Activities of Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK related to 2018/0356M(NLE)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Amendments (17)
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Notes that negotiations began in June 2012 and were concluded in December 2015 after 14 negotiating rounds, and regrets subsequent delays in bringing forward the agreement for signature and ratification; considers that any further delays can substantially undermine the EU's geostrategic ambitions in the ASEAN region;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Appreciates and acknowledges the adoption by the Vietnamese Government of a new framework law for the fisheries sector and, various sub-law documents, the setup of coordinated monitoring, control and enforcement structures committed to, intensified the dissemination on legal regulations to fishermen, and implemented a national action programme on effectively tackling and deterring IUU fishing;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a (new)
(a) Notes that Vietnam has adopted the revised Fisheries Law 2017; this law has come into effect on January 1, 2019 and considers the international and regional obligations, agreements and recommendations made by the European Commission.
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Acknowledges Vietnam's engagement to address Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by having become an official member of the Port State measures Agreement (PSMA); notes that Vietnam has made clear commitments and has become a member on January 15, 2019 and that the PSMA is the first binding international agreement to specifically target Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Highlights that the EU is one of the largest foreign investors in Vietnam and that Vietnam has become the EU's second most important trading partner in the ASEAN region; highlights furthermore that Vietnam an important export market is in Asia for EU food and drink exports; underlines the potential for growth and significant benefits that are hereby made available to European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, considering this sector of the economy of vital interest for European prosperity and innovation;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas Vietnam is also one of the fastest-growing countries in ASEAN, with average GDP growth of around 6.51 % from 2000 until 2018; whereas Viet Nam is estimated to continue growing at similarly strong rates in the upcoming years;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Calls for continuous monitoring of Vietnam's efforts to ensure the country keeps making progress in combatting IUU fishing and in fulfilling its export potential.
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7b. Stresses that the entering into force of the agreement will create the conditions for a major and fruitful cooperation between the two parties in view of the effective implementations of the provisions on sustainable development which could bring about the improvement of the political and human rights situation in the country; underlines that a proper implementation of the EVFTA can advance Vietnam in complying with European standards on environment, human rights, good governance, labour rights, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); welcomes in this context the commitment of Vietnam to present its national implementation plan for complying with the provisions of the EVFTA;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that negotiations began in June 2012 and were concluded in December 2015 after 14 negotiating rounds, and regrets subsequent delays in bringing forward the agreement for signature and ratification; considers that any further delays can substantially undermine the EU’s geostrategic ambitions in the ASEAN region;
Amendment 72 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the economic and strategic importance of this agreement, as the EU and Vietnam share a common agenda and common values – to stimulate growth and employment, boost competitiveness, fight against poverty and make progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); emphasizes the geopolitical considerations that render EU partners in the Far-East as key players to engage with, in a complex local geo-economic environment;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Welcomes the fact that around 169 EU geographical indications will benefit from recognition and protection on the Vietnamese market at a comparable level to that of EU legislation, in view of the fact that Vietnam is an important export market in Asia for EU food and drink exports; underlines the potential for growth and significant benefits that are hereby made available to European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, considering this sector of the economy of vital interest for European prosperity and innovation;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that the EVFTA will help Vietnam go further in improving IPR protection, to the benefit of IPR owners and consumers, as Vietnam will accede to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties, which set standards to prevent unauthorised online access to or use of creative work, protect the rights of owners, and address the challenges that new technologies and methods of communication pose to IPR; stresses the strategic importance of standard setting capacity in a region that is witnessing tendencies of decoupling on the normative and standardization fronts; reiterates that a lack of strong regulatory frameworks could trigger a race to the bottom and a negative competition on important legal provisions; highlights that a swift ratification of the EVFTA can guarantee the highest standards of production and best quality for consumers;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a (new)
Paragraph 14 – point a (new)
(a) Acknowledges Vietnam’s engagement to address Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by having become an official member of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA); notes that Vietnam has made clear commitments and has become a member on January 15, 2019 and that the PSMA is the first binding international agreement to specifically target illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point b (new)
Paragraph 14 – point b (new)
(b) Notes that Vietnam has also adopted the revised Fisheries Law 2017; this law has come into effect on January 1, 2019 and considers the international and regional obligations, agreements and recommendations made by the European Commission.
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point c (new)
Paragraph 14 – point c (new)
(c) Acknowledges that Vietnam has furthermore made various sub-law documents, implemented a national action programme on combatting IUU fishing, and intensified the dissemination on legal regulations to fishermen.
Amendment 172 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point d (new)
Paragraph 14 – point d (new)
(d) Calls for continuous monitoring of Vietnam's efforts to ensure the country keeps making progress in combatting IUU fishing and in fulfilling its export potential.
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Acknowledges the institutional and legal link between the FTA and the PCA, which ensures that human rights are placed at the core of the EU-Vietn Nam relationship; points out that Article 1 of the PCA contains a standard human rights clause which can trigger appropriate measures, including, as a last resort, the suspension of the PCA, and implicitly of the EVFTA, or parts thereof, without delay;