~~and EU-Chile Association Agreements; stresses that FTAs must address the fight against money laundering, tax fraud and evasion while remaining within the scope of the Union’s exclusive competence;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43

43. Welcomes the fact that gender equality has been taken into account in the Commission’s report on the implementation of its trade strategy; underscores the aim of ensuring that women benefit from trade to the same extent as men; stresses that this requires a proactive approach by the Commission, and as a first step the application of a gender mainstreaming strategy to trade policy;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46

46. Emphasises that the Common Commercial Policy must be implemented in such a way as to ensure that the global value chain is managed responsibly; asks the Commission to continue including and promoting corporate social responsibility as part of its trade policy; reiterate its demand to the Commission to include CSR in all trade agreements and to work on new provisions for greater enforcement; reasserts its support for international initiatives such as the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact, and asks the Commission to concentrate as of now on the implementation of that initiative;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46 a (new)

46a. Recalls, however, that voluntary CSR may also lead to unfair competition for suppliers that have chosen to comply with international labour and environmental standards and is not sufficient per se to ensure that companies fully comply with international standards and obligations by implementing due diligence policy; reiterates its call for seeking ways to develop global value chains transparency strategies and rules, including the possible consideration of immediate action towards developing binding and enforceable rules, associated remedies and independent monitoring mechanisms involving the EU Institutions, Member States and civil society;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47

47. Repeats its call to the Commission to ~~fram~~table a proposal for banning the importation of goods produced using child labour or any other form of forced labour or modern slavery;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)

47a. Reiterates its call on the EU to work towards adequate and efficient solutions for the introduction of a transparent and functioning mandatory ‘social and environmental traceability’ labelling system along the entire production chain, in compliance with the WTO TBT Agreement, while in parallel promoting similar action at international level;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48

48. Takes note of the Commission’s work on transparency; believes that achieving full transparency must become the top priority for the Commission; calls on the Commission and Member States to publish ~~more~~all of the relevant documents relating to the negotiation and implementation of agreements;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49

49. Calls on the Commission and Member States to develop a proper strategy for communication about trade policy and about each agreement, so that as much information as possible is transmitted and information is adapted for specific stakeholders, enabling them to benefit from the agreements; stresses that such a strategy must address the issue of availability of information prior to and during trade negotiations, and reiterates its call to the Commission to conduct extensive consultations with civil society and social partners and publish Sustainability Impact Assessments in a timely manner, i.e. in time for them to be used in the course of parliamentary debates; calls on the Commission and Member States to come up with measures for raising economic operators’ awareness about agreements concluded and for sustaining dialogue on a regular basis with professional associations, companies, social partners and civil society;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50

50. Welcomes the publication by the Council of the negotiating mandates for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and for the agreements with Japan, Chile and Tunisia, as well as the Commission’s publication of its draft negotiating mandates for agreements with Australia and New Zealand and for the creation of the MIC; calls on the Council and the Member States to publish all negotiating mandates, and on the Commission to publish all draft mandates for the opening of future negotiations; asks the Council and the Commission, when they are drafting and adopting negotiating mandates, to incorporate Parliament’s recommendations; supports the opening of negotiations for an inter-institutional agreement to lay out a formal process to that effect;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51

51. Reiterates its request that Member States, Parliament, national parliaments, economic operators and representatives of civil society and social partners should be more closely involved in trade policy monitoring including on but not limited to TSD provisions; calls on the Commission to publish an action plan and details of the ‘Enhanced Partnership’ model for the implementation of trade agreements;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52

52. Asks the Commission to improve the quality of the impact studies carried out for each trade agreement and to include in them sectoral and geographical analysis; stresses that better and more timely communication about the information contained in ex ante and ex post impact studies on trade agreements is essential;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2070(INI)

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, Nicola DANTI, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, David MARTIN, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Joachim SCHUSTER, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53

53. Welcomes the announcement that a consultative group is being set up to monitor trade policy; stresses the importance of establishing the new body rapidly and in a transparent, public and inclusive way; asks the Commission to publish the consultative group’s meeting and working documents on a regular basis; also calls on the Commission to define processes to ensure that issues raised by the consultative group are properly responded to and contributions are taken into account during negotiations;

