315 Amendments of Kader ARIF
Amendment 5 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU should continue giving priority to achieving a balanced outcome of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), which would support developing countries'’ – and particularly the least developed countries’ – integration in the international trading system and contribute to enforcingstablishing fairer and more equitable multilateral trade rules among all its members;
Amendment 6 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the WTO International Trade Statistics for the period 2000-2009 show a substantial increase in trade exchanges for those regions which have opened up their markets by lifting or significantly reducing barriers to trade; but at the same time a joint ILO-WTO report has shown that during the financial crisis, countries more open to trade experienced more external trade shocks which resulted in significant job losses both in industrialized and developing countries 22; __________________ 22 Joint WTO-ILO report, Globalization and informal jobs in developing countries, 2009.
Amendment 13 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas Japan’s aerospace policy is skewed in favour of American companies, and this is a major problem which the Commission needs to address;
Amendment 16 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) ought to be an effective tool for ensuring transparency and combating speculation on commodity markets;
Amendment 23 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that removing or reducing NTBs and other unjustified regulatory obstacles should be the keya regulatory priority of the new EU trade policy under the Europe 2020 Strategy;
Amendment 26 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to systematically address the great variety, technical complexity and political sensitivity of NTBs as part of a holistic strategy, including enhanced regulatory dialogue, with respect to all EU's trading partners, particularly with those of strategic importance; considers in particular that the relevant committees of the WTO and the standard-setting agencies of the UN are appropriate fora to discuss these regulatory changes;
Amendment 29 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Calls on the Commission to draw a clear distinction between those NTBs which give rise to unfair distortions of competition and those which reflect legitimate public-policy aims, notably in relation to public health and the protection of the environment; emphasises, for example, that the European laws on GMOs and the health and plant-health related rules affecting agriculture cannot be regarded as unfair NTBs but should, on the contrary, be defended in the international trade arena;
Amendment 37 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Commission to address these widespread and persistent issues in all plurilateral and bilateral trade agreements, especially Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and to ensure that NTBs are given at least as much attention as is currently afforded tariff elimination, particularly in its negotiations with industrialised and emerging economies; emphasises that, in the field of cooperation with developing countries, priority must be accorded to aid for trade and to technical and financial assistance, to help such countries improve their regulatory environment while taking account of their specific needs in terms of developing their internal markets and protecting their embryonic industries and their agricultural structures, which in many cases are vulnerable;
Amendment 38 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that, with regard to raw materials, the Commission should pursue a sustainable, comprehensive and cross- policy strategy, while recognising that export restrictions and export taxes may be seen as important for the support of development objectives, the protection of the environment or the sustainable exploitation of natural resources in poorer developing countries such as LDCs and SIDs;
Amendment 40 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the European Parliament should focus in future on the manner in which unjustified NTBs have been addressed when assessing trade agreements to ensure access for European exporters and investors, in particular SMEs, to third country markets, while at the same time respecting the need for special, differentiated treatment for developing countries;
Amendment 42 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reminds the Commission that European IPR policy towards developing countries should remain within the TRIPS agreement obligations and must fully respect the 2001 Doha Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and Public Health, especially in the field of generic medicines and public health, so as to leave the developing countries policy space to address public interest concerns;
Amendment 43 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Points out that export taxes are one of the few remaining trade policy tools at the disposal of developing countries with which to pursue development goals; calls on the EU to refrain from attempting to ban the use of export taxes at the WTO and in bilateral trade agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), as it would limit their policy space to use this tool for value-addition, diversification, infant industry protection, food security, revenue and environmental considerations;
Amendment 45 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is of the opinion that, although no direct link can be made at this point in time between specific NTBs and other regulatory hindrances EU companies face when trying to access foreign markets, on the one hand, and actual job losses in the EU Member States on the other hand, it would be advisable for the CommissionConsiders that the Commission should investigate, in consultation with other relevant international organisations, to investigate whether there is a correlation between specific NTBs and actualin the EUs and in third countries and job creation and jobs losses in the EU;
Amendment 48 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that the Commission should duly explore the possibility of developing and establishing an early warning mechanism to detect unjustified NTBs and strengthen its existing analytical tools for a qualitative evaluation thereof;
Amendment 54 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Believes that one of the keys to lowering NTBs to trade and investment is reform of the Government Procurement Agreement in the WTO, with due regard to the multifunctional nature of procurement policies; calls on the major emerging economies to participate in this process and to sign and ratify the future agreement without delay;
Amendment 58 #
2011/2115(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Encourages EU businesses and exporters to make use of the existing channels, including the TBR complaints or the complaints register in the Market Access Database, to report material injuries resulting from all kinds of unjustified trade barriers;
Amendment 2 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. calls for the States Parties to the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) to conclude the reform of that agreement as rapidly as possible to encourage greater fairness and transparency at international level by combating corruption more effectively while respecting the multi-functional nature of procurement policies; regrets, however, that none of the major emerging economies, in particular China, India, or Brazil, is yet a signatory of the GPA;
Amendment 5 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Stresses the need to turn the EU’s trade policy into a genuine vehicle for sustainable development and the creation of more and better jobs; calls on the Commission to pursue a trade policy consistent with a strong, job-creating industrial policy; maintains that the EU’s trading partners have to be subject to rules and ensure that these are complied with, given that failure in that regard would constitute a violation of international obligations and severely impair the operation of the single market;
Amendment 12 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. calls on the Commission to broaden European directives to incorporate the provisions set out in ILO Convention 94 (the Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Convention), the object of which is to promote socially responsible public procurement by requiring tenderers and contractors to match pay rates and other working conditions in force at local level, as laid down by collective agreements or national legislation;
Amendment 33 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. calls on the Commission to take a firmer line in bilateral negotiations with industrialised countries in order to secure better market access and greater reciprocity where public procurement is concerned; maintains that real market access should not be restricted by non- tariff barriers, and calls on the Commission to pay particular heed to that point when conducting negotiations at international level.
Amendment 37 #
2011/2048(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. considers, given that large businesses, their subsidiaries, and their supply chains play a key role in international trade, that corporate social and environmental responsibility should become an aspect to take into account in the EU’s trade agreements.
Amendment 100 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that the objectives of the common commercial policy should be fully coordinated with the European Union's overall objectives; points out that, pursuant to Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the EU's common commercial policy must be conducted ‘in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union's external action’, and that, pursuant to Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, it must contribute, inter alia, to sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights;
Amendment 103 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Amendment 104 #
2011/2032(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Recalls the firm position adopted by Parliament in favour of including in all free trade agreements legally binding clauses on social and environmental aspects and respect for human rights, taking as a minimum basis the list of conventions contained in the GSP+ Regulation;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Advocates for coherence between the Union’s internal and, external policies and itsthe overall objectives, of the Union for they contributinge to sustainable growth and employment in line with the EU 2020 strategy; urges that such coherence be pursued in the context of multilateral organisations and; it should be pursued in multilateral and in bilateral trade agreements through ex ante sustainable impact assessments (SIAs) and periodic ex postex post periodical evaluations, the inclusion in agreements of clauses on human rightsof HR, social and, environmental responsibility and corporate social responsibility (CSR)and CSR clauses and their enforcement, with and sanctions in the eventcase of infringement;
Amendment 14 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Is concerned by the possible impact of trade agreements subscribed under GATS mode 4 on European labour markets; therefore urges the Commission to launch an impact assessment previous to any trade agreement conclusion, involving social partners at EU and national level;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Stresses the need to transform the EU's trade policy into a true vehicle for sustainable development and the creation of more and better jobs; asks the Commission to shape a new trade policy consistent with a strong job-creating industrial policy;
Amendment 16 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underscores the need to fight piracy and counterfeiting with all available means and to facilitate technical and financial support for EU companies, including SMEs, in doing so, as the international protection of IPRs, GIs and copyright is vital not only in terms of promoting innovation but also for the survival of many EU sectors of activity and for encouraging initiatives to make EU companies innovative, competitive and capable of entering foreign markets successfully;
Amendment 19 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Underlines also that the protection and enforcement of IPRs should be developed in a broader approach by taking into consideration the consumer and citizens rights and needs, and without conflicting with other EU internal and external policies such as the promotion of the information society, the fostering of education, health care, development in third countries and the promotion of biological and cultural diversity on an international scale;
Amendment 21 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Calls on the Commission to adopt a consistent and balanced strategy in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, in terms of fostering innovation, supporting innovative business as well as the best way to reward creation, and protecting citizens' fundamental rights, such as the right to privacy and protection of personal data;
Amendment 23 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers it important to ensure market access, symmetry and transparency in public procurement procedures with industrialised countries and major emerging economies, as well as security and predictability in relation to investments; deplores the fact that, by increasing competitive pressure among countries to attract foreign investors, as well as competition between corporations, globalisation has resulted, in some cases, in serious abuses of human rights and labour rights and in damage to the environment; points out that companies have duties, and calls for a binding CSR clause to be included in trade agreements.;
Amendment 30 #
2010/2277(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers also that EU’s future investment policy must promote investments which are sustainable, respect the governments' right to regulate in favour of the public interest and encourage good quality working conditions in the enterprises targeted by the investments.
