BETA


2008/2004(INI) Trade in services

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead INTA KAMALL Syed (icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE)
Committee Opinion ECON SCHMIDT Olle (icon: ALDE ALDE)
Committee Opinion IMCO BUŞOI Cristian-Silviu (icon: ALDE ALDE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 54

Events

2008/12/17
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2008/10/17
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2008/09/04
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2008/09/04
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 525 votes to 77, with 7 abstentions, a resolution on trade in services.

The own initiative report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Syed KAMALL (EPP-ED, UK) on behalf of the Committee on International Trade.

The resolution recalls that services make up an increasing percentage of GDP. In 2007, the total percentage of the share of GDP in the EU25 was comprised of more than 75% for the service sector, whereas, in the same year, the share of GDP for services was around 78% for North America, 52% for Africa and 60% for Asia. MEPs are convinced that services play an important role in every economy and consider that a wider opening of access to the services market is important not only for developed countries, but also for developing countries.

Progressive and reciprocal liberalisation : drawing attention to the high level of external competitiveness of European services providers, the Parliament calls on the Commission to pursue, in trade negotiations, both the progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of services and a policy of increased transparency and predictability of rules and regulations, accompanied by strict rules and sanctions to fight against corruption and monopolies, so that citizens and entrepreneurs of both parties to an agreement can have access to a wider range of services.

MEPs also reiterate the need to address the interaction between trade and social issues by recalling that: (i) an international trade system which serves the needs of development and poverty reduction should also contribute to social progress and decent employment; (ii) trade rules should not impinge on the social standards established by the ILO; (iii) the fight against all forms of labour exploitation (prohibition of forced labour and child labour, in particular), together with respect for trade union freedoms, is vital to the organisation of a fair trade system that serves the interests of everyone.

The Commission is called upon to take the different Member State and developing country interests into account when negotiating commitment schedules. MEPs consider that the EU cannot and should not impose a one-size-fits-all model on other countries and that it must take the different stages of development into account when calling for the deregulation and liberalisation of services.

Furthermore, the resolution acknowledges states' sovereignty and thus their right to regulate in all areas of services including in the area of public services , irrespective of whether commitments have been undertaken in the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATS), provided that any such regulations are made in conformity with GATS. MEPs also encourage compliance with environmental and quality standards in a reasonable and objective manner, without constituting unnecessary barriers to trade.

Doha Development Round and GATS : MEPs recall that these negotiations take place in the framework of the single undertaking principle and, therefore, have to be balanced against interests put forward in other areas of negotiations. They consider that negotiations on trade in services must serve both the interests of the EU and the economic growth of the poorest countries. The resolution also stresses the need to allow developing countries political space regarding the level of reciprocity in the opening up of trade by enabling them to decide for themselves the depth and the speed at which liberalisation may be pursued.

Bilateral and regional agreements : the Parliament encourages a clear and ambitious level of commitments in the upcoming bilateral and regional trade agreements and stresses the importance of including therein provisions relating to human rights and social standards. It supports specifically the agreement on the Movement of natural persons (Mode 4) in the EU-CARIFORUM agreement, considering this to be a means of avoiding the brain drain. It also calls for universal, accessible, sustainable and affordable public services with high-quality standards to be ensured for all. The resolution stresses that, when full Economic Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries are to be finalised, they could cover not only goods but also services and investment, but only if this is the wish of those countries.

With regards to the negotiation of the EU-Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), MEPs consider that aspects of the agreement affecting public procurement, investments and services should recognise the varying level of development of ASEAN members.

Specific sectoral issues : the resolution underlines the need to deal with a certain number of specific sectoral issues, such as: the commitments of WTO members with regards to the water distribution sector; balanced trade in cultural services; respecting the protection of intellectual property rights; assistance for the tourism sector through development cooperation and technical assistance; strengthening the security of electronic transactions and trade and stronger action against counterfeiting; taking full account of the existence of general interest services and the potential impact of market opening on their organisation.

