Activities of Lorenzo FONTANA related to 2010/0289(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Explanations of vote
Amendments (31)
Amendment 10 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) In July and August 2010, following heavy monsoon rains, devastating floods affected extensive regions of Pakistan, notably the areas of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh and Gilgit- Baltistan. According to United Nations sources, the flooding affected some 20 million people and 20 per cent of Pakistan's land, equivalent to at least 160,000 square kilometres, and leaving up to 12 million people in need of urgent humanitarian aid. However, the textile producing areas are situated outside the areas hit by the floods and there was no direct damage caused to plant or machinery.
Amendment 11 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 a (new)
Recital 2 a (new)
Amendment 12 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2 b (new)
Recital 2 b (new)
(2b) In November 2010, serious floods, caused by torrential rains, hit the Veneto Region, in Italy, and in particular the provinces of Vicenza, Verona and Padua, where there is a strong presence and concentration of textile and leather SMEs and industries. Some 293 municipalities were affected over an area of 140 hectares and the floods caused around EUR 1 billion’s worth of direct damage to land, homes, people, factories and machinery in these areas.
Amendment 14 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 a (new)
Recital 3 a (new)
(3a) The autonomous trade preferences instrument is not an appropriate way of dealing with and resolving humanitarian emergency situations.
Amendment 15 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 b (new)
Recital 3 b (new)
(3b) The effects of the application of the trade instrument would only be felt years after the floods and would mostly benefit international exporters and industrial groups in the sector, increasing their profits. Such measures would in no way mitigate the destruction of farmlands, the damage to civilian infrastructure and homes and the population’s dramatic health conditions resulting from the floods.
Amendment 16 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3 c (new)
Recital 3 c (new)
(3c) The European Union addressed Pakistan’s humanitarian emergency by providing some EUR 150 million in humanitarian aid and the international community as a whole swiftly and effectively supplied Pakistan with EUR 500 million in humanitarian aid.
Amendment 18 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) It will be important to use all available appropriate means to support Pakistan's recovery from this emergency and progress towards future development.
Amendment 24 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled ‘Trade, Growth and World Affairs – Trade Policy as a core component of the EU's 2020 strategy’ (COM(2010)612/4) states that in 2011 the Commission will assess the application of international trade as a standard aid instrument for third countries hit by natural disasters.
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) It is therefore not appropriate to extend autonomous trade preferences to Pakistan by suspending for a limited period of time all tariffs for certain products of export interest to Pakistan. The provision of these trade preferences would not cause any meaningfulhave significant adverse effects on the domestic market of the Union and would not affect, especially on the markets of Member States with a strong presence and concentration of textile and manufacturing sectors, and would negatively affect least developed Members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in competition with Pakistan for products in respect of which it is being proposed that customs duties be suspended.
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7a) The suspension of customs duties for Pakistan in respect of the textile and manufacturing sectors would be an unfair and inappropriate measure in the light of the similar floods which have recently hit the Veneto Region and Vicenza, Verona and Padua provinces in Italy, manufacturing areas with a high concentration of textile and leather producers. These events directly hit and flooded not only homes and extensive areas under crops, but also thousands of businesses, laboratories, factories and machines, causing a halt in production, the closure of many production plants and the loss of thousands of jobs. The trade measure involving the suspension of customs duties for Pakistan would cause a further deterioration in the situation of people living in the textile and manufacturing areas of the Veneto Region hit by the floods.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 b (new)
Recital 7 b (new)
(7b) The Commission has not carried out any impact assessment on the measures to suspend customs duties for Pakistan as regards EU textile and manufacturing products. Such measures would cause direct and serious damage to the EU industry at an extremely critical juncture, characterised by a fall-off in orders, plant closures and steadily rising unemployment.
Amendment 35 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 c (new)
Recital 7 c (new)
(7c) Pakistan’s territory is characterised by the presence of high hydro-geological risk levels and has already experienced many floods of a similar magnitude in the past. The problems posed by Pakistan’s territory could be significantly reduced through engineering and environmental operations to make risk areas secure. The proposed trade instrument cannot enable the Pakistani Government to implement the necessary civil and environmental protection work, which would be the only means of ensuring that there is no recurrence of such disasters. The suspension of customs duties would provide benefits only for a few international trade operators.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 e (new)
Recital 7 e (new)
(7e) The suspension of customs duties in respect of the textile and leather sectors would cause serious damage to the equivalent EU manufacturing and industrial sectors, which are already in a state of grave crisis.