Amendment 3 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
Citation 4 b (new)
- having regard to the last report by John Ruggie, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises,
Amendment 6 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to systematically include a chapter on sustainable development containing a legally binding CSR clause in the free trade and investment agreements it negotiates with third countries, specifically covering compliance with the ILO’s eight core conventions and four priority conventions;
Amendment 7 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Proposes that this CSR clause should cover compliance with the ILO’s eight core conventions and four priority conventions and also provide incentives to enterprises to enter into CSR commitments and an obligation of diligence for enterprises and groups of enterprises, i.e. an obligation to take proactive measures to identify and prevent any violation of human rights and environmental rights, corruption or tax evasion, including in their subsidiaries and supply chains, i.e. their sphere of influence;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
- having regard to last updates on OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises;
Amendment 11 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 b (new)
Citation 23 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 13 March 2007 on corporate social responsibility: a new partnership 1 __________________ 1 OJ C 301 E, 13.12.2007, p. 45.
Amendment 12 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23 c (new)
Citation 23 c (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2010 on corporate social responsibility in international trade agreements 1 __________________ 1 P7_TA-PROV(2010)0446
Amendment 16 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 28 a (new)
Citation 28 a (new)
- having regard to the Public consultation on disclosure of non-financial information by companies launched by the DG Internal Market and Services, Financial Reporting Unit 1 __________________ 1 http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/consu ltations/2010/non- financial_reporting_en.htm
Amendment 17 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that these standards should be applied in full and that neither free zones nor host country agreements can be used to escape them;
Amendment 20 #
2010/2205(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that, given the size of their share of international trade, European companies and their subsidiaries and subcontractors play a key role in the promotion and dissemination of social and labour standards worldwide, and they should therefore act in accordance with European values and internationally recognised standards; considers that it would be normal if it were possible for European enterprises which relocate their production to countries with less stringent social obligations to be held liable, including before European courts, for any damage and negative externalities affecting local populations;
Amendment 39 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
Recital I a (new)
I a. Whereas the principles underpinning CSR, which are fully recognised at international level, whether by the OECD, the ILO or the United Nations, concern the responsible behaviour expected of undertakings and presuppose, first of all, compliance with the legislation in force, in particular in the areas of employment, labour relations, human rights, the environment, consumer interests and transparency vis-à-vis consumers, the fight against corruption and taxation;
Amendment 72 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. Points out that CSR should address new areas such as the organisation of work, equal opportunities and social inclusion, anti-discrimination measures, the development of lifelong education and training; emphasises that CSR should cover, for example, quality of work, equality of pay and career prospects and the promotion of innovative projects so as to assist the shift towards a sustainable economy;
Amendment 113 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on the Commission to advocate the incorporation of a CSR dimension into multilateral trade policies, both in the international forums which have supported the concept of CSR, in particular the OECD and the ILO, and in the WTO in the post-Doha context;
Amendment 128 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Calls on the Commission to reform the EU laws through the mandatory introduction of clear, audited, comparable and enforceable standards in matter of extra financial reporting (human rights, social and environmental standards) for large and medium size companies, coupled with effective enforcement mechanisms;
Amendment 129 #
2010/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Calls on the Commission to introduce amendments to its Proposal for a Regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (2010/0383 (COD)) to enable claimants to sue a subsidiary domiciled in a third country, together with the European parent corporation, and through the creation of additional grounds of jurisdiction;
Amendment 24 #
2010/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas after the first dispute settlement cases of the 1990s a number of problems became clear, particularly concerning the possibility of conflict between private interests and the regulatory tasks of public authorities, for example in cases where the adoption of legitimate legislation led to a state being condemned by international arbitrators for ‘indirect expropriation’a breach of the principle of "fair and equitable treatment",
Amendment 88 #
2010/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 – indent 1
Paragraph 11 – indent 1
– non-discrimination (national treatment and most favoured nation), mentioning that foreign and national investors must operate under ‘similar conditions’"in like circumstances",
Amendment 127 #
2010/2203(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Stresses that the EU's future policy must promote investment which is sustainable, respects the environment (particularly in the area of extractive industries) and encourages good quality working conditions in the enterprises targeted by the investment; asks the Commission to include, in all future agreements, a reference to the updated OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises or to the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles on Multinational Companies and Social Policy;
Amendment 69 #
2010/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 10
Subheading 10
Parliament sees Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) as a second-best but necessary solution
Amendment 71 #
2010/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates that all new FTAs concluded by the EU should be WTO-compatible, comprehensive, ambitious, lead to real reciprocal market access and go beyond both existing multilateral commitments and those expected to result from a successful conclusion of the DDA; welcomes the progress made in some negotiations; at the same time regrets that most of the negotiations have not been concluded yet; asks the Commission to analyse what could be done or changed in order to conclude outstanding FTA negotiations better and faster; asks the Commission to analyse the possibility of including WTO dispute settlement mechanisms in bilateral Free Trade Agreements; asks the Commission to reduce the spaghetti-bowl effect, e.g. by negotiating multilateral rules of origin;
Amendment 99 #
2010/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates that the strengthening of transatlantic economic relations must proceed; regrets that little progress has been achieved in the world’s biggest trade relationship, in particular in respect of standards and technical barriers to trade; welcomes the re launching of the TEC and encourages the parties to the TEC to strive for an integrated transatlantic marketplace in the very near future;
Amendment 147 #
2010/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Puts the protection of investors as the first priority in light of the future European investment policy, and considers that public regulation capacity must also be guaranteed and safeguarded; asks the Commission, therefore, to secure the legal certainty of the protection granted by existing BITs and to resolve existing conflicts on the internal market; calls on the Council to give its mandates for future investment agreements to the Commission, taking into account Parliament’s views and positions as set out in the report by Kader Arif on ‘Future European International Investment Policy’;
Amendment 153 #
2010/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Regrets that the large degree of openness of EU public procurement markets at all levels of government are in many cases not matched by commensurate access for EU suppliers abroad; points out that some public services have to remain excluded on the basis of national or regional cultural diversities;
Amendment 178 #
2010/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Asks the Commission to present a proposal for the future GSP System which should include an improved focus on how the countries most in need and meeting our ‘Trade and’ requirements can benefit from the GSP; asks the Commission to prevent misapplication of the GSP System in the form of allowing even countries that have a higher per-capita GDP than EU Member States or an already very efficient economy to benefit; also asks the Commission to launch investigations and, where appropriate, withdraw preferences if there is consistent evidence that certain countries are failing to meet their obligations;
Amendment 207 #
2010/2152(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Stresses that counterfeiting and piracy results in job losses and undermine innovation, and stresses that adequate IPR protection and effective enforcement are the bedrock of a global economy; regards the appropriate protection of IPRs, trademarks and geographical indications by our main trading partners as an indispensable requirement for preserving and improving the EU’s competitiveness, and welcomes the Commission’s commitment to strengthening IPR provisions in international trade agreements and the enforcement of existing commitments;
Amendment 11 #
2010/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the agreement on trade in bananas, which settles twenty years of WTO disputes and constitutes an important step towards the consolidation of a rule- based multilateral trading system; notes that the agreement on trade in bananas makes a decisive contribution to the resolution of issues relating to tropical products and preferences in WTO negotiations; believes that this agreement fur, however, that the interests of Community producers and their consolidates the EU’s position on agriculture in the Doha round; calls upon the EU to build upon this important breakthrough to push WTO negotiations forwarACP partners should be taken into account in the next trade negotiations so that these sectors, which provide numerous jobs, are not weakened;
Amendment 15 #
2010/2110(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Notes that the outermost regions are an integral part of EU territory and all international trade agreements are applied to them; stresses that their fragile economies are mainly based on agriculture, and their production covers the same areas of production as the Latin- American partners in particular and is therefore jeopardised by lower customs tariffs; points out that Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union allows for adjustment of Community policies to the geographic and economic realities of these regions; therefore calls on the Commission to take the specific constraints of the outermost regions into account in the framework of its negotiations so that their development is not undermined;
Amendment 14 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5a (new)
Paragraph 5a (new)
5a. Considers that external competition is vital to the EU and that it is based on fair competition between domestic and external producers; believes therefore that steps must be taken to ensure that European businesses are not threatened by unfair practices; stresses the importance of a system of effective trade protection and draws attention to the need to make use, where necessary, of trade defence instruments vis-à-vis countries which fail to comply with international trade rules or free trade agreements with the EU.
Amendment 15 #
2010/2095(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5b (new)
Paragraph 5b (new)
5b. Stresses the need to defend EU interests in negotiations on future trade agreements in order to protect industry and employment, and calls for such agreements to be drafted in such a way as to form part of an industrial strategy based on fair competition; considers also that the inclusion in free-trade agreements of legally binding clauses on social and environmental standards should become standard practice.