The European Commission is called upon to pursue a balanced package with an ambitious offer in services, especially in financial services, where the EU has competitive expertise and has strong potential for growth. The Commission must also promote better access to financial services in developing countries (micro credits, access to bank accounts, basic banking services, mortgages, leasing and factoring, insurance, pensions and local and international transfers) and encourage sound prudential regulation, the development of competitive markets and financial services education.

Documents
2008/09/04
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2008/09/03
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2008/07/02
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
Documents
2008/07/02
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary
Documents
2008/06/24
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The Committee on International Trade adopted an own initiative report by Syed KAMALL (EPP-ED, UK) on trade in services.

The report stresses that the total percentage of the share of GDP in the EU25 in 2007 was comprised of more than 75% for the service sector, whereas, in the same year, the share of GDP for services was around 78% for North America, 52% for Africa and 60% for Asia. The European Union is the world's largest exporter and the biggest service provider with more than 28% of total global exports. Convinced, that services constitute the backbone of every economy, MEPs reiterate that liberalisation of services is therefore important not only for developed countries, but particularly for developing countries .

Drawing attention to the high level of external competitiveness of European services providers, the report calls on the Commission to pursue, in trade negotiations, both the progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of services and a policy of increased transparency and predictability of rules and regulations and rigorous sanctions in order to combat corruption and monopolies.

MEPs also reiterate the need to address the interaction between trade and social issues by recalling that: (i) an international trade system which serves the needs of development and poverty reduction should also contribute to social progress and decent employment; (ii) trade rules should not impinge on the social standards established by the ILO; (iii) the fight against all forms of labour exploitation (prohibition of forced labour and child labour, in particular), together with respect for trade union freedoms, is vital to the organisation of a fair trade system that serves the interests of everyone.

The Commission is called upon to take the different Member State and developing country interests into account when negotiating commitment schedules. MEPs consider that the EU cannot and should not impose a one-size-fits-all model on other countries and that it must take the different stages of development into account when calling for the deregulation and liberalisation of services.

Furthermore, the committee acknowledges states' sovereignty and thus their right to regulate in all areas of services including in the area of public services , irrespective of whether commitments have been undertaken in the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATS), provided that any such regulations are made in conformity with GATS. MEPs also encourage compliance with environmental and quality standards in a reasonable and objective manner, without constituting unnecessary barriers to trade.

The report also stresses that an effectively functioning internal market in services is important for the global competitiveness of EU enterprises and calls for the timely and correct implementation and transposition of Community legislation, including Directive 2006/123/EC on services in the internal market.

In terms of the Doha Development Round , the report recalls that Article XIX of the GATS states that ‘members shall enter into successive rounds of negotiations, beginning not later than five years from the date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement and periodically thereafter, with a view to achieving a progressively higher level of liberalisation’. MEPs recall that these negotiations take place in the framework of the single undertaking principle and that, as a result, it is necessary to ensure a balance with the interests defended in other areas of negotiation.

The report also recalls that each state is free to liberalise any service sector and stresses the need to leave developing countries a degree of freedom concerning the degree of reciprocity in opening exchanges by letting them decide on their rate of liberalisation.

MEPs encourage a quick resolution on the package of modalities on negotiations on agriculture and on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) so as to move on with the negotiations on GATS. They welcome, in this respect, the announcement of a signalling conference to advance the stalled Doha Development Round negotiations on services.

The committee encourages a clear and ambitious level of commitments in the currently negotiated and upcoming bilateral and regional trade agreements . It considers that trade in services is a vehicle for development provided that a solid and transparent national normative framework is put in place for services. In this regard, the committee notes the results achieved in the Economic Partnership Agreement with the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM).

Lastly, the report stresses the need to deal with a certain number of specific sectoral issues , such as: support for the development of solid national rules for the service sector in countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda; commitments among WTO members on the water distribution sector; balanced trade in cultural services, respecting the protection of intellectual property rights; assistance for the tourism sector through development cooperation and technical assistance; stronger action against counterfeiting or even the progressive opening of the financial services sector in developing countries.