2018/01/30
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Dan NICA, Edouard MARTIN

Draft opinion
Recital 1 a (new)

– having regard to the E-commerce Directive 2000/31/EC

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9

– having regard to the announced Agreement in Principle on the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement of 6 July 2017,

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Dan NICA, Edouard MARTIN

Draft opinion
Recital 1 b (new)

– having regard to the Communication of the Commission on tackling illegal content online (COM(2017)555)

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, Adam GIEREK, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Theresa GRIFFIN, Dan NICA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Notes that technology and the internet facilitate an inclusive economy, allowing even the smallest businesses in the most remote regions to trade globally directly and in this respect calls on the European Commission to pursue 21st century trade agreements that recognize the fundamental advancement of technology and the internet.

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)

– having regard to the upcoming 11th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 10 - 13 December 2017 where E-commerce is likely to be discussed,

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas technological developments ~~and~~ access to the open internet ~~enable companies, particularly SMEs,~~and the digitisation of the economy could enable companies, particularly start-ups, micro-enterprises and SMEs, to create new opportunities for business, to improve their capacity to export, to participate in global value-chains and to reach customers all over the globe at a faster pace and lower cost than ever before;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, Adam GIEREK, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Theresa GRIFFIN, Dan NICA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Stresses the need of simplification and alignment of rules through a technologically progressive and transparent model of e-governance of administrative procedures. Calls on the Member States to advance rapidly their e- governance polices, legislation and practice.

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas the internet and internet- based technologies play an important role in developing, ordering, producing, marketing or delivering products and services;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, Adam GIEREK, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Dan NICA, Edouard MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Digital connectivity enhances the volume of trade, but a prerequisite for the online merchants is an efficient delivery system, underlines in this respect that the EU supports harmonised labels, that can lead to better and more efficient cross- border tracking services. Welcomes the open IT standards developed within CEN and suggests that the European Commission promotes such effective tools with international trade partners to reduce the costs of cross-border delivery and benefit ultimately end-users and consumers.

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)

Ab. whereas counterfeiting is a global and growing phenomenon, particularly online;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the digitisation of traditional industries affects supply chains, manufacturing and services models, which could lead to job creation in new industries, but could also lead to job losses, as more and more tasks traditionally performed by humans are either automated or off-shored, or both;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, Adam GIEREK, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Theresa GRIFFIN, Dan NICA, Edouard MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Underlines, that while EU trade agreements have to increasingly tackle "behind the border barriers" beyond tariffs they must preserve the primary function of regulations to pursue the public interest and be limited to facilitating trade and investment through the identification of unnecessary technical barriers to trade, duplicated or redundant administrative burdens, which disproportionately affect SMEs, while not compromising the technical procedures and standards on health, safety, consumer, labour, social and environmental protection and cultural diversity; recalls that corresponding mechanisms must be based on enhanced information exchange and improved adoption of international technical standards, and lead to increased convergence, whilst under no circumstances undermining or delaying the democratically legitimised decision- making procedures of any trading partner

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the current tax framework does not account for large online businesses who are avoiding taxes by routing most of their profits to tax havens;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas access to a free, open and secure internet is a prerequisite for ~~rules- based trade and~~the development inof the digital economy which can contribute to rules-based trade;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital E

E. whereas the UN’s SDGs stress that providing universal and affordable access to the Internet for people in least developed countries by 2020 will be crucial in terms of fostering development, as the development of a digital economy could be a driver for jobs and growth, e- commerce being one opportunity to increase the numbers of small exporters, export volumes and export diversification;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)

Ea. whereas women as entrepreneurs and as workers can benefit from better access to global markets and as consumers from lower prices, still many challenges and inequalities prevent women´s participation in the global economy, as many of the women in low- and middle-income countries, still have no access to internet;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)

Eb. whereas electronic commerce is also booming in developing countries;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F

F. whereas governments around the world are engaging in digital protectionism by putting up unjustified and disproportionate barriers that hinder market access and direct investment, or create unfair advantages for domestic companies;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Theresa GRIFFIN, Dan NICA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses that trade agreements should encourage the use of advanced technologies, the interoperability of systems and predictable contractual relations; calls to increase cooperation between regulators

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, Adam GIEREK, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Dan NICA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Stresses the need of digitalisation of customs information and management via on-line registration and operation of information, in respect of international standards, e-certification and on-line payment of customs duties, to scale down on trade costs, facilitate clearance at the border and cooperation in fraud detection. Calls the European Commission to encourage and request from our trade partners the digitalisation of customs procedures together with compatibility of customs systems in parallel with the reduction of tariffs.

