33 Amendments of Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ related to 2022/2040(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
— having regard to the Commission proposal for a regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market (COM 2022/453)
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the recent external shocks caused by violent conflicts,Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemics and arbitraryin the resulting disruptions of supply chains have tested the resilience of economies worldwide; whereas the EU’s economy has shown itself to beto be resilient and recovering quickly due to the coordinated EU level response; whereas the EU economy is highly dependent on 137 products, in particular those related to energy and critical raw materials, medicines and health products, cutting- edge and cloud technologies, batteries and semiconductors;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the World Trade Organization (WTO) should bring a higher level of transparency to trade and trade- related measures for its members, as divisions risk undermining the maintenance and openness of global supply chains; whereas certain WTO members, such as China, disregard global trade rules they signed up to on WTO level, damaging multilateralism and disrupting global supply chains;
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas largeRussia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, increases in commodity prices, higher prices around the globe and a troublesomefor both products and resources around the globe resulting in more competition in global supply chains and a spike in inflation are expected to further challenge global supply chains;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the EU is strategically dependent on external sources of energy, such as Russian gas, a situation that is undermining the EU’s economic resilience and open strategic autonomy; whereas skyrocketing energy prices are a serious threat to the EU’s production capacity and may put further pressure on many supply chains that have already faced disruption;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas even though the EU must gain more strategic independence in different fields, including agricultural products, critical raw materials, semiconductors, medicines and health products, this independence has not yet been achieved;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 99 % of all EU businesses, 65 % of all EU jobs and more than 50 % of the EU’s economic output from the non-financial sector; whereas SMEs are more vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and energy scarcity than larger companies;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas in order to increase the resilience of its supply chains, the EU should implement a combination of different commodity-based solutions, including boosting existing EU production, reshoring and nearshoring, stockpiling,supply chain disruptions and the current geopolitical context present challenges and opportunities for the EU, such as promoting the circular economy and diversifying suppliers through strategic free trade and investment agreements, sectoral partnerships and alliances, and trade and technology councils for critical goods, and advancing work on trade and technology councils with strategic partners such as the US, Japan and Taiwan;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines that for the resilience of the EU economy and international trade relations it is crucial to develop an EU respondse to the possible negative consequences of any external shocks with a coordinated approach at national and EU level;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to assess existing and potential trade shortages, mitigate the consequences of external shocks, and pay special attention to the sensitive sectors outlined hereafter, which are particularly crucial to developing or and enhancinge the EU level approach to strengthening resiliencesupply chain resilience on EU level, and in the specific supply chains;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that the COVID-19 crisis and the war inRussian war of aggression against Ukraine have highlighted the EU agricultural sector’s dependence on imports from a small number of countries, especially in the case of wheat and ammonium, which is essential for fertilisers; recallunderlines that the EU should be autonomous in primary sector product, within the context of open strategic autonomy, should diversify its supply chains of essential agricultural products, work together with likeminded global partners on global food security and expand domestic production capabilities in order to guarantee its food security and avoid dependence on third parties; stresses that the EU must play a proactive role to ensure Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have access to the global market for agricultural products;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that the war inRussian war of aggression against Ukraine and the subsequent justified sanctions on Russia have increased the difficulty of sourcingdisruptions in global supply chains for critical raw materials; takes note ofwelcomes the announcement of the forthcoming publication of the Critical Raw Materials Act during the 2022 State of the Union address; underlines the potential of strategic partnerships for critical raw materials, such as the Strategic Partnership on raw materials with Canada; recalls that critical raw materials are crucial for the EU’s open strategic autonomy, the digital and green transitions, and the resilience of the EU on the long term; calls on the Commission to work together with our global partners to diversify supply chains and ensure access to critical raw materials on the long term;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. HopeExpects that the EU Chips Act will effectively catalyse EU competitiveness and resilience in semiconductor technologies and applications; asks the Commission to also focus on the production of basic chips necessary for the production of goods with high added value, such as those used in the automotive sector; underlines the need for cooperation with likeminded partners to ensure access to global supply chains, as well as cooperation on critical technology and global standard-setting for emerging technologies;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that medical supply chains can be strengthened by investing in skills, building health data infrastructure, and supporting regulatory framework and intellectual property policies that foster innovation and ensure affordable medicines; Underlines the multilateral dimension of pandemic preparedness, both in the WTO and the WHO; stresses that the Commission must ensure that the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic should lead to a better preparedness in future crisis and ensure better alignment on the EU level; calls for enhanced cooperation with global partners to ensure access to medicines and health products, as well as more diversification of supply chains for critical goods in times of shortages and crises;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the need for a harmonised approach on the unilateral, bilateral and multilateral levelEU assessment of the approach towards critical supply chains on the unilateral, bilateral and multilateral level; underlines that an assessment should look into the potential positive and negative effects with a short- , medium- and long-term perspective;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the development of an EU toolbox of autonomous trade instruments, including anthe anti-coercion instrument, the foreign-direct-investment screening mechanism, the foreign subsidies instrument and the international procurement instrument as well as the creation of the post