BETA


Events

2009/10/08
   EC - Commission response to text adopted in plenary
Documents
2009/03/25
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2009/03/25
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 23 March 2009, the European Parliament adopted by 501 votes to 114 with 18 abstentions a resolution on the Interim agreement establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Eastern and Southern Africa States (ESA) on the one part and the EC and its Member States on the other part. The resolution was tabled on behalf of the Committee on International Trade.

Parliament reaffirms its view that, if appropriately designed and accompanied by effective development-oriented policies, EPAs represent an opportunity to revitalise ACP-EU trading relations, promote ACP economic development and diversification, as well as regional integration, and reduce poverty in the ACP countries. However