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)

Fa. whereas geo-blocking should be ended and no forms of unjustified discrimination based on a customer’s nationality, place of residence or place of establishment within the internal market should appear in future;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, Patrizia TOIA, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Jeppe KOFOD, Theresa GRIFFIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)

8a. Highlights that the digital economy should be regarded as part of a EU taxation agenda and calls on the European Commission to ensure that multinationals in the digital sphere are subject to a fair, efficient and growth- friendly corporate tax system and are taxable in the countries where economic activity takes place and income is generated

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, Adam GIEREK, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Theresa GRIFFIN, Dan NICA, Edouard MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 – subparagraph 1 (new)

Considers that data flows are indispensable to trade in services and the digital economy but should never compromise the EU’s acquis on data protection and the right to privacy. Recalls that data and the right to privacy are not a trade barrier but a fundamental right

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Peter KOUROUMBASHEV, José BLANCO LÓPEZ, Carlos ZORRINHO, Zigmantas BALČYTIS, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Theresa GRIFFIN, Dan NICA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 d (new)

9d. Highlights that globally digital trade in goods is confronted with the problem of counterfeiting and urges the EC to promote initiatives such as an open system IT-trust mark to boost the trust of consumers in the e-merchants and ensure a level playing field. Encourages the use of instruments such as the Memorandum of Understanding on the online sale of counterfeit goods.

2017/10/04
Committee: ITRE

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the need to bridge the digital divide in order to minimise potential negative social and development Impacts; underlines in this regard the importance to promote female participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), to remove barriers to lifelong learning, to close gender gaps in access to and in the use of new technologies; calls on the Commission to explore further how current trade policy and gender equality are linked and how trade can promote women´s economic empowerment;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Notes that while intensified digital trade can lead to welfare benefits the digital economy has already shown a troubling tendency towards excessive market and power concentration; considers therefore that a digital trade strategy must be complemented by a reinforced and effective international framework for competition policy including by increased cooperation between competition authorities and strong competition chapters in trade agreements;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that businesses and companies comply with competition rules and that there is no discrimination against competitors to the detriment of consumers’ welfare; highlights in this regard that manufacturers and retailers, acting in a competitive market, must respond to consumers’ preferences rather than stipulate the terms on which consumers may access products;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)

2b. Considers that trade agreements should provide for increased cooperation between consumer protection agencies and welcomes initiatives to foster consumer trust-enhancing measures in trade negotiations such as disciplines on electronic signatures and contracts and unsolicited communications; highlights that the rights of consumers must be protected and must not be diluted in any case; stresses in this regard that the processing of services has to comply with high standards such as the protection of data and privacy, and underlines in this regard the importance of the fight against Internet crime;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)

2c. Recalls the need to put in place simplified, tax- and duty-free customs treatment of items sold online and returned unused, since a customer’s opportunity to return the item is a pillar of the competitiveness of e-commerce retailers; Calls on the Commission to address public concerns through better information on regulations such as data security, privacy, intellectual property protection, consumer protection and the safeguarding of cultural values;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 d (new)

2d. Points out that a digital development strategy should include investment in digital infrastructure, such as internet access, devices and computers as well as in digital enterprises, including relevant trainings; stresses that such investments are particularly important for local firms, especially in developing countries to be able to interact digitally with MNEs and to access global value- chains; highlights in this regard, that sustainable development should not be seen as a barrier for investments in the digital economy, but rather as a means to achieve a rules-based investment regime that aims at sustainability and inclusiveness;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 e (new)

2e. Underlines that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries make up the majority of businesses and employ the majority of manufacturing and service sector workers; Recalls that facilitating cross-border e-commerce can have a direct impact on improving livelihoods, fostering higher living standards and boosting economic development.