of Chief Trade Enforcement Officer (CTEO) to respond to these emerging challenges; underlines the importance of the CTEO in relation to keeping supply chains open and tackling unfair trade practices;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Emphasises that the continuing rise in the cost of bureaucracy, particularly as a result of EU legislation such as the Supply Chain Act, places a particularopen, sustainable, values-based and rules-based trade is an important element of EU open strategic autonomy, which must be championed through bilateral initiatives as well as new EU legislation such as the Supply Chain Act, the sustainable corporate governance directive or the Chips Act; underlines that new legislation must be effective in its goals, but take into account the additional administrative burden on the export industry, which is dominated by SMEs;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Recalls that in cooperation with the Member States and international partners, the EUCommission must guarantee freedom of the sea and trade routes and thus ensureto ensure open trade routes for global access to goods, raw materials, energy and export markets;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Considers that the EU’s research and development policy should be promoted further while guaranteeing openness of trade and investment relations, and exchanges among different research hubs, universities, stakeholders, regions and Member States in order to significantly boost the EU’s digital independence;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on the Commission to thoroughly review how and to what extent transfers of emerging and disruptive technologies are taking place from the EU to authoritarian states via trade and investment flows; calls on the Commission to advance new measures to limit such transfers, including supply- chain cooperation with like-minded partners, such as through Trade and Technology Councils, as well as through other potential bilateral initiatives;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to start aadvance the dialogue with neighbouring countries on the possibility of nearshoring producsupply chain diversification and increasing regulatory cooperation in order to boost the security of supply and diversify its sources at the same time;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls onUnderlines the Commission to develop, in coordination with the Member States, mechanisms to ensure smart stockpiling of certain products, such as medicines and medical equipment, as well as some agricultural products, depending on their expiry datecan use the Single Market Emergency Instrument to ensure access to, and smart stockpiling of certain essential products in times of crisis; calls on the Commission to ensure a fair, balanced and transparent approach when using the instrument;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recalls that the circular economy action plan is intended to help the EU to reduce its overdependence on certain external players so as to support strategic autonomy in a wide range of sectors, including miningactors; underlines support for the goal of open strategic autonomy, with a focus on diversification of supply for a wide range of critical sectors through cooperation with likeminded partners;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Underlines the potential of concluding trade and investment agreements with likeminded global partners for the open strategic autonomy of the EU, and the potential of enhanced partnerships through multilateral fora such as the WTO, TTCs, the OECD and the G7;
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Believes that free trade agreements (FTAs) may btrade and investment agreements are crucial tofor diversifying sources of supply and reducing the EU’s dependence on just a few countries; calls foron the EU to prioritise strategic FTAs with a particular focus on chapters on raw materials and energy,Commission to conclude new, ambitious, sustainable and forward- looking trade and investment agreements to enhance cooperation with our global partners on critical sectors, such as raw materials and energy, as well as cooperation on technical barriers to trade and regulatory cooperation;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Welcomes the launch of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in June 2021 and the EU-India agreement on launching a trade and technology council in April 2022; regards these initiatives as meaningful forums for addressing new challenges in the areas of trade, technology and security, as well as regulatory cooperation and global standard-setting; underlines that TTCs should also be instrumental in diversifying global supply chains; calls for a stronger Parliamentary role in scrutinizing TTCs, as well as decisions made during the TTCs meetings;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the launch of sectoral industrial alliances in the context of the new industrial strategy, such as the European Battery Alliance and the European Raw Materials Alliance, which should create a framework of discussion and consultation, open to all relevant stakeholders;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Welcomes the launch of new EU digital partnerships with Japan, South Korea and Singapore with a view to cooperating on the development and standardisation of connectivity tools and bolstering supply-chain resilience, especially in the case of semiconductors; underlines the crucial role of Taiwan in the supply chains of semiconductors, and the potential of further and deepened cooperation with Taiwan;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Urges the Commission to move forward with a bilateral investment agreement with Taiwan, showing commitment to meaningful engagement in trade and investment relations, most notably on semiconductors; reiterates the importance of the bilateral structural dialogue with Taiwan, including on matters related to multilateralism and the WTO, technology and public health, as well as essential cooperation on critical supplies such as semiconductors;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Takes note of the Commission communication on the Global Gateway as a plan for major investment in infrastructure development around the world; underlines the particular attention paid to Africa, most notably LDCs, and the aim to address the infrastructure- financing gap in low- and middle-income countries; stresses that investment in climate, energy, transport and digital infrastructure can contribute to global diversification of trade, as well as a global economy that is resilient during economic shocks or other future crises;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20 a. Underlines it is essential to include women in global trade relations; stresses that women entrepreneurs face various challenges to participate in global trade, namely a difficulty in access to finance, regulatory barriers and a lack of sufficient data on the impact of trade on women; calls on the Commission to adhere to the principle of gender mainstreaming of trade relations throughout its policies to ensure resilient supply chains and better inclusion of women in the economy;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. CUnderlines that the reform and modernisation of the WTO is key for a functioning multilateral system; calls for a deep and pragmatic reform that results in a more flexible and better functioning WTO with an effective multilateral rulebook and an effective dispute settlement system at its core; welcomes the progress made during the 12th Ministerial Conference on many important elements to advance global trade relations; calls on the Commission to engage with WTO members to work towards sustainable solutions for effective WTO reform during the 13th Ministerial Conference;