Amendment 5 #
2010/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that, whereas some counterfeit products constitute a threat to consumers’ interests and safety, public health and the environment, the fight against counterfeiting should not affect access to legitimate, affordable and safe medicinal products; calls upon the Commission, the Council and the Member States to refrain from expanding the definition of the notion of ‘counterfeiting’ beyond the scope of deliberate trademark violations which potentially damage consumers’ interests and safety, public health and the environment, and warns against the parallel expansion of the scope of criminal law; recalls that other IPR violations such as copyright piracyinfringements on a non- commercial scale and patent infringements should remain governed by civil law; expresses great concern with regard to the criminalisation of patent infringements, which may be used as an obstacle to legitimate trade in generic medicines;
Amendment 7 #
2010/2080(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reiterates its call upon the Commission to ensure that the European Parliament is kept immediately and fully informed of the advancement of ACTA negotiationsat all stages of the negotiations in order to respect the letter and spirit of the Lisbon Treaty, as well as its request for further reassurance that ACTA will not modify the EU acquis on IPR enforcement and fundamental rights; calls upon the Commission to engage closely with third countries which are not part of ACTA negotiations, in particular emerging countries;
Amendment 133 #
2010/2002(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a new
Paragraph 51 a new
51a. Firmly rejects any attempts to finance the programme for ACP banana- producing countries through redeployment of development appropriations within heading 4, in particular from the budget lines for development cooperation; is particularly opposed to the proposal in the draft budget to redeploy for this purpose EUR 13 million from the Development Cooperation Instrument and EUR 5 million from the Civil Protection Financial Instrument;
Amendment 134 #
2010/2002(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b new
Paragraph 51 b new
51b. Welcomes the proposal to amend the regulation creating an instrument for industrialised countries1 but resolutely opposes its being financed with appropriations programmed for use under the Development Cooperation Instrument; stresses that funds earmarked for development cooperation must target poverty alleviation; is extremely dissatisfied that of the EUR 70,6 million total appropriations earmarked for this new instrument in the draft budget, EUR 45 million are taken from the Development Cooperation Instrument; 1 Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation EC N° 1934/2006 establishing a financing instrument for cooperation with industrialised countries and other high-income countries and territories
Amendment 135 #
2010/2002(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b new
Paragraph 51 b new
51b. Welcomes the proposal to amend the regulation creating an instrument for industrialised countries but resolutely opposes its being financed with appropriations programmed for use under the Development Cooperation Instrument; stresses that funds earmarked for development cooperation must target poverty alleviation; is extremely dissatisfied that of the EUR 70,6 million total appropriations earmarked for this new instrument in the draft budget, EUR 45 million are taken from the Development Cooperation Instrument;
Amendment 142 #
2010/2002(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 b new
Paragraph 52 b new
52a. Recalls the EU political commitment to dedicate 2 billion euros per year (1 billion from the EU BUDGET and 1 billion from the Member States) to Trade Related Assistance (TRA), requests the Commission to submit to the Parliament an annual report on the funds dedicated to TRA in particular as well as Aid for Trade (AfT) in general; this report should specify what are the exact sources of funding ( per EU multi annual programs as well as trough EDF) , broken down by country, region and category of assistance; requests that the report also contains specific information on the history of the measures financed, the involvement of the relevant partners, and the implementation of the pledges;
Amendment 144 #
2010/2002(BUD)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 c new
Paragraph 52 c new
52c. Takes note of the proposed increase in the Draft Budget 2011 compared to Budget 2010 on the Macro Financial Assistance budget line (01 03 02); recalls that the mobilisation of this instrument for each third country falls under the ordinary legislative procedure and requests the Commission to provide further explanation on its proposed increase;
Amendment 1 #
2010/2001(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the European Parliament has new powers in the field of international trade agreements; urges the Commission to fully respect Parliament's new prerogatives, particularly regarding transparency and flow of information; stresses that Parliament may use all means at its disposal if it is not satisfied with the way the Commission treats it in this respect;
Amendment 3 #
2010/2001(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the proposal to amend the regulation creating an instrument for industrialised countries but resolutely opposes its being financed with appropriations programmed for use under the Development Cooperation Instrument; stresses that funds earmarked for development cooperation must target poverty alleviation; calls on the Commission to present, on a regular basis, detailed information on the budget lines which are used for financing the ICI; reiterates the need for a framework regulation on MFA, adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure;
Amendment 4 #
2010/2001(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Takes note of the proposed increase in the draft budget for 2011, as compared to the budget for 2010, against the macro- financial assistance budget line (01 03 02); recalls that the mobilisation of this instrument for each third country falls under the ordinary legislative procedure and requests the Commission to provide further explanation on its proposed increase;
Amendment 6 #
2010/2001(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Takes note that the Commission has prepared the Aid for Trade Monitoring Report covering the operations in 2010; calls for more detailed information in future reports; regrets that this report does not contain more detailed information; calls for the Commission in future to submit an annual report detailing the exact sources of funding (through EU multiannual programmes and the European Development Fund), with a breakdown by country, region and aid category; requests that the report also contain specific information on the history of the measures financed, the involvement of the relevant partners, and the implementation of the pledges;
Amendment 7 #
2010/2001(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Supportstresses the need to guarantee the adequate financing of Banana Accompanying Measures (BAM) forin order to enable banana-producing countries, with the poorest LDC to ensure a long-term sustainable future for their production, with the worst affected countries being strictly prioritised;
Amendment 9 #
2010/2001(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Firmly rejects any attempts to finance the programme for ACP banana- producing countries through redeployment of development appropriations within heading 4, in particular from the budget lines for development cooperation; is particularly opposed to the proposal in the draft budget to redeploy for this purpose EUR 13 million from the Development Cooperation Instrument and EUR 5 million from the Civil Protection Financial Instrument;
Amendment 18 #
2010/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 13 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
a) exported to third countries or dispatched to the rest of the Union within the established limits of traditional exports and traditional dispatches. These amounts are established by the Commission by means of an implementing act on the basis of dispatches or export average figures during 1989, 1990 and, taking as a reference the verified average figures for the three best years since 19891;
Amendment 19 #
2010/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 3
Article 13 – paragraph 3
3. For the purposes of this chapter, ‘regional trade’shall be understood as trade, for each French overseas department, with the Azores and Madeira and the Canary Islands, with third countries established by the Commission by means of an implementing actbelonging to the same geographical and ocean areas as those regions and with third countries with which they have historical links.
Amendment 20 #
2010/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. To increase the market competitiveness of agricultural products from the outermost regions and improve the ability of agricultural holdings to withstand natural disasters and hazards, steps shall be taken to encourage each subsector as a whole to take out disaster risk insurance. With a view to this, cooperatives, farmers' associations and all other agricultural bodies shall be exempted from the ban on receiving state aid to promote access to agricultural insurance cover.
Amendment 21 #
2010/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 31 – paragraphe 3 a (new)
Article 31 – paragraphe 3 a (new)
3a. When the Union conducts trade negotiations with third countries, third- party regional organisations or international organisations likely to affect agricultural sectors supported by the POSEI, and where significant changes to the common agricultural policy are proposed, impact studies or prior assessments of the possible effects on agriculture in the outermost regions must be carried out. The criteria adopted by the Commission for such studies or assessments shall be those established by the UN.
Amendment 22 #
2010/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) To avoid undermining the POSEI objectives, the Commission shall carry out impact studies or prior assessment of the possible effects (based on the criteria set by the UN) whenever international trade agreements are negotiated which may affect sectors supported by the POSEI. On completion, said impact studies or prior assessments of possible effects shall be forwarded by the Commission to Parliament, the Council and the local or regional authorities of the outermost regions before conclusion of the international agreements concerned.
Amendment 23 #
2010/0256(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
Amendment 43 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) This Regulation lays down the conditions under which Member States should be authorised to maintain in forccooperate with the Commission when some orf to permit to enterheir already into force internationbilateral agreements with third countries relating to investment are incompatible with the laws or policies of the Union.
Amendment 49 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) This Regulation lays down the conditions under which Member States are empowered to amend existing or conclude new international agreements relating to investment.
Amendment 51 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) As the authorisation to maintain, amend or conclude agreements covered by this Regulation is granted inconcerns an area of exclusive Union competence, it must be regarded as an exceptional measure. The authorisrrangements under this Regulation isare without prejudice to the application of Article 258 of the Treaty with respect to failures of Member States to fulfil obligations under the Treaties other than those concerning incompatibilities arising from the allocation of competences between the Union and its Member States.
Amendment 59 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Commission should be able to withdraw the authorisation if an, within a period of one year after the entry into force of the Regulation, review all Member States' international agreements relating to investment and inform the Members States of the situations where those agreements conflicts with the law of the Union other than the incompatibilities arising from the allocation of competence between the Union and its Member States. The authorisation may also be withdrawnCommission should also inform the Member States if an agreement of the Union in force with a third country contains investment provisions similar to those of a Member State agreement. In order to ensure that agreements of Member States do not undermine the development and implementation of the Union's policies relating to investment, including in particular of autonomous measures of common commercial policy, authorisation may be withdrawn. Finally, should the Council not take a decisionor constitute an obstacle to the implementation of the principles and objectives onf the authorisation to open negotiations concerning investment within one year of the submission of a recommendation by the Commission pursuant to Article 218(3) of the Treaty, the possibility would exist to withdraw the authorisUnion's action on the international scene, Members States should be required to take the necessary measures to remove these incompatibilities within a period of five years after the entry into force of the Regulation.
Amendment 71 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Agreements authorised under this Regulation or authorisations to open negotiations to amend an existing or to conclude a new bilateral agreement with a third country should not in any case be allowed to constitute an obstacle to the implementation of the Union's policies relating to investment, in particular common commercial policy, or to the implementation of the principles and objectives of the Union's action on the international scene, as defined by Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union.
Amendment 83 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1
Article 1
This Regulation establishes the terms, conditions and the procedure under which Member States are authorised to maintain in force, amend or concludshall cooperate with the Commission when some of their already in force bilateral agreements with third countries relating to investment are incompatible with the laws or policies of the Union.