Amendment 38 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 f (new)
Recital 7 f (new)
(7f) European textile and leather production is based and concentrated in specific manufacturing and industrial areas within only a few Member States. The textile sector is the main economic and social asset of such areas. The harmful economic effects of the suspension of customs duties for Pakistan would hit such areas not only in terms of loss of earnings and increased unemployment, but would also have adverse repercussions on their entire social fabric, worsening situations of social distress resulting from the sector’s economic crisis.
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
Amendment 42 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) Humanitarian aid is the most suitable and appropriate instrument for bringing relief to the flood victims in Pakistan and for humanitarian crisis situations in general. The trade instrument is not in this case an effective and appropriate instrument for urgent and efficacious action against the effects of the flooding.
Amendment 43 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 b (new)
Recital 8 b (new)
(8b) It would be better if the Commission implemented a strategy to support and revive Europe’s industrial and manufacturing textile sector. The Pakistani flood victims will not be helped by aid being granted to strong global competitors and private industrial groups, which will damage the European textile sector, employment and the European Union’s strategy for growth.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 c (new)
Recital 8 c (new)
(8c) EU citizens in textile regions look to the EU institutions for protection and strategies for economic revival and development. Granting trade measures to assist the Pakistani textile sector would harm the textile regions of the Union, with economic damage, lack of growth, a drop in orders, rising unemployment and the spread of social unrest as a consequence. Decisions made by the EU institutions to which EU citizens look for protection and development would instead be inflicting economic damage on them.
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) In order to ensure an immediate and sustainable impact on the economic recovery of Pakistan in the aftermath of the floods it is recommended to limit the duration of the trade preferences until 31 December 2013the granting of humanitarian aid is recommended as the better solution.
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1
Article 1
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 a (new)
Article 1 a (new)
Parliament rejects the Commission’s proposal and calls on it to apply the humanitarian aid instrument, increasing its scope, as this would seem in this case to be more suitable and effective in view of the urgent and needy conditions prevailing in the Pakistani humanitarian crisis.
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9 a (new)
Safeguard clause 1. Where a product cited in Annex I and originating in Pakistan is imported on terms which cause, or threaten to cause serious difficulties to a Union producer of like or directly competing products, Common Customs Tariff duties on that product may be reintroduced at any time by the European Commission. The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may reject or amend the Commission's proposal. 2. At the request of a Member State or a national trade association or on the Commission's own initiative, the Commission shall take a formal decision to initiate an investigation within a reasonable period of time. Where the Commission decides to initiate an investigation, it shall publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union announcing the investigation. The notice shall provide a summary of the information received, and state that any relevant information should be sent to the Commission. It shall specify the period, which shall not exceed four months from the date of publication of the notice, within which interested parties may make their views known in writing. 3. The Commission shall seek all information it deems necessary and may verify the information received with Pakistan and any other relevant source. It may be assisted by officials of the Member State on whose territory verification might be sought, if that Member State so requests. 