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 f (new)

2f. Recalls that the digital economy generally and digital trade specifically can cause disruption in other sectors and do not automatically lead to equitable and shared growth; stresses in this regard that the necessary social flanking measures must be put in place for them to benefit the whole society, such as strong education and training policies, active labour market policies and measures to overcome the digital divide;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 g (new)

2g. Recalls that the new digital labour market claims to be flexible and cost- efficient, for both clients and independent contractors; stresses in this regard, that this new flexibility often goes hand in hand with precarious working conditions and undermines hard-won legal and social standards of decent work; Calls therefore on the Commission to focus on increasing protection of workers in the field of crowd working, including minimum wage, a form of social and health insurance, privacy protection and liability insurance;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 h (new)

2h. Stresses that rules and regulations on digital commerce must be feasible not only for online monopolists and big companies, but also for micro-enterprises, SMEs and start-ups to achieve fair competition and a level playing field in the digital economy;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Recognises that adequacy decisions, including partial and sector- specific ones, are a fundamental mechanism in terms of safeguarding the transfer of personal data from the EU to a third country; notes that the EU has ~~only~~ adopted adequacy decisions with four of its 20 largest trading partners; recalls that instruments other than general disciplines in trade agreements exist to enable the transfer of data from one country to another such as binding corporate rules or standard contractual clauses;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Calls on the Commission to ~~prioritise and speed up~~continue with the adoption of adequacy decisions while ensuring that each individual adequacy decision is fully in line with the Union’s data protection legal framework and ensures a high level of protection for personal data; in order to facilitate the adoption of adequacy decisions~~; calls on~~, the Commission should consider the possibility to adopt, and to make public, updated and detailed binding procedures for reaching these decisions;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5

5. Recalls that the ability to access, collect, process and transfer data has become ~~a prerequisite~~more important for every type of company that delivers goods and services internationally;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission to draw up ambitious rules for cross-border data transfers, including through FTAs, in full compliance with, and without prejudice to, the EU’s current and future data protection and privacy rules; stresses that any disciplines in this regard should be exempted from the scope of application of any future chapter dealing with investment protection;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Nicola DANTI

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Calls on the Commission to prohibit unjustified and disproportionate data localisation requirements in FTAs;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the Commission proposal for a regulation on a framework for the free flow of non-personal data in the European Union; Calls on the Commission to put forward its position on cross- border data transfers and unjustified and disproportionate data localisation requirements in trade ~~negotiations before the end of the year;~~ agreements and underlines the need to ensure consistency between EU approach on free flow of non-personal data in the European Union and the provisions on cross border data transfers and data localisation in trade agreements; in the case of trade agreements where it is not yet possible to include provisions on cross border data transfers and data localisation due to the fact that the negotiations are nearly concluded, encourages the Commission to use review clauses that would allow for a prompt alignment to EU’s horizontal approach to data transfers and data localisation.