Amendment 89 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter 2 – title
Chapter 2 – title
Authorisation to maintain agreements in forcelignment of the agreements in force with the laws or policies of the Union
Amendment 93 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2
Article 2
Within thirty days from the entry into force of this Regulation, the Member States shall notify the Commission of all bilateral agreements with third countries relating to investment concluded before the entry into force of this Regulation that they either wish to maintain in force or permit to enter into force under this Chapter. The notification shall include a copy of those bilateral agreements.
Amendment 100 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – title
Article 3 – title
Authorisation to maintain agreements already in force
Amendment 101 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3
Article 3
Notwithstanding the Union's competences relating to investment and without prejudice to other obligations of Member States under the law of the Union, Member States are authorised in accordance with Article 2(1) of the Treaty to maintain in force bilateral agreements relating to investment that have been notified in accordance with Article 2 of this Regulation remain unchanged unless the review referred to in Article 5 requires modification of those agreements.
Amendment 116 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) constitute an obstacle to the development and the implementation of the Union's policies relating to investment, including in particular the common commercial policy., or
Amendment 117 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) constitute an obstacle to the implementation of the principles and objectives of the Union's action on the international scene, as defined by Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union.
Amendment 121 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Once the Commission has received notification of the agreements referred to in Article 2, it shall present to the Member State, within one year after the entry into force of this Regulation, a report detailing the necessary steps to be taken to comply with the requirements referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.
Amendment 122 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The Member State shall then, within five years after the entry into force of this Regulation, take all the necessary measures to remove the incompatibilities or obstacles notified by the Commission, and regularly report to the Commission and the European Parliament on progress made in this respect.
Amendment 134 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6
Article 6
Amendment 175 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) constitute an obstacle to the development and the implementation of the Union's policies relating to investment, including in particular the common commercial policy., or
Amendment 176 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) constitute an obstacle to the implementation of the principles and objectives of the Union's action on the international scene, as defined by Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union.
Amendment 189 #
2010/0197(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 3 – point c a (new)
(ca) constitute an obstacle to the implementation of the principles and objectives of the Union's action on the international scene, as defined by Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union, or
Amendment 15 #
2010/0059(COD)
Draft legislative resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
– having regard to the declaration issued by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 1 April 2010 regarding the EU-Latin America bananas agreement and its impact on ACP and EU banana producers;
Amendment 21 #
2010/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
(2a) It is important to take account of the declaration issued by the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on 1 April 2010 in relation to the EU-Latin America bananas agreement and its impact on ACP and EU producers;
Amendment 25 #
2010/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The financial assistance measures to be adopted under this programme should aim at supporting the adaptation and/or restructuring reorganisation of areas dependent upon banana exports through sector-specific budget support or project-specific interventions. The measures should aim to provide for social resilience policies, economic diversification or investment to improve competitiveness, where this is a viable strategy, taking into account the results of and experiences gained through the Special System of Assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas7 and the Special Framework of Assistance to traditional ACP suppliers of bananas8.
Amendment 28 #
2010/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) The Commission should ensure proper coordination of this programme with the regional and national indicative programmes operating in the beneficiary countries, in particular as regards the achievement of economic, agricultural, social and environmental objectives;
Amendment 29 #
2010/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 b (new)
Recital 5 b (new)
(5b) The Commission has not carried out any assessment of the impact of the agreement concluded within the WTO, the bilateral and regional agreements concluded – or in the process of being concluded – between the EU and a number of Latin and central American countries, or the banana accompanying measures (BAMs).
Amendment 35 #
2010/0059(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – point 2
Article 1 – point 2
Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006
Article 17a – paragraph 2
Article 17a – paragraph 2
2. Within the amount referred to in Annex IV, the Commission shall fix the maximum amount available to each eligible ACP banana-supplying country for financing the actions referred to in paragraph 1 on the basis of a set of objective indicators. The indicators shall include trade in bananas with the EU; the importance of banana exports to the economy in the ACP country concerned; and country’s level of development. The measurement of the allocation criteria shall be based on data from years preceding 2009, and on a Commission study assessing the impact on the ACP countries of the agreement reached within the WTO and the bilateral and regional agreements concluded, or in the process of being concluded, between the EU and Latin American countries, which are the leading exporters of bananas.
Amendment 101 #
2010/0032(COD)
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6
Article 6
1. Where bilateral safeguard measures are deemed unnecessary the investigation and proceeding shall be terminated on the basis of the procedure referred to in Article 11.2. 2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, if the European Parliament expresses an objection to the draft decision not to impose bilateral safeguard measures, on the grounds that this decision would negate the intention of the legislator, the Commission shall re-examine the draft decision. Taking the reasons for the objection into account and within the time-limits of the procedure underway, the Commission may submit a new draft decision to the committee or submit a proposal to the European parliament and the Council in accordance with the Treaty. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council and the committee of the action which it intends to take and of its reasons for doing so. 3. The Commission shall make public, with due regard to the protection of confidential information within the meaning of Article 9, a report with a summary of the material facts and considerations relevant to the determinations.
Amendment 2 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and other United Nations instruments in the field of human rights, in particular the Covenants on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) and, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the 1994 United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
Amendment 3 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17
Citation 17
having regard to the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and Global Jobs Pact, adopted by a worldwide consensus on 19 June 2009 at the International Labour Conference, and the 2008 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation,
Amendment 4 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
having regard to the conclusion of the negotiations between the EU, Colombia and Peru, and with the countries of Central America, on signature of a Multi- Party Trade Agreement,
Amendment 5 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26a (new)
Citation 26a (new)
- having regard to the international agreements on the environment, such as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987), the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes (1999), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997),
Amendment 6 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26b (new)
Citation 26b (new)
- having regard to Chapter 13 of the free trade agreement between the European Union and South Korea, signed in October 2009,
Amendment 9 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital Aa (new)
Recital Aa (new)
Aa. whereas the social, environmental and human rights clauses incorporated in trade agreements pursue the objective of an economy which is respectful of human needs and of the environment, and of fairer, more socially balanced, more human globalisation which is genuinely conducive to sustainable development,
Amendment 11 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas distortions of competition and the risks of environmental and social dumping are becoming more and more frequent, to the detriment in particular of undertakings and workers in Europe who are required to comply with more stringent social, environmental and fiscal standards,
Amendment 12 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas reciprocity should once more be the rule in relations between the European Union and non-member Statesthe EU must adopt a differentiated strategy in accordance with its trading partners’ level of development, as regards both its social and environmental demands and trade liberalisation, to create the conditions for just and fair international competition,
Amendment 13 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas bilateral fora have become the main platform for pursuing these political objectives, so much sodefending these objectives must be a priority in bilateral negotiations, given that the prospects for establishing multilateral rules governing relations between trade, labour or the environment within the WTO framework are not very promising,
Amendment 14 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas there are many reasons for including provisions on human rights and social and environmental standards in international trade agreements, from the wish to establish fair and equitable trade and a level playing field to the more prescriptive approach of upholding the EU’s universal values supported by the EU and pursuing consistent European policies,
Amendment 15 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the Lisbon Treaty reaffirms that the European Union’s external action, of which trade is an integral part, should be guided by the same principles as those which inspired its creationconducted in accordance with all the EU’s objectives, including its social, environmental and development aid objectives; whereas the European social model, which combines sustainable economic growth with better working and living conditions, can also serve as a model for other partners; whereas trade agreements must also be compatible with other obligations and international agreements which the parties have entered into, in line with their national laws,
Amendment 19 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the generalised system of preferencesGSP+ aims to promote respect for international labour standards, human rights, protection of the environment and the principles of good governance through supplementary tariff preferences, and whereas failure to comply with these conditions can lead to the trading arrangement being suspended,
Amendment 21 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls therefore for the European Union’s future trade strategy to preserve European commercial interests and for the EU and its trading partners mutually to respect the application and implementation of clauses on human rights andno longer to envisage trade as an end in itself but as an instrument for the promotion of fair trade and to bring into general practice the effective inclusion and implementation of social and environmental standards with all EU trade partners; considers that the EU should adopt a positive but also a legally binding approach in its negotiations; underlines that including provisions on sustainable development, particularly in bilateral agreements, will benefit all parties;
Amendment 24 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1a (new)
Paragraph 1a (new)
1a. Recalls that the common commercial policy is an instrument in the service of the European Union’s overall objectives, that, pursuant to Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the EU’s common commercial policy must be conducted ‘in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action’, and that, pursuant to Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, it must contribute, in particular, ‘to the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter’;