2008/06/09
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2008/06/04
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2008/05/28
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2008/05/06
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2008/01/31
   EP - BUŞOI Cristian-Silviu (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in IMCO
2008/01/17
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2008/01/15
   EP - SCHMIDT Olle (ALDE) appointed as rapporteur in ECON
2006/09/26
   EP - KAMALL Syed (PPE-DE) appointed as rapporteur in INTA

Documents

Activities

Votes

Rapport Kamall A6-0283/2008 - am. 2 #

2008/09/04 Outcome: +: 552, -: 25, 0: 2
DE FR GB IT ES PL RO NL BE HU EL BG SK AT CZ PT IE LV FI DK LT EE SE SI LU CY MT
Total
79
57
53
45
40
46
26
26
19
19
17
14
14
13
20
12
10
8
10
10
8
6
14
5
4
2
2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
216

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Cyprus PPE-DE

1

Malta PPE-DE

For (1)

1
icon: PSE PSE
173

Czechia PSE

2

Ireland PSE

1

Finland PSE

1

Lithuania PSE

2

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Malta PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
72

Spain ALDE

1

Hungary ALDE

1

Austria ALDE

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Finland ALDE

Against (1)

4

Estonia ALDE

2

Sweden ALDE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
34

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Italy Verts/ALE

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
32

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
25

France GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Italy GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

Against (1)

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

2
icon: NI NI
17

France NI

For (1)

1

United Kingdom NI

Against (2)

2

Italy NI

2
2

Bulgaria NI

2

Austria NI

1

Czechia NI

Against (1)

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
10

France IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Denmark IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Rapport Kamall A6-0283/2008 - am. 5 #

2008/09/04 Outcome: +: 376, -: 225, 0: 9
FR ES EL IT BE DK GB BG PT NL DE LT FI AT SE IE EE LV RO CY SI MT HU SK LU CZ PL
Total
61
44
18
47
20
11
59
15
16
26
81
9
10
12
15
11
5
8
26
2
5
3
20
14
4
21
47
icon: PSE PSE
178

Lithuania PSE

2

Finland PSE

1

Ireland PSE

1

Estonia PSE

2

Malta PSE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Czechia PSE

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
79

Spain ALDE

1

Finland ALDE

Against (1)

4

Austria ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Hungary ALDE

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
35

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
26

France GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Italy GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

2

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

2
icon: NI NI
23

Italy NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (2)

5

Bulgaria NI

2

Austria NI

1

Czechia NI

Against (1)

1
2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
10

France IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Denmark IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3
icon: UEN UEN
32

Denmark UEN

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

1

Latvia UEN

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

4
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
227

Bulgaria PPE-DE

For (1)

4

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Finland PPE-DE

For (1)

3

Austria PPE-DE

4

Ireland PPE-DE

For (1)

5

Estonia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Cyprus PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

Against (2)

2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Rapport Kamall A6-0283/2008 - am. 11 #

2008/09/04 Outcome: +: 554, -: 46, 0: 8
DE FR GB IT PL ES RO CZ BE HU EL PT NL BG IE FI AT LT SE DK SK LV EE LU SI MT CY
Total
79
57
60
45
48
43
28
21
20
21
18
16
26
15
11
11
13
9
15
11
13
8
6
5
4
3
2
icon: PSE PSE
178

Czechia PSE

2

Ireland PSE

1

Finland PSE

1

Lithuania PSE

2

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Malta PSE

For (1)

1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
224

Austria PPE-DE

Against (1)

4

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Slovenia PPE-DE

2

Malta PPE-DE

2

Cyprus PPE-DE

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
79

Spain ALDE

1

Hungary ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
35

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Italy Verts/ALE

1

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
34

Lithuania UEN

1

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
27

France GUE/NGL

2

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

1

Italy GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Greece GUE/NGL

Abstain (1)

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

2

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Denmark GUE/NGL

1
icon: NI NI
21

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (2)

Abstain (2)

5

Italy NI

2
2

Czechia NI

1

Belgium NI

2

Bulgaria NI

2

Austria NI

1

Slovakia NI

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
10

France IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Denmark IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Rapport Kamall A6-0283/2008 - résolution #