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Underlines that a digital trade strategy must be fully in line with the principle of net neutrality and safeguard the equal treatment of Internet traffic, without discrimination, restriction or interference, irrespective of its sender, receiver, type, content, device, service or application and recalls that traffic management measures should be allowed only in exceptional cases where they are strictly necessary, and only for as long as necessary, to comply with legal requirements, preserve the integrity and security of the network or prevent impending network congestion;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. ~~Deplores~~Regrets unjustified third country practices which make market access conditional on the disclosure and transfer to state authorities of the source codes of the software that companies intend to sell; considers that such measures are disproportionate as a blanket requirement for market access~~; calls on the Commission to prohibit signatory governme~~, while there should be certain necessary public policy exemptions since source code disclosure should be mandated in cases of operation of critical infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants, to ~~FTAs from engaging in such activities;~~ safeguard cyber security or for patent registration; recalls also that in some cases competition authorities could require the disclosure of source code as a remedy for anti-competitive conduct which should continue to be possible;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Recalls that in some cases local presence requirements are necessary to ensure effective prudential supervision or regulatory oversight and enforcement; reiterates therefore its call on the Commission to undertake limited commitments in Mode 1, in particular in the fields of digital services and financial services so as to avoid regulatory arbitrage;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Notes that pro-development technology transfer requirements should not be ruled out by disciplines on digital trade;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Notes that the protection of trademarks, intellectual property (IP), geographical indications (GIs) and investments in R&D is a precondition of the EU’s knowledge-based economy, and that international cooperation is key to combating the trade in counterfeited goods; recalls that legal protection, online and offline throughout the EU is needed for new creations since this will encourage investment and lead on to further innovations; stresses that access to medicines in third countries should not be challenged on the basis of IP protection; Highlights that international cooperation is key to combating the trade in counterfeited goods; stresses, however, that trade agreements are not the place to extend the level of protection for rights holders by providing for more extensive copyright enforcement powers~~; stresses that access to medicines in third countries should not be challenged on the basis of IP protection~~;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Recalls that, since 1998, members of the WTO have upheld a moratorium on tariffs on electronic transmissions; stresses that such tariffs would entail unnecessary additional costs for businesses and consumers alike; calls on the Commission to transform the moratorium into a permanent agreement on banning tariffs on electronic transmissions subject to careful analysis of the implication in the area of 3D printing;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Calls on the Commission to use trade agreements to promote the interoperability of ICT-standards that benefit both consumers and producers, notably in the context of a secure Internet of things, while not circumventing legitimate fora for multi stakeholder governance which have served the open internet well;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Recognises that the principle of intermediary liability protections has been crucial in developing the digital economy, in creating favourable conditions for innovation and in guaranteeing freedom of speech; calls on the Commission to ensure in its trade negotiations that online intermediaries ~~must never~~cannot be made strictly liable for hosting unlawful third-party content~~, nor should they ever be required to monitor content proactively as part of an intermediary liability regime~~ unless they have knowledge of the infringing nature of the content, nor should they be subject to a general monitoring requirement as part of an intermediary liability regime while appropriate specific monitoring should be called for in line with the EU e-commerce directive; underlines that these disciplines should clearly exclude criminal matters; calls therefore on the Commission to overcome the current difficulties in assigning liability and to enhance legal certainty with regard to liability in the context of emerging technologies; therefore welcomes the launching of a broad evaluation of the Products Liability Directive, to assess its overall functioning and whether its rules remain appropriate for emerging Technologies such as the Internet of Things and autonomous connected Systems;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20

20. Strongly supports the further mainstreaming of digital technologies and services in the EU’s development policy; calls on the Commission to stimulate ~~public-private partnerships to increase invest~~investments and cooperation for developments in digital infrastructure in the Global South; urges the Commission to make investments in broadband infrastructure in developing countries ~~conditional upon respect for~~to achieve the establishment of a free, open and secure internet; calls on the Commission to use trade agreements to improve and promote digital rights;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Stresses the imperative that any digital trade strategy must be fully in line with the principle of policy coherence for development, and should in particular seek to promote and enable start-ups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises engaging in cross border e-commerce recalling the contribution this could make to gender equality since a great number of these companies are women owned and operated;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)

20b. Considers that digital issues should also feature more prominently in the EU’s Aid for Trade policy to facilitate the growth of e-commerce via increased support for innovation and infrastructure and access to financing, notably via micro finance initiatives, as well as assistance in increasing online visibility for developing country e-commerce businesses, facilitating platform access and promoting the availability of e-payment solutions and access to cost-effective logistics and delivery services;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2065(INI)

Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Sorin MOISĂ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Eric ANDRIEU, Alessia Maria MOSCA, David MARTIN, Maria ARENA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)

20c. Stresses that any digital trade strategy, including its flanking measures, must be fully in line with and contribute to the realisation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; notes that SDG 4 on quality education, providing free, equitable and Quality primary and secondary education to all girls and boys, SDG 5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, SDG 8.10. on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, in particular via strengthened capacity of domestic financial institutions and access to financial services, as well as SDG 9.1. on developing reliable and resilient infrastructure with a focus inequitable access for all and SDG 9.3. on increasing access of small enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets are particularly relevant in this regard;