Amendment 29 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reaffirms that the objectives of maintaining and preserving an open and non-discriminatory multilateral trade system on the one hand, and protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development on the other hand, should be mutually supportive; underlines that, pursuant to Article 20 of the GATT, the Member States may adopt trade measures to protect the environment, as long as they do not abuse such measures for protectionist purposesse measures are not applied in a manner that constitutes arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination;
Amendment 41 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Firmly supports the practice of including legally binding human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements but points out that major challenges persist with regard to monitoring and implementing these clauses; reiterates the fact that these clauses must also be included in all trade and sectoral agreements, with a clear and precise consultation mechanism modelled on Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement; in this respect welcomes the inclusion of such a clause in the free trade agreement with Colombia;
Amendment 44 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the fact that the same approach of systematic inclusion should also be applied to the chapters on sustainable development in bilateral agreements; considers nonetheless that the requirement on application of standards could vary between countries, according to their economic situation, and that gradual and flexible application is therefore necessary, with the negotiation taking account of the partner’s capacity;
Amendment 46 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12a (new)
Paragraph 12a (new)
Amendment 47 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12b (new)
Paragraph 12b (new)
12b. Stresses that respect for these standards must be understood to include their ratification, their incorporation into national law and their effective implementation throughout the country’s territory;
Amendment 48 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines that in the context of free trade agreements, conditional liberalisations including shortening the timetable for abolishing restrictions or access to an additional market couldmust be envisaged, depending on compliance with environmental and social standards;
Amendment 51 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a
Paragraph 14 – point a
(a) welcomnotes the use of impact studies on sustainable development but considers that they should also be carried out once the agreement is in place, and not only ex- antebefore, during and after the negotiations, to ensure continuing evaluation; also points out the importance of acting in full on their results; also considers that the negotiators should take more account of the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies;
Amendment 54 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b
Paragraph 15 – point b
(b) appeals to an independent body to settle disputes relating to social and environmental problems speedily and effectively, such as panels of experts selected by both parties on the basis of their expertise in human rights, labour law and environmental law, and whose recommendations would have to form part of a well-defined process, with implementing provisions,
Amendment 55 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point c
Paragraph 15 – point c
(c) recourse to a dispute settlement mechanism on an equal footing with the other parts of the agreement, with provision for fines to improve the situation in the sectors concerned, or at least a temporary suspension of certain trade benefits provided for under the agreement, in the event of an aggravated breach of these standards;
Amendment 60 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that the 27 conventions for which ratification is requested so that they can benefit from GSP+ represent a unique mixture of conventions on human rights, labour law, sustainable development and good governance; underlines that to date, GSP+ has had a positive and visible impact with regard to ratification of these conventions, but less so with regard to their implementation, and therefore hopes to place more emphasis on accompanying measures to improve implementation capacity; also believes that, to ensure the credibility of GSP+, the Commission must systematically launch investigations and where appropriate withdraw preferences if consistent evidence indicates that some countries are not implementing the 27 conventions;
Amendment 62 #
2009/2219(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Encourages the Commission, during the process of reviewing the GSP+ system, to adjust the criteria for application of this system to ensure that it really benefits the least developed countries, and to establish points of comparison, mechanisms and transparent criteria for granting and withdrawing preferences under this sysintroduce a simplification of the rules of origin so that countries that benefit from the Everything But Arms initiative and the GSP+ system may derive maximum benefit from the preferences grantemd; calls for full participation by the European Parliament throughout this process, particularly with regard to the Council proposal on the lists of beneficiary countries, the launching of investigations or the temporary suspension of GSP+;
Amendment 76 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls for the cessation of export subsidies; irrespective of the successful conclusion of the ‘Doha Round’, to avoid dumping of EU products on markets in developing countries and the economic loss that this generaten this view, recalls the commitment made in Doha in 2001 by all WTO members to conclude a Development round of negotiations aiming at rectifying the existing imbalances in the trade system and aiming to put trade at the service of development, contributing to poverty eradication and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
Amendment 99 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Urges the Commission to revise the Global Europe strategy, as the trade component of the Lisbon strategy, in order to make of international trade a tool for job creation, poverty eradication and sustainable development worldwide;
Amendment 100 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Asks that the "aid for trade" strategy benefit all developing countries, and not only those agreeing to a greater liberalisation of their markets, notably in the context of Economic Partnership Agreements;
Amendment 101 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Calls on the Commission, during trade negotiations, not to encourage developing countries to agree to liberalisation beyond their existing WTO commitments, and stresses in particular that the ‘Singapore issues’ should under no circumstances be imposed in negotiations against the wishes of developing countries;
Amendment 102 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)
Paragraph 18 d (new)
Amendment 103 #
2009/2218(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 e (new)
Paragraph 18 e (new)
18e. Asks the Commission to include legally binding social and environmental standards systematically in trade agreements negotiated by the European Union, to promote the objective of trade working for development;
Amendment 69 #
2009/2213(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. In order to complete the first phase, firmly supports the resumption of negotiations on the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, the conclusion of negotiations on the EU-Central America Association Agreement and the multi- party trade agreement between the EU and the countries of the Andean Community, before the Madrid summit, the revision of the 2003 political and cooperation agreement with the Andean Community before the Madrid summit and the deepening of the existing Association Agreements with Mexico and Chile;
Amendment 1 #
2009/2165(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, in the light of the considerable changes resulting from the initialling and signing of the EPAs, the review of provisions relating to economic and trade cooperation must be included in the second revisiona reference to those agreements must be included in the second revision of the Cotonou Agreement; recommends furthermore that this reference includes a provision on a clause for the revision of the EPAs, which should be carried out within five years after the signature of the Aagreements;
Amendment 2 #
2009/2165(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recommends that the provision contained in Article 95(3) of the Agreement according to which the revision should not apply "to the provisions on economic and trade cooperation, for which a separate review is provided" be legally clarifiedamended in or deleted, as with the introduction of the EPAs the special review procedure no longer has a rationaler not to contradict the revision clause foreseen by the EPAs;
Amendment 4 #
2009/2165(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that, in their notification letters, the parties to the Agreement explicitly ask for the revision of numerous trade provisions; points out that new provisions need to be added in new areas, such as Aid for Trade in order to guarantee the development dimension in the trade areas of that Agreement;
Amendment 1 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Stresses that ownership by the population will guarantee a strong partnership and the success of this initiative; considers that, for that to happen, political aspirations must be translated into specific, more easily comprehensible projects closer to the citizens; also considers that the UFM must incorporate local and regional authorities and the private sector into the operation of its mechanisms for the consultation and active participation of civil society (associations, social partners, etc.);
Amendment 2 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Hopes that the UFM’s projects will be specific and unifying, and that they will reflect the needs of people in the region; stresses that they must contribute to balanced and sustainable development in the region and must foster regional and sub-regional inter-connections with a view to promoting integration and cohesion;
Amendment 3 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Recalls the first initiatives proposed at the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean on 13 July 2008: de-pollution of the Mediterranean, maritime and land highways, civil protection, the Mediterranean Solar Plan, higher education and research, and the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative;
Amendment 4 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Notes that at present only one of the six proposed projects focuses on economic and commercial issues; regrets that the Paris Declaration contains very few references to the economic and commercial aspects of the partnership, such as direct foreign investments, employment, the informal economy and poverty reduction;
Amendment 5 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Recalls that, in the second part of the 2005 five-year Work Programme, entitled ‘Sustainable Socio-Economic Development and Reform’, the Euro- Mediterranean partners identified a number of priorities: on the one hand the need for an improved business climate, increased access to credit, consolidated macro-economic stability and improved public finance management, and on the other hand the need to deal with social issues, including social protection systems, poverty reduction and job creation, particularly for young people and women;
Amendment 6 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Stresses the need to assess and take systematically into account, the social impact of liberalisation processes, particularly in terms of food security; further stresses that this impact may vary significantly from one sector to another and from one country to another;
Amendment 7 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Stresses that the Union must boost its support for the Mediterranean partners’ programmes aimed at facilitating the creation of a favourable climate whereby investments can be increased and economic cooperation and trade enhanced by means of technical and financial assistance mechanisms for the facilitation of trade;
Amendment 8 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Calls for consideration to be given to establishing specialised EU agencies in the partner countries with a view to providing these countries with concrete aid in areas such as investment promotion;
Amendment 9 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Stresses the importance of the informal sector and the mass economy in the countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean; considers that, in the interests of the development of the region, support must be given to progressively integrating these activities into the formal economy;
Amendment 10 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Notes that, since the 2004 and 2007 enlargements, trade between the Union’s new Member States and its Mediterranean partners has been constantly increasing; calls for this trend to be taken into account and supported in the context of the partnership;
Amendment 11 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Amendment 12 #
2008/2231(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Also stresses the need to give the UFM a genuine parliamentary dimension, based on the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly (EMPA), which must be regarded as the UFM’s legitimate parliamentary expression and which, as a consultative body, should have the right to submit proposals and evaluations.