2008/09/04 Outcome: +: 525, -: 77, 0: 7
GB DE PL IT ES FR RO HU BG NL SK EL BE SE CZ PT IE FI AT LT LV EE SI DK MT LU CY
Total
59
80
49
48
44
55
28
19
15
26
14
18
21
15
21
15
10
11
13
8
8
6
5
11
3
5
2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
225

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Latvia PPE-DE

2

Estonia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PPE-DE

3

Malta PPE-DE

2

Luxembourg PPE-DE

3

Cyprus PPE-DE

1
icon: PSE PSE
175

Czechia PSE

2

Ireland PSE

1

Finland PSE

1

Lithuania PSE

2

Estonia PSE

3

Malta PSE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
79

Spain ALDE

1

Hungary ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
33

Denmark UEN

Abstain (1)

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
10

Poland IND/DEM

3

France IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Denmark IND/DEM

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
23

United Kingdom NI

Against (2)

5
2

Italy NI

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Bulgaria NI

2

Belgium NI

3

Czechia NI

1

Austria NI

Against (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
27

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Italy GUE/NGL

2

Spain GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

France GUE/NGL

2

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Greece GUE/NGL

2

Sweden GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
37

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

4

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
151 2008/2004(INI)
2008/04/23 IMCO 12 amendments...
source: PE-405.753
2008/04/29 ECON 26 amendments...
source: PE-405.915
2008/06/04 INTA 113 amendments...
source: PE-407.724