4. In examining whether there are serious difficulties, the Commission shall take account, inter alia and where the information is available, of the following factors concerning Community producers: – market share, – production, – stocks, – production capacity, – capacity utilisation, – employment, – imports, – prices. 5. The investigation shall be completed within four months after the publication of the notice referred to in paragraph 2. 6. The Commission shall take a decision within one month of the investigation being concluded, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 8(2). This decision shall enter into force one month after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. 7. Where exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make an investigation impossible, the Commission may, after informing the Committee, take any preventive measure which is strictly necessary.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 b (new)
Article 9 b (new)
Revoking the measures If Pakistan adopts measures restricting human rights and workers’ rights, gender equality or religious rights or if it provides terrorist organisations of any kind with backing or support, the Commission shall immediately revoke the measures in this Regulation.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1
Annex 1
Amendment 117 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1
Annex 1
CN Code Description deleted GLOVES, MITTENS AND MITS, OF LEATHER OR 42032100 COMPOSITION LEATHER, SPECIALLY DESIGNED FORdeleted deleted deleted deleted deleted USE IN SPORTS deleted deleted GLOVES, MITTENS AND MITS, OF LEATHER OR 42032910 COMPOSITION LEATHER, PROTECTIVE FOR ALL TRADES, OTHER THAN SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN SPORTS MEN'S AND BOYS' GLOVES, MITTENS AND MITTS, OF LEATHER OR COMPOSITION LEATHER, OTHER THAN 42032991 SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN SPORTS, OTHER THAN PROTECTIVE FOR ALL TRADES GLOVES, MITTENS AND MITTS, OF LEATHER OR COMPOSITION LEATHER, OTHER THAN SPECIALLY 42032999 DESIGNED FOR USE IN SPORTS, OTHER THAN PROTECTIVE FOR ALL TRADES, OTHER THAN MEN'S AND BOYS' GLOVES IMPREGNATED, COATED OR COVERED WITH 61161020 RUBBER, KNITTED OR CROCHETED 61161080 MITTENS AND MITTS, IMPREGNATED, COATED OR COVERED WITH PLASTICS OR RUBBER, KNITTED OR CROCHETED, AND GLOVES, IMPREGNATED, COATED OR COVERED WITH PLASTICS, KNITTED OR CROCHETED GLOVES, MITTENS AND MITTS, OF COTTON, KNITTED OR 61169200 CROCHETED GLOVES, MITTENS AND MITTS, OF SYNTHETIC FIBRES, 61169300 KNITTED OR CROCHETED 62160000 GLOVES, MITTENS AND MITTS deleted deleted deleted deleted deleted deleted
Amendment 118 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1
Annex 1
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1
Annex 1
Amendment 120 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex 1
Annex 1
CN Code Description FOOTWEAR WITH OUTER SOLES OF RUBBER, PLASTICS OR COMPOSITION LEATHER AND UPPERS OF LEATHER, WITH IN-SOLES OF A LENGTH OF 24 CM OR MORE, WHICH CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED AS MEN'S OR WOMEN'S FOOTWEAR, OTHER THAN SPORTS FOOTWEAR AND 64039993 FOOTWEAR INCORPORATING A PROTECTIVE METAL TOECAP, NOT COVERING THE ANKLE, NOT MADE ON A BASE OR PLATFORM OF WOOD (NOT HAVING AN INNER SOLE), OTHER THAN FOOTWEAR WITH A VAMP MADE OF STRAPS OR WHICH HAS ONE OR SEVERAL PIECES CUT OUT, OTHER THAN SLIPPERS FOOTWEAR WITH OUTER SOLES OF RUBBER, PLASTICS OR COMPOSITION LEATHER AND UPPERS OF LEATHER, WITH IN-SOLES OF A LENGTH OF 24 CM OR MORE, FOR MEN, OTHER THAN SPORTS FOOTWEAR AND FOOTWEAR INCORPORATING A PROTECTIVE METAL TOECAP, NOT 64039996 COVERING THE ANKLE, NOT MADE ON A BASE OR PLATFORM OF WOOD (NOT HAVING AN INNER SOLE), OTHER THAN FOOTWEAR WITH A VAMP MADE OF STRAPS OR WHICH HAS ONE OR SEVERAL PIECES CUT OUT, OTHER THAN SLIPPERS FOOTWEAR WITH OUTER SOLES OF RUBBER, PLASTICS OR COMPOSITION LEATHER AND UPPERS OF LEATHER, WITH IN-SOLES OF A LENGTH OF 24 CM OR MORE, FOR WOMEN, OTHER THAN SPORTS FOOTWEAR AND FOOTWEAR INCORPORATING A PROTECTIVE METAL 64039998 TOECAP, NOT COVERING THE ANKLE, NOT MADE ON A BASE OR PLATFORM OF WOOD (NOT HAVING AN INNER SOLE), OTHER THAN FOOTWEAR WITH A VAMP MADE OF STRAPS OR WHICH HAS ONE OR SEVERAL PIECES CUT OUT, OTHER THAN SLIPPERS deleted deleted deleted deleted deleted deleted