Amendment 1 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that Europe’s and the world's food security is increasingly threatened by the high volatility in food prices, after 30 years of decreasing prices in real termswhich was recently reflected in a major price increase after 30 years of decreasing prices in real terms; stresses that it is the poorest population groups in both developing and developed countries that are the hardest hit;
Amendment 3 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Estimates that the recent sudden soar in prices – in addition to speculation and bad crops -can be primarily explained by the structural growth in world demand for agricultural products, stemming from population growth, chan be primarily explained by the growing demand for food by developing countries on world markets and the additional demand triggered by biofuelsging eating habits and the growth in agri-fuel production, as well as unfavourable developments such as poor harvests and speculation on world markets; stresses that this is therefore not a passing crisis and that a global, long-term response is required;
Amendment 6 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses that efforts to meet people's basic needs, in particular as regards food and water, can often be a source of conflict; notes that the growth in the world's population, which is expected to rise by 3 billion by 2050, will exacerbate such tensions in all regions of the world; calls, accordingly, for this geo-strategic factor to be taken into account in the future formulation of agricultural policy;
Amendment 7 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that food production is not able to keep pace with increasing demand, since, globally, agricultural productivity growth, production reactivity and capacity, anthe current food challenges call for food production to be stepped up to keep pace with increasing demand, while improving quality, lowering costs and ensuring greater sustainability; considers that, in order to achieve this, public policies need stocks are insufficient and cannot easily be adapted in the short-term; be overhauled with a view to improving production and stock management methods, as well as world market regulation;
Amendment 10 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and trade liberalisationfurther, unregulated liberalisation of agricultural trade would lead to a further increase in food prices and even higher price volatility,; since a large cut in agricultural supports in thetresses that the worst affected would be the most vulnerable, food-importing developeding countries; stresses, furthermore, that wourld cause a dramatic fall in their production; strade rules must under no circumstances go against the right of countriesses that the worst affected would be the most vulnerable, food-importing developing countries or regions to support their farming sectors with a view to ensuring food security for their population;
Amendment 18 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 21 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Insists that the EU must remain a maplay a part in matching food suppliery to demand worldwide and that all forms of agriculture must be involved in order to achieve this; considers, furthermore, that the EU must guarantee its food security by maintaining the fundamental principles and objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): stable prices, increased productivity by technological progress and better crops, and flexible buffer stocks to react to crises akin to those being faced today;
Amendment 25 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Considers that, were its excesses and imperfections to be removed, the CAP could become an example of a successful regulation policy providing an effective, equitable and responsible response to food challenges and simultaneously addressing economic, social and environmental issues; stresses that it should, in particular, make a contribution towards the formulation of agricultural policies in developing countries, through the transfer of European technology, research, knowledge and experience;
Amendment 26 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Calls on the EU and the major food- producing countries to take parallel action to foster the development of their partners by discontinuing export subsidies and modifying forms of assistance that cause distortion on world markets to the detriment of farmers in the South, in accordance with the commitments made in 2005 at the Hong Kong conference;
Amendment 27 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6c (new)
Paragraph 6c (new)
6c. Notes the general discontinuation of policies for investment in farming and regrets, in particular, the fact that the EU allocates no more than 4% of its development aid thereto; highlights the fact that the proposal to make € 1 billion available in response to food price increases is an emergency measure; considers that this should not divert attention from the need for a coherent, long-term world strategy to boost production, based on local and subsistence farming and geared to the needs of the local population and the natural potential of each area;
Amendment 28 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Opposes those new measures resulting fromRegrets that the new measures proposed by the Commission as part of the Health Check of the CAP that do not take sufficient account of the lessons learnt from the current food crisis;
Amendment 31 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 33 #
2008/2153(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Invites the European Commission to push for increased sustainable biofuel productionsteer agri-fuel production towards the use of second-generation technology, to avoid a reduction in food supply and to revise and adapt bioagri-fuel production targets. on the basis of clearly identified economic, social and environmental criteria;
Amendment 5 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) is of crucial importance to both the European Union and India; an FTA does not preclude bilateral WTO+ agreements,
Amendment 9 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas India's trade and regulatory environment still remains comparatively restrictive; whereas in 2008 the World Bank ranked India 122 (out of 178 economies) in terms of "ease of doing business",
Amendment 15 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas both parties reaffirm their commitment for tariff reductions, progressive reciprocal liberalisation of establishment and trade in services; whereas therefore the FTA should address issues of investment,
Amendment 16 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas market access is being hampered by Non-tariff Barriers to Trade (NTBs) such as health and safety requirements or technical barriers, quantitative restrictions, conformity procedures, trade defence mechanisms, customs procedures, intneeds to be accompanied by transparent and adequate rules and standards to ensure that trade libernal taxisation, and a failure to adopt international norms and standards is beneficial,
Amendment 27 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
Recital O
Amendment 32 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Believes that the FTA should be comprehensive, compatible with and complementary toatible with the WTO rules and obligations; the DDA remains both the European Union's and India's trade priority;
Amendment 38 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the outcome of the 9th EU- India Summit and the revised Joint Action Plan; recalls the pledge of the European Union and India to accelerate FTA talks; is disappointed with the slow pace of negotiations; calls for both parties to conclude a comprehensive, ambitions and balanced FTA by the end of 2009encourages the negotiating parties to ensure that sufficient time is taken for more thorough consultations with key stakeholders including parliamentarians in India as well as in the European Union, in order to ensure a balanced agreement which takes into account the interests and perspectives of all affected stakeholders;
Amendment 41 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Points to the future potential for an increase in EU-India trade and investment; considers the EU- India FTA as win-win scenariounderlines that the agreement must ensure that this increase in trade brings benefits to the widest number of people, as well as to the environment and enables the achievement of India’s millennium development goals;
Amendment 45 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Recognises the right of governments to maintain necessary 'policy space' and regulatory capacities to shape economic and social policies that serve their most vulnerable people, including trade measures to protect weak economic actors;
Amendment 46 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Stresses that an agreement should include a continued monitoring and comprehensive review system, in order to determine the socio-economic impact of the agreement; calls for provisions of the agreement to be adjusted in line with the conclusions of this review;
Amendment 49 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5c. Asks the Commission to include an ambitious sustainable development chapter as an essential part of the agreement and subject to the standard dispute settlement mechanism;
Amendment 52 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 58 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes India's decreased average applied tariffs; stresses that these levels remain a genuine problem for European industry;
Amendment 62 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 73 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Recognises that services are the fastest growing sector of the Indian economy; notes that India has offensive interests in GATS Mode 1 and Mode 4 liberalisation; the European Union would like to complete liberalisation in market access and national treatment in Mode 3 in most services, the removal of Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval and allowing subsidiaries in the financial sector to be wholly-owned;
Amendment 79 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 90 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Notes that India is gradually liberalising its banking sector; encourages India to allow more competition; recalls at the same time the importance of strong and well-designed rules and regulations for financial services and control of international financial transactions;
Amendment 93 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Points out that services liberalisation must in no way hinder the right to regulate services, especially to develop and maintain strong public services;
Amendment 94 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. WelcomNotes the Indian pledge to allow foreign law firms to operate in India; calls on the Commission to push forexplore with Indian authorities the opportunity and the scope of liberalisation of legal services in the FTA;
Amendment 101 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a.Recalls that investments need to be accompanied by well-designed rules and regulations; reaffirms in this context its resolution of 13 March 2007 on corporate social responsibility (2006/2133(INI)) and asks the Commission to make sure that EU-based transnational companies with production facilities in India abide by core ILO standards, social and environmental covenants and international agreements to achieve a worldwide balance between economic growth and higher social and environmental standards;
Amendment 102 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Recognises that FTA investment chapters have often come accompanied with commitments to liberalise capital movements and renounce capital controls; asks the Commission to refrain from including such clauses, given the importance of capital controls – especially for developing countries - to mitigate against the impact of the financial crisis;
Amendment 110 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. RegretNotes that India is not willing to include public procurement in the FTA; calls on the Commission to negotiate effective and transparent procurement systemsunderlines that an agreement should guarantee and secure the right of states to use government procurement as an instrument to encourage local economic development;
Amendment 113 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 115 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Welcomes India's commitment to a strong IPR regime; encourages its rigorous implementation and enforcement and to the use of TRIPS flexibilities to meet its public health obligations, particularly in relation to access to medicines; stresses that these negotiations must be compatible with protecting biodiversity and traditional knowledge;
Amendment 125 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 126 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the European Union and India to jointly fund and support measures and initiatives such as prize funds, patent pools and other alternative mechanisms, in order to support access to and innovation in medicines, particularly for neglected diseases;
Amendment 128 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Calls on the European Union and India to ensure that trade and FDI isare not encouraged at the cost of lowering either environmental, standards or core labour, or occupational health and safety legislation and standards; ensuring adequate capacity to monitor labour market and environmental developments, including the observance of such standards, is indispensible;
Amendment 129 #
2008/2135(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Asks for the ratification and effective application of the basic conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO);
Amendment 2 #
2008/2026(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Expresses its concern regarding the lack of clarity on the way Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) will be financed; calls on the Commission to provide detailed information regarding what financial assistance it will provide to ACP countries to adapt to the economic changes following the signing of EPAs;
Amendment 4 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas economic development is based on three sectors of equal importance for the purposes of growth: agriculture, industry and the tertiary (services) sector; to ensure human development and sustainable development, the three sectors must be given balanced support,
Amendment 8 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas a quantitative assessment of the respective contribution of the three sectors to GDP fails to take account of the significance of each in qualitative terms. Agriculture, for example, relates directly to world challenges arising in connection with nutrition, hygiene and food sovereignty. It is therefore natural for this sector to receive particular attention in the course of multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations and to be given aid in order to prevent world food crises,
Amendment 12 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas trade in services so far only amounts to 25% of world trade; whereas the sector has a huge potential and a lot to be gained from liberalisedthe equitable opening up of trade in services; whereas more jobs are created in this sector than in any other sector of the economy,