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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Rules of Procedure EP 54
procedure/legal_basis/0
Rules of Procedure EP 052
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INTA
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name: KAMALL Syed date: 2006-09-26T00:00:00 group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats abbr: PPE-DE
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  • date: 2008-01-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: ECON date: 2008-01-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Economic and Monetary Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle body: EP responsible: False committee: IMCO date: 2008-01-31T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BUŞOI Cristian-Silviu body: EP responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2006-09-26T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: KAMALL Syed
  • date: 2008-06-24T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: ECON date: 2008-01-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Economic and Monetary Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle body: EP responsible: False committee: IMCO date: 2008-01-31T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BUŞOI Cristian-Silviu body: EP responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2006-09-26T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: KAMALL Syed type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2008-07-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-283&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A6-0283/2008 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2008-09-03T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080903&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2008-09-04T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15324&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-407 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0407/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
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docs
  • date: 2008-05-06T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE405.975 title: PE405.975 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2008-05-28T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE404.423&secondRef=03 title: PE404.423 committee: IMCO type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2008-06-04T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE407.724 title: PE407.724 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2008-06-09T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE404.510&secondRef=02 title: PE404.510 committee: ECON type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2008-07-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-283&language=EN title: A6-0283/2008 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP
  • date: 2008-10-17T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=15324&j=1&l=en title: SP(2008)6073 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
  • date: 2008-12-17T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=15324&j=0&l=en title: SP(2008)6486 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
events
  • date: 2008-01-17T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2008-06-24T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The Committee on International Trade adopted an own initiative report by Syed KAMALL (EPP-ED, UK) on trade in services. The report stresses that the total percentage of the share of GDP in the EU25 in 2007 was comprised of more than 75% for the service sector, whereas, in the same year, the share of GDP for services was around 78% for North America, 52% for Africa and 60% for Asia. The European Union is the world's largest exporter and the biggest service provider with more than 28% of total global exports. Convinced, that services constitute the backbone of every economy, MEPs reiterate that liberalisation of services is therefore important not only for developed countries, but particularly for developing countries . Drawing attention to the high level of external competitiveness of European services providers, the report calls on the Commission to pursue, in trade negotiations, both the progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of services and a policy of increased transparency and predictability of rules and regulations and rigorous sanctions in order to combat corruption and monopolies. MEPs also reiterate the need to address the interaction between trade and social issues by recalling that: (i) an international trade system which serves the needs of development and poverty reduction should also contribute to social progress and decent employment; (ii) trade rules should not impinge on the social standards established by the ILO; (iii) the fight against all forms of labour exploitation (prohibition of forced labour and child labour, in particular), together with respect for trade union freedoms, is vital to the organisation of a fair trade system that serves the interests of everyone. The Commission is called upon to take the different Member State and developing country interests into account when negotiating commitment schedules. MEPs consider that the EU cannot and should not impose a one-size-fits-all model on other countries and that it must take the different stages of development into account when calling for the deregulation and liberalisation of services. Furthermore, the committee acknowledges states' sovereignty and thus their right to regulate in all areas of services including in the area of public services , irrespective of whether commitments have been undertaken in the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATS), provided that any such regulations are made in conformity with GATS. MEPs also encourage compliance with environmental and quality standards in a reasonable and objective manner, without constituting unnecessary barriers to trade. The report also stresses that an effectively functioning internal market in services is important for the global competitiveness of EU enterprises and calls for the timely and correct implementation and transposition of Community legislation, including Directive 2006/123/EC on services in the internal market. In terms of the Doha Development Round , the report recalls that Article XIX of the GATS states that ‘members shall enter into successive rounds of negotiations, beginning not later than five years from the date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement and periodically thereafter, with a view to achieving a progressively higher level of liberalisation’. MEPs recall that these negotiations take place in the framework of the single undertaking principle and that, as a result, it is necessary to ensure a balance with the interests defended in other areas of negotiation. The report also recalls that each state is free to liberalise any service sector and stresses the need to leave developing countries a degree of freedom concerning the degree of reciprocity in opening exchanges by letting them decide on their rate of liberalisation. MEPs encourage a quick resolution on the package of modalities on negotiations on agriculture and on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) so as to move on with the negotiations on GATS. They welcome, in this respect, the announcement of a signalling conference to advance the stalled Doha Development Round negotiations on services. The committee encourages a clear and ambitious level of commitments in the currently negotiated and upcoming bilateral and regional trade agreements . It considers that trade in services is a vehicle for development provided that a solid and transparent national normative framework is put in place for services. In this regard, the committee notes the results achieved in the Economic Partnership Agreement with the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM). Lastly, the report stresses the need to deal with a certain number of specific sectoral issues , such as: support for the development of solid national rules for the service sector in countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda; commitments among WTO members on the water distribution sector; balanced trade in cultural services, respecting the protection of intellectual property rights; assistance for the tourism sector through development cooperation and technical assistance; stronger action against counterfeiting or even the progressive opening of the financial services sector in developing countries.
  • date: 2008-07-02T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-283&language=EN title: A6-0283/2008