2017/10/04
Committee: INTA

2017/2053(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for own resources reforms that establish a predictable and stable basis for the EU budget which is independent, transparent and balanced and will address the growing pressure on the EU budget, ~~simplify the complex and opaque~~abolish all rebate arrangements, and aim to lower the contribution of the Member States (and not increase the tax burden on EU citizens) and decrease the EU’s dependency on the national contributions based on ~~VAT and~~ GNI;

2017/11/29
Committee: INTA

2017/2053(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Calls for a reform of the system of own resources in such a way that the own resources share of the EU budget is increased to at least 50 percent;

2017/11/29
Committee: INTA

2017/2053(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for a~~n exploration of the possibilities~~ feasibility check ofn creating sustainability- and emission- based customs duties and levies on trade in goods and services, and for the incorporation of such measures into the EU’s international trade policies and agreements as constituting a source for own resources;

2017/11/29
Committee: INTA

2017/2053(INI)

Joachim SCHUSTER, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Nicola DANTI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for own resources that can only be generated by collective European action and have a clear added value for the Union by improving the functioning of the internal market and therefore expects the introduction of a financial transaction tax and the European harmonisation of corporate income taxes and the partial use thereof as new own resources;

2017/11/29
Committee: INTA

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Notes that the Union has an increasingly ambitious trade agenda, as outlined in the ‘Trade for all’ strategy; stresses that the funding for Aid for Trade initiatives should be increased and sufficient resources should be allocated to DG Trade of the Commission to enable it to carry out the increasing number of activities, in particular to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the provisions included in both the bilateral and multilateral agreements; highlights the importance of performing assessments prior to, during and following the conclusion of such agreements in achieving a more inclusive strategy; in this regard recognises the need for gender-disaggregated data; notes that many global trade actors’ homologous institutions employ a significantly higher number of civil servants, especially in the field of trade defence’s investigations; reiterates the need to adequately support the Union’s trade strategy as one of the key pillars of its foreign policy;

2017/07/24
Committee: INTA

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes that the citizens of the Union are asking to be more involved and engaged with Union trade policy and that the Commission has made this citizens’ interest a priority; considers that it is crucial that enough resources are allocated to actively involve citizens in Union trade policy-making; and to raise a higher degree of awareness over its benefits among Union citizens; calls for the inclusion of Domestic Advisory Groups and Joint Platforms into Citizens’ dialogue as they are the main vehicles towards achieving civil society’s effective participation in the enforcement and monitoring of trade sustainability chapters of trade agreements; calls for the release of Key Performance Indicators, against which they wish to assess the performance of customs administration at national and Union level;

2017/07/24
Committee: INTA

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Stresses that international trade is a core tool for Union foreign policy which, if it is sufficiently funded and implemented by means of coherent strategies, contributes to sustainable development, particularly in developing countries, thereby enabling the Union to play an active role in tackling migration clauses;

2017/07/24
Committee: INTA

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Emphasises that the trade-related technical support and economic assistance provided by the European Neighbourhood Policy to Union partners in the ~~East bord~~Southern and ~~to the post-Arab-Spring countrie~~Eastern borders make an important contribution to stability in those regions;

2017/07/24
Committee: INTA

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Recalls that any new Union initiative, including those in the field of defence, should be financed by additional funds and not be detrimental to existing budget lines;

2017/07/24
Committee: INTA

2017/2044(BUD)

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Notes that, albeit varying results, the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) is under budgeted, does not operate systematically and thus is inadequate to balance the side-effects of automation, digitalisation and globalisation; observes the success of similar initiatives in comparable economies; underlines the need for additional funds and resources to finance the EGF and to increase its effectiveness and its operability; in this regard considers the elimination of unnecessary burdens key in achieving a higher degree of efficiency; underlines the importance of trainings in providing un-employed workers with the instruments needed for a successful re-integration into the labour market;

2017/07/24
Committee: INTA

2017/2044(BUD)