Amendment 25 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas an efficient services infrastructure is aone of the preconditions for economic success, together with the average level of education and public health standards; whereas access to world- class services helps exporters and producers of goods and services in developing countries to capitalise on their competitive strength; whereas a number of developing countries have also been able, building on foreign investment and expertise, to advance in international services markets; whereas services liberalisation has thus become a key element of many development strategies,
Amendment 28 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas the developing countries agreed at Marrakech to commence negotiations on services subject to total flexibility as to whether the negotiations would include or exclude any services sector,
Amendment 34 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Notes that international trade geared to development and poverty reduction must also contribute to social progress and quality employment; trade regulations must comply with ILO social standards; measures to combat all forms of exploitation at the workplace (prohibiting forced labour and child labour in particular), together with respect for trade union liberties, are essential for balanced trade in the interest of all; reaffirms the need to examine the interaction between trade and social issues;
Amendment 43 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Recalls that the Commission must take the different Member State interests and those of the developing countries into account when negotiating commitment schedules;
Amendment 44 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 51 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Observes that it is necessary to make a clear distinction between commercial and public services; stresses the need to exclude public services from the scope of the negotiations, in particular those helping to ensure public access to essential services such as health, education, drinking water and energy, and those making a significant contribution to cultural identity, such as audiovisual services;
Amendment 58 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 71 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls, on the one hand, that the principles of GATS do not prohibit require neither privatisation nor deregulation; underlines therefore that each state is free to liberalise any service sector and do not seek any degree of liberalisation as such and do not exclude the imposition of public service obligations; recalls, on the other hand, that the GATS acknowledges the right of WTO members '(...) to regulate (...) the supply of services within their territories (...) to meet national policy objectives (...)'; stresses that GATS schedules deal with the bound commitments of each WTO member in terms of trade in services and that each member is free to open its market beyond its GATS commitments provided that the Most Favoured Nation principle or Article V of GATS on Economic Integration is respected;
Amendment 73 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. ConsiderRecalls that the Doha Development Round must focus on development and, accordingly, that negotiations on trade in services must serve both the interests of the EU and the economic growth of the poorest countries;
Amendment 74 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Stresses the need to allow developing countries a degree of latitude regarding the level of reciprocity in the opening up of trade, so as to protect the most vulnerable by enabling them to decide for themselves the speed at which liberalisation should be achieved;
Amendment 77 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Expresses concern at the consequences of abrupt liberalisation of trade in farm products and speculation in basic food commodities; stresses the economic and social importance of this sector for developing countries and the need to avoid impoverishment of rural populations, which causes people to leave the countryside and concentrate in already overpopulated urban centres;
Amendment 90 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes with regards to the negotiation of the EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that aspects of the agreement affecting public procurement, investments and services should recognise the varying level of development of ASEAN members and respect the right of all participants to regulate public services, particularly those relating to basic needs - this, however, should not prevent private companies filling in the gap where the state fails to provide services required by citizens;
Amendment 103 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 106 #
2008/2004(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 6 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)
Citation 13 a (new)
13a. having regard to the evaluation report of the external consultancy Mayer, Rowe and Maw LLP, entitled “Evaluation of EC Trade Defence Instruments” (December 2005),
Amendment 7 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 b (new)
Citation 13 b (new)
13b. having regard to the document of the Commission entitled “Evaluation of the responses to the public consultation on Europe's trade defence instruments in a changing global economy” (19 November 2007),
Amendment 10 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas the results of the public consultation are available in the document entitled "Evaluation of the responses to the public consultation on Europe's trade defence instruments in a changing global economy" (19 November 2007),
Amendment 11 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 12 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the evidence available regarding the EU's application of TDIs, as quoted in the Commission's summary of the 2005 study Evaluation of EC trade defence instruments, shows that 'the status quo is both reasonable and adequate in order to address the interests of all groups of parties', which raises substantial doubts about the urgency and need to amend these instruments,
Amendment 15 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, in the absence of internationally agreed upon competition rules in the WTO currently leaves no alternative but TDIs to, TDIs are the only suitable solution for dealing with unfair trade practices,
Amendment 22 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, in TDI investigations, a balance has too often failed to be attained among taking timely action when unfair trade is injuring EU industry, the need to maintain the quality and thoroughness of Commission investigations and the maintenance of transparency and opportunity for all interested parties to contribute,
Amendment 27 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas anti-dumping is a very specific and narrowly focused instrument tackling anticompetitive practices; whereas antidumping is not and is not currently designed to tackle labour and environmental standards and to apply such standards that would hardly be in line with current WTO regulation,
Amendment 31 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 32 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas, in a globalised world, EU companies need a reinforced mechanism to combat unfair commercial practices, allowing them to create jobs and stimulate growth in the Union,
Amendment 41 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
- 1. Asks the Commission to take into account the results of the Green Paper for public consultation (COM(2006)0763) and the results of the independent study that it ordered, as both reflect the legitimate interests of all stakeholders;
Amendment 45 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 51 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that, in the absence of internationally recognised rules on competition, the current European TDI system is the best response to ensure a level playing field for all actors and to avoid distorting effects in international trade;
Amendment 54 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 59 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines that the EU already has a TDI regime with higher standards, resulting in more stringent application, than other trading partners especially with regard to the initiation, course and subsequent outcome of these investigations;
Amendment 62 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 68 #
2007/2198(INI)
Amendment 75 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that the current EU TDI system already takes due account of the rightful and legitimate interests of all European stakeholders, as was stated by the majority of governments and stakeholders during the public consultation on the above-mentioned Green Paper;
Amendment 76 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 81 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
Amendment 84 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Asks the Commission to act accordingly in order to instil social and environmental considerations into the reform of antidumping rules during the WTO negotiations, based on the international fundamental social and environmental standards that already exist;
Amendment 85 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 86 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 90 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Believes that the EU TDI system should address all increasing unfair trade behaviour that hampers the ordinary course of trade, such as fraud, circumvention, dual pricing and violations of IPR, which greatly affect fair competition in international markets;
Amendment 93 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
Amendment 99 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Asks the Commission to maintain its strict criteria when initiating new TDI investigations in order to guarantee that prima facie evidence is provided by the complainants and that all the AD conditions for initiation are met;
Amendment 100 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 101 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Is worried about the increasing use by the Commission of ex officio review in order to restrict or terminate measures in force;
Amendment 105 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 108 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 112 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 116 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
Amendment 120 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
Amendment 123 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
Amendment 125 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Believes that there is no reason to reconsider the current definition of "Community industry" so as to take greater account of the interests of those companies which have moved or subcontracted part of their production outside the Union in so far as those companies are not affected by the duties unless they engage in dumping or receive subsidies;
Amendment 127 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
Amendment 128 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Urges the Commission to open anti- dumping and countervailing procedures and to impose provisional duties as soon as possible when all the legal requirements have been met, including a threat of injury for the industry concerned;
Amendment 129 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Considers that anti-dumping procedures should always give priority to the need to restore a level playing field, as the effects of unfair competition in the long run are against the interests of all participants in the Community market;
Amendment 130 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Considers therefore that the analysis of the impact on other interests can only justify the non-imposition of anti- dumping measures in exceptional cases, where it is obvious that defence measures will not be able to improve the situation of Community producers, and in any event cannot justify a downward adjustment in the level or duration of the duties imposed;
Amendment 131 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 c (new)
Paragraph 17 c (new)
17c. Calls on the Commission to maintain its current practice that ensures the use of realistic and suitably motivated requirements when choosing an "analogue country" for investigative procedures;
Amendment 132 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 d (new)
Paragraph 17 d (new)
17d. Considers that the countervailing duty and the anti-dumping instrument are two distinct instruments with their own scope of application that could be used in a complementary way;
Amendment 133 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
Amendment 135 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 137 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Endorses the creation of the Hearing Officer within the Commission’s DG Trade to assist interested parties; calls on the Hearing Officer to submit, following an independent analysis, to the European Parliament periodic reports in particular on the handling of cases by the Commission, including the conformity of the administrative practices with the basic regulations, and on the synthesis of its activities; stresses that for the sake of transparency and ensuring a meaningful role for the Hearing Officer, his/her reports following individual interventions should be made known to interested parties and the Antidumping Committee;
Amendment 138 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 140 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and predictability of the procedure of TDI investigations in the EU, to accelerate and simplify procedures, as well as to facilitate the accessibility of TDIs for SMEs, as they constitute the majority of the European industrial sector;
Amendment 143 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to improve the quality of and access to non- confidential information provided by other parties during the investigation and improve access to confidential information in order to strengthen defence rights;
Amendment 145 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
Amendment 146 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
Amendment 147 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 152 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
Amendment 154 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
Amendment 159 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 162 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
Amendment 164 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
29a. Urges the Commission to guarantee that the process of decision-making in TDI investigations is based on transparent and objective standards;
Amendment 165 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
Amendment 167 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
Amendment 170 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Underlines that the legal certainty and the legal framework within which TDI investigations are conducted, are fundamental taking into account that the standard court procedure takes too long to properly address possible flaws in TDI investigations; underlines the need to ensure that interested parties have recourse to expedited judicial review;