  • date: 2008-09-03T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080903&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2008-09-04T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15324&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2008-09-04T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-407 title: T6-0407/2008 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 525 votes to 77, with 7 abstentions, a resolution on trade in services. The own initiative report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Syed KAMALL (EPP-ED, UK) on behalf of the Committee on International Trade. The resolution recalls that services make up an increasing percentage of GDP. In 2007, the total percentage of the share of GDP in the EU25 was comprised of more than 75% for the service sector, whereas, in the same year, the share of GDP for services was around 78% for North America, 52% for Africa and 60% for Asia. MEPs are convinced that services play an important role in every economy and consider that a wider opening of access to the services market is important not only for developed countries, but also for developing countries. Progressive and reciprocal liberalisation : drawing attention to the high level of external competitiveness of European services providers, the Parliament calls on the Commission to pursue, in trade negotiations, both the progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of services and a policy of increased transparency and predictability of rules and regulations, accompanied by strict rules and sanctions to fight against corruption and monopolies, so that citizens and entrepreneurs of both parties to an agreement can have access to a wider range of services. MEPs also reiterate the need to address the interaction between trade and social issues by recalling that: (i) an international trade system which serves the needs of development and poverty reduction should also contribute to social progress and decent employment; (ii) trade rules should not impinge on the social standards established by the ILO; (iii) the fight against all forms of labour exploitation (prohibition of forced labour and child labour, in particular), together with respect for trade union freedoms, is vital to the organisation of a fair trade system that serves the interests of everyone. The Commission is called upon to take the different Member State and developing country interests into account when negotiating commitment schedules. MEPs consider that the EU cannot and should not impose a one-size-fits-all model on other countries and that it must take the different stages of development into account when calling for the deregulation and liberalisation of services. Furthermore, the resolution acknowledges states' sovereignty and thus their right to regulate in all areas of services including in the area of public services , irrespective of whether commitments have been undertaken in the framework of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATS), provided that any such regulations are made in conformity with GATS. MEPs also encourage compliance with environmental and quality standards in a reasonable and objective manner, without constituting unnecessary barriers to trade. Doha Development Round and GATS : MEPs recall that these negotiations take place in the framework of the single undertaking principle and, therefore, have to be balanced against interests put forward in other areas of negotiations. They consider that negotiations on trade in services must serve both the interests of the EU and the economic growth of the poorest countries. The resolution also stresses the need to allow developing countries political space regarding the level of reciprocity in the opening up of trade by enabling them to decide for themselves the depth and the speed at which liberalisation may be pursued. Bilateral and regional agreements : the Parliament encourages a clear and ambitious level of commitments in the upcoming bilateral and regional trade agreements and stresses the importance of including therein provisions relating to human rights and social standards. It supports specifically the agreement on the Movement of natural persons (Mode 4) in the EU-CARIFORUM agreement, considering this to be a means of avoiding the brain drain. It also calls for universal, accessible, sustainable and affordable public services with high-quality standards to be ensured for all. The resolution stresses that, when full Economic Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries are to be finalised, they could cover not only goods but also services and investment, but only if this is the wish of those countries. With regards to the negotiation of the EU-Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), MEPs consider that aspects of the agreement affecting public procurement, investments and services should recognise the varying level of development of ASEAN members. Specific sectoral issues : the resolution underlines the need to deal with a certain number of specific sectoral issues, such as: the commitments of WTO members with regards to the water distribution sector; balanced trade in cultural services; respecting the protection of intellectual property rights; assistance for the tourism sector through development cooperation and technical assistance; strengthening the security of electronic transactions and trade and stronger action against counterfeiting; taking full account of the existence of general interest services and the potential impact of market opening on their organisation. The European Commission is called upon to pursue a balanced package with an ambitious offer in services, especially in financial services, where the EU has competitive expertise and has strong potential for growth. The Commission must also promote better access to financial services in developing countries (micro credits, access to bank accounts, basic banking services, mortgages, leasing and factoring, insurance, pensions and local and international transfers) and encourage sound prudential regulation, the development of competitive markets and financial services education.
  • date: 2008-09-04T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
links
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  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade commissioner: MANDELSON Peter
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  • INTA/6/57997
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Rules of Procedure EP 052
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Old
  • 2.40 Free movement of services, freedom to provide
  • 6.20 Common commercial policy in general
New
2.40
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Common commercial policy in general
activities
  • date: 2008-01-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: ECON date: 2008-01-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Economic and Monetary Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle body: EP responsible: False committee: IMCO date: 2008-01-31T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BUŞOI Cristian-Silviu body: EP responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2006-09-26T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: KAMALL Syed
  • date: 2008-06-24T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: ECON date: 2008-01-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Economic and Monetary Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle body: EP responsible: False committee: IMCO date: 2008-01-31T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BUŞOI Cristian-Silviu body: EP responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2006-09-26T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: KAMALL Syed type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2008-07-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2008-283&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading title: A6-0283/2008 body: EP type: Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading
  • date: 2008-09-03T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20080903&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2008-09-04T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=15324&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2008-407 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0407/2008 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
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  • body: EP responsible: False committee: ECON date: 2008-01-15T00:00:00 committee_full: Economic and Monetary Affairs rapporteur: group: ALDE name: SCHMIDT Olle
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: IMCO date: 2008-01-31T00:00:00 committee_full: Internal Market and Consumer Protection rapporteur: group: ALDE name: BUŞOI Cristian-Silviu
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2006-09-26T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: KAMALL Syed
links
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade commissioner: MANDELSON Peter
procedure
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INTA/6/57997
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2008/2004(INI)
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Trade in services
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Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 052
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Procedure completed
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Initiative
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