13 Amendments of Joe HIGGINS related to 2010/2233(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Strongly insists that the European Union´s trade policy must be guided by the active promotion and defence of democratic and human rights; recalls that women in particluar suffer from structural discrimination and in many cases are subjected to the use of violence which is backed by the law in the countries that compose the Gulf Cooperation Council; therefore rejects any further negotiations on the conclusion of a possible EU-GCC FTA;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that the GCC is currently the EU's sixth largest export market and that the EU is currently the GCC's second trading partner; notes that, notwithstanding this already intensive level of trade, there is still scope for deepening it, as well as room for more diversification between the two parties; is of the opinion that the conclusion of the EU-GCC FTA would greatly favour closer ties and further diversification;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. WelcomNotes the fact that over the past two decades EU-GCC economic relations have been intensifying and that trade between the two sides has increased significantly, despite the failure to conclude an FTA; takes this as a sign that an FTA would further enhance this natural growth and embed it in a more open, predictable and secure environment;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is firmly of the opinionnot convinced that an EU-GCC FTA would be substantially advantageous to both parties; believes that an FTA with the EU would benefit the internal integration of the GCC and that, following the establishment of the GCC Customs Union, it may also provide a greater impetus to important projects such as the GCC common market, and the completion of a GCC Monetary Union with a single currencyfor workers and poor in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Europe;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Strongly suppdeplortes the message that the HR/VP Catherine Ashton sent during the EU-GCC Joint Ministerial in June 2010 and more recently on 22 September, during the EU-GCC meeting on the margins of the Ministerial of the UN General Assembly, indicating that the EU is ready to make a final effort to conclude these negotiations; also welcomes the reaction of the GCC, which also confirmed its wish to conclude the negotiations;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that there are 15 million migrant workers in the six nation Gulf Cooperation Council states and that those workers make up 40% of the total population; recalls the precarious situation of migrant workers in the Gulf States which were highlighted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and supports its call for a minimum wage in the region in order to not further deteriorate the position of domestic and migrant workers; also supports the right of all workers to form and join trade unions in order to defend their interests;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. WelcomNotes the fact that over the years the EU and the GCC have become major investment partners; is of the opinionnotes that the conclusion of the FTA, or at least the official reopening of the negotiations, will surely open the way to further agreements which will encourage and facilitate mutual foreign direct investments (FDIs); recalls that following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, FDIs now fall within the competence of the EU, and therefore provide further scope for the desirable rapid conclusion of an EU-GCC FTA;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that all six GCC countries currently benefit from preferential access to the EU market under the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP); is of the opinion that, given the level of economic progress in the region, the FTA would be a better tool to spread commercial benefits throughout the region;
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15