11 Amendments of Jan ZAHRADIL related to 2018/2106(INI)
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Association Agreement (AA) between the European Union (EU) and Central America (CA) was the first region-to-region AA concluded by the EU and is based on three complementary parts, namely political dialogue, cooperation, and trade; whereas the trade part of the AA (Part IV) was quite broad and ambitious when it was negotiated, but retrospectively lacks updated provisions on, inter alia, gender and trade, digital trade, procurement, investment, anti-corruption or SMEs;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas Central America is a relatively small market with almost 43 million inhabitants and accounts for 0.25% of global GDP;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. stresses that in the past 15 years Central American countries have been more open to trade than other countries with the same level of income; underlines however that imports continue to be the main source of trade with other countries;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas the most important markets for Central America is the region itself, the Central American Common Market represents the second largest trade partner for most countries in the region, accounting for 26% of all exports;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the implementation of the EU’s trade agreements is a key priority for the Parliament, Council and the Commission in order to monitor, assess and calibrate the EU’s Common Commercial Policy (CCP); whereas reporting on the implementation of the AA with CA is a timely and useful contribution to the reflection on the future of Europeits possible modernisation;
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the main products exported by CA to the EU are still heavily concentrated in the primary sector and in relatively low value added products such as textiles, coffee, sugar, car parts or shrimps, while the main products exported by the EU to CA are machinery and appliances, products of the chemical or allied industries and transportation equipment; notes, however, that the AA is starting to contribute to the modernisation and diversification of exports from CA with more value-added, such as needles, prosthetic devices and medical devices, and to an increase in exports of Fair Trade and organic certified products;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Highlights that corruption is a non-tariff barrier that increases businesses operational difficulties and hampers the wider business environment; calls on the Commission to use this agreement to monitor domestic reform in our partner countries in relation to the rule of law and good governance and to come up with effective anti-corruption measures;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Emphasises that fair and transparent opening of public procurement markets in CA are essential to ensure a level playing field for businesses; is concerned that procurement markets in CA could be opened further at the central government and regional government level;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Views a significant hindrance to investment in CA to be intra-regional non-tariff measures; urges the Commission to ensures CA countries facilitate improved investment conditions and the local business environment for European investors that can improve employment and infrastructure and address the significant development needs of the region;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that recent political and economic developments in some Central American countries can have a negative impact oneconomic implications that negatively affect the region as a whole and might lead to the destabilisation of the region;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Urges Austria, Belgium, Greece and the United Kingdom and Greece to ratify the AA, and reiterates the importance of full application of the other parts of the AA, including cooperation as regards economic and trade development (Article 52 and others); notes that the AA proceeded through the United Kingdom Parliament in July and that the remaining formalities will be completed by the end of November;