Amendment 174 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
Amendment 177 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Asks for a greater share competence for other services of the Commission when conducting investigations, in order to guarantee the transparency and effectiveness of all TDI investigation procedures;
Amendment 178 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Calls for real and strong involvement of the European Parliament, in order to improve the credibility and transparency of the trade defence policy in general and of TDIs in particular;
Amendment 179 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
Amendment 182 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Highlights and welcomes the fact that, through the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Parliament will gain co-decision power in TDI matters; therefore requests the Commission not to introduce any kind of changes to the TDI procedures until the ratification of the Treaty;
Amendment 183 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
Amendment 185 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Considers that, under the Community interest test, the interests of Community producers must be given priority over other interests at stake;
Amendment 186 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
Amendment 190 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Asks the Commission to use the Community interest test only as a last resort and to always address the removal of injurious dumping as its first priority;
Amendment 193 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
Amendment 195 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
Amendment 198 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Stresses that, given that TDIs are a concept developed within the WTO mandate, it can hardly be advisable to engage in a process of unilateral revision of such instruments: reciprocity, as well as parallel steps towards their revision, on a multilateral level, namely on the part of the major EU trading partners, should be a precondition for this initiative; recalls that for the time being TDIs are the sole instruments in international trade law to address unfair trading practices;
Amendment 199 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
Amendment 201 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Asks the Council to demonstrate solidarity when dealing with TDIs, in order to guarantee that European industry and its workers are effectively protected when confronted with unfair competition;
Amendment 203 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 b (new)
Paragraph 38 b (new)
Amendment 204 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
Amendment 207 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39a. Urges the Commission not to propose a reform of the European regulation on TDI while the WTO negotiations are ongoing and until a real consensus is found among stakeholders and Member States;
Amendment 3 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
– having regard to the WTO’s 2004 World Trade Report on the role of trade unions and the lack of scope for representation of workers’ interests in the WTO,
Amendment 4 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
– having regard to paragraph 56 of the Hong Kong Declaration, on the necessary steps to ensure the full involvement and assistance of key UN agencies including the ILO in WTO processes and in the current negotiations,
Amendment 5 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the WTO plays a key role among the multilateral organisations which contribute to international economic governance and must strive jointly to achieve the Millennium sustainable development goals,
Amendment 10 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas, in spite of delayifficulties in the negotiations, the efforts to conclude this Round successfully are continuing and must be encouraged,
Amendment 13 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
Amendment 14 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the systemicinstitutional debate in the WTO called for by the European Parliament is in no way incompatible with the continuation and possible conclusion of the Doha Round,
Amendment 23 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that the proposed exercise should focus first and foremost on the very aims of the multilateral trade system, to ensure that they are consistent with the action being taken by other international organisations; considers in particular that the coordination of WTO activities with those of the ILO, UNEP, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), WHO and UNCTAD should be strengthened, in order to ensure greater consistency in the decision-making process of those organisations; takes the view that, in this regard, consideration cobserver status should be givenranted to the possibility of granting the ILO observer status and of setting up a Committee on Social AffairsILO in the same way that it has been to the IMF and proposes that a 'trade and decent employment' committee be set up at the WTO modelled on its Committee on Trade and Environment;
Amendment 26 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Requests that consideration be given within the United Nations, in liaison with the WTO, to the new relations that should be forged between multilateral organisations so as to ensure consistency in their actions and in the various international agreements and conventions, in the interests of sustainable development and poverty eradication;
Amendment 29 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Supports the requirement that an analysis of social, gender and environmental concerns, including employment, workers’ rights and related provisions, should be mandatory in future trade policy review mechanism (TPRM) examination of WTO members;
Amendment 32 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Asks that the WTO’s dispute settlement understanding (DSU) provides a fuller role for UN agencies concerned specifically in any particular complaint and opens dispute panel and appellate body hearings to the public developing criteria and procedures requiring acceptance of amicus curiae submissions;
Amendment 34 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Suggests that the relevance and applicability of the multilateral trade rules in force should be subject to regular revision with a view to abolishing those which appear to be obsolete or inapplicable and those which do not meet, or no longer meet, the objectives governing their adoptheir possible adaptation;
Amendment 40 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a
Paragraph 11 a
11a. Points out that equal and effective participation by all members, particularly LDCs, must be a priority for any reform of the multilateral trade system;
Amendment 46 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Wishes to see the issue of the role of the WTO Secretariat and Director-General carefully considered; queries the limits of an excessively stringent application of the principle of the management of the system by the governments of the member countries (the member-driven organisation concept); considers it necessary to strengthen the financial and human means and resources available to the WTO secretariat;
Amendment 51 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. WConsiders that transparency in the drawing up and pursuing of trade policies represents a legitimate demand on the part of society, citizens and parliamentarians; welcomes the genuine progress achieved by the WTO in terms of external transparency since its establishment in 1995, and the effectiveness of its communication policy; stresses the importance for economic operators and for all the civil society segmentactors concerned to have permanent access to quality information on the multilateral trade rules and their actual application, and on any exemptions of member countries;
Amendment 52 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a
Paragraph 18 a
18a.Considers that NGOs should be able to forward analyses and written proposals to the various WTO bodies in line with procedures to be laid down for each individual body (General Council, other councils, committees, etc.);
Amendment 53 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b
Paragraph 18 b
18b. Asks to increase transparency and accessibility through the creation of a formal consultative structure such as the trade union advisory committee (TUAC) to the OECD, as recommended by the ILO’s World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation;
Amendment 55 #
2007/2184(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a
Paragraph 20 a
20a. Advocates that, under the dispute settlement procedure, the substantive meetings with the parties, special groups and the appeal body, given the judicial nature of the proceedings, should in future be held in public as is usual for court hearings, and that the documents concerned, in particular the communications from the parties or experts, should be publicly available, except in rare and justified cases;
Amendment 20 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 10 a (new)
Recital 10 a (new)
10a) Developing countries which meet the criteria for eligibility for the special incentive scheme to encourage sustainable development and good governance after 31 October 2008 should be entitled to benefit from the additional tariff preferences as soon as they meet those criteria. The Commission should rule on new requests no later than 15 December 2009 or 15 December 2010, for requests made by 31 October 2009 or by 31 October 2010 respectively.
Amendment 22 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) For the sake of coherence in the Community’s commercial policy, a beneficiary country should not benefit from both the scheme and a free-trade agreement, if that agreement covers, effectively implements and, where appropriate, consolidates at least all of the preferences provided for by the present scheme to that country.
Amendment 24 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
21a. The rules of origin should be reviewed to take account of inter-regional and global cumulation and the possibility of a country’s benefiting from preferential treatment under the GSP, the GSP+ and the ‘Everything But Arms’ (EBA) system, even if it is not the final destination of the export, provided that substantial value is added to the products in the country in question. In the course of this review, the ‘double transformation’ requirement for certain products should also be eliminated.
Amendment 25 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Recital 21 b (new)
Recital 21 b (new)
21b) Under Article 37(6) of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, the Commission undertook to look into all possible alternatives to enable countries which were not LDCs and had not signed an EPA to benefit from a new trade framework offering commercial preferences at least equivalent to those under the Cotonou Agreement .
Amendment 27 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 3 − paragraph 2
Article 3 − paragraph 2
2. When a beneficiary country benefits from a preferential commercial agreement with the Community which cover, the application of the commercial agreement shall take precedence over the application of this scheme provided that the agreement effectively implements, and, where appropriate, consolidates at least all of the preferences provided for by the scheme to that country, it shall be removed from th. A commercial agreement with the Community shall not preclude elist of beneficiary countries. gibility for the special incentive scheme set out in Articles 7 to 10.
Amendment 30 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 9 − paragraph 1 − point a)
Article 9 − paragraph 1 − point a)
a) a country or territory listed in Annex I must have made a request to that effect by 31 October 2008, or, in the case of countries or territories fulfilling the conditions of Article 8(1) and (2), after that date, by 31 October 2009 or 31 October 2010, and
Amendment 31 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 10 − paragraph 1
Article 10 − paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall examine the request accompanied by the information referred to in Article 9(2). When examining the request the Commission shall take account of the findings of the relevant international organisations and agencies. It may ask the requesting country any questions which it considers relevant, and mayshall verify the information received with the requesting country or with any other relevant sources including the European Parliament and representatives of civil society, such as the two sides of industry.
Amendment 32 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 10 − paragraph 3
Article 10 − paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall notify a requesting country of a decision taken in accordance with paragraph 2. Where a country is granted the special incentive arrangement, it shall be informed of the date on which that decision enters into force. The Commission shall, by 15 December 2008, 15 December 2009 or 15 December 2010 for countries which have made a request by 31 October 2008, 31 October 2009 or 31 October 2010 respectively, publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, listing the countries benefiting from the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance.
Amendment 36 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 17 − paragraph 2
Article 17 − paragraph 2
2. Following the consultations, the Commission may decide, within one month’s time and in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(5), to initiate an investigation. In the light of the reasons set out in Article 15(1)(a), the Commission shall automatically open an inquiry in any case where the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards devotes a ‘special paragraph’ to a beneficiary country which does not comply with fundamental labour standards.
Amendment 37 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 20 − paragraph 7
Article 20 − paragraph 7
7. Where exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make an investigation impossible, the Commission may, after informing the Committee and the European Parliament, take any preventive measure which is strictly necessary.
Amendment 38 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 22 − paragraph 2
Article 22 − paragraph 2
2. Any Member State, or the European Parliament, may refer a decision taken in accordance with Article 20 or 21 to the Council within one month’s time. The Council, acting by qualified majority, may adopt a different decision within one month. Where appropriate, the Council shall inform the requesting country and the European Parliament of its decision.
Amendment 39 #
2007/0289(CNS)
Proposal for a regulation – amending act
Article 25 − point e)
Article 25 − point e)
e) for the establishment, by 15 December 2008, 15 December 2009 or 15 December 2010 at the latest, of the list of beneficiary countries in accordance with Article 10.
Amendment 240 #
2005/0281(COD)
Annex II – point R 1 – footnote 1