Activities of Małgorzata HANDZLIK related to 2009/2201(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on corporate social responsibility in international trade agreements PDF (240 KB) DOC (136 KB)
Amendments (22)
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas multinational corporations and their subsidiaries are the keymajor players in economic globalisation and international trade,
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. having regard to the United Nations Global Compact, which incorporates 10 principles which multinational corporations must undertake to observe in the areas of human rights, basic labour standards, a precautionary approach to environmental problems and the fight against corruption, to which companies make a commitment and integrate them in their business operations on a voluntary basis,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas non-compliance with those legally binding CSR principles constitutes a form of social and environmental dumping which works to the detriment, in particular, of undertakingcompanies and workers in Europe, who are required to comply with more stringent labour, environmental and fiscal standards,
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital J
Recital J
J. whereas it would be normal if European multincorporationals which transfer their production to low-wage countries where less stringent environmental standards apply were to be held accountable, including before European courts, for any environmental and social damage caused by their subsidiaries and their supply chains in those countries,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
Recital K
K. whereas Chapter 13 of the free trade agreement between the European Union and South Korea and Article 270(3) of the free tMultiparty Trade aAgreement between the European Union and Colombia and Peru already contain a reference, although only a limited one, to CSR,
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
Recital L
L. whereas CSR, on the one hand, and the social and environmental clauses incorporated in trade agreements, on the othertogether with CSR commitments on the part of the business community, pursue the same objectives, those 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 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes that, following on from the climate, energy and food crises, the globalthe challenges that we face nowadays, sharpened by the recent financial crisis, has engendered a worldwide social crisis which has increased the need for new, strong rules which make for more effective supervision of the world economy and ensure that it does not develop in a manner detrimental to human needs and to the needs of society; takes the view that that requirement applies equally to international trade, which is at the heart of globalisationve lead to the discussions worldwide on the new regulatory approach and governance issues in the world economy, including in the international trade; takes the view that the new rules should contribute the development of more sustainable policies, which take into account social and environmental concerns;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes, further, that globalisation has been accompanied by fiercer competitionincreased competitive pressure among countries to attract foreign investors and fiercer competition between undertakingcorporations, which has sometimes led to seriousthe unjustified abuses of human and labour rights and damages to the environment;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls that promoting CSR is an objective supported by the European Union and that the Commission takes the view that the Union must ensure that the external policies it implements and the actions of European undertakings which invest in third countries make a genuine contribution to the sustainable development and to the social development of the countries concerned and that the actions of European corporations wherever they invest and operate are in accordance with European values and internationally agreed norm;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the objectives of the common commercial policy is an instrument in the service ofshould be fully coordinated with 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 particularter alia, ‘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 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Takes the view, in the light of the keymajor role played by corporations, their subsidiaries and their supply chains in international trade, that corporate social and environmental responsibility must become an integral part ofresponsibility can bring added value to the European Union’s trade agreements;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view that the social clauses in trade agreements will be strengthenshould be complemented by the incorporation of the concept of CSR, which concerns the behaviour of undertakingcorporations, whilst the concept of CSR will in turn be consolidated as a result, drawing strength in particular from the arrangements trade agreements lay down for monitoring the implementation of the principles which govern them;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls for the principles underpinning CSR to be incorporated into the GSP and GSP+ regulation when it is next revised; calls on the Commission to ensure that transnational corporations, whether or not they have their registered office in the European Union, whose subsidiaries or supply chains are located in countries participating in the GSP, and in particular in GSP+,corporations are required to comply with their national and international legal obligations in the areas of human rights, labour standards and environmental rules; urges that the European Union and the States participating in and benefiting from the GSP + should be required to ensure that corporations fulfil these obligations; calls for such compliance to be made a binding requirement in the context of the GSP;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission to draw up a new impact assessment model with a view to ensuring that, both prior to and after the signing of a trade agreement, States which commit themselves to cooperating with the European Union properly comply with their obligations in the areas of human rights, basic labour standards and environmental protecimprove, if necessary, its sustainability impact assessment model, in order to properly reflect on the economic, social and environmental implications of trade negotiations; calls, further, for assessments to be carried out of the social and environmental impact of on the Commission to follow up on the trade agreements inwith the EU's partner countries and in those countries' vulnerable sectors; such, by carrying out post ante impact assessments should also be carried out prior to the signing and implementation of agreementtudies, taking into account in particular vulnerable sectors;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 point a
Paragraph 12 point a
a. a mutual undertaking by the two parties to promote CSRinternationally agreed CSR instruments in the context of the agreement and their trade relations;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 point c
Paragraph 12 point c
c. the establishment of 'contact points' similar to those set up under the auspices of the OECD which would foster the provision of information about CSR and transparency and receive complaints and testimony concerning breaches of the principles underpinning CSR, in cooperation with civil society;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 point d
Paragraph 12 point d
d. a requirement on the part of undertakings and groups of undertakings to comply with rules on transparency and reporting, i.e. the annual publication of their CSR bincentives to encourage transparency, visibility and credibility of CSR practices by making CSR information available to all stakeholders, including consumers, investors and the wider public in the targeted manner, especially by preparing reports on the regular basis on the commitments undertaken by the corporations complementing national ance sheed international requirements;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 point e
Paragraph 12 point e
e. a requirement for undertakings and groups of undertakingnecessity for corporations to show due diligence, i.e. a requirement to take measures in advance with a view to identifying and preventing violations of human and environmental rights, corruption or tax evasion, including in their subsidiaries and supply chains, i.e. throughout their sphere of influence;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 point f
Paragraph 12 point f
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 point g
Paragraph 12 point g
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Proposes to establish a parliamentary monitoring subcommittee for each free trade agreement s(FTA), along the lines of the similar body provided for in the economic partnership agreements, to act as a forum for exchanges of information and dialogue between MEPs and parliamentarians from the partner States; adds that these FTA monitoring subcommittees could pay particular attention toalso scrutinize the implementation of the chapter on sustainable development and the CSR clause and draw up recommendations for the FTA joint committee, in particular in the light of impact assessments and in cases where proven breaches of human rights, labour rights or environmental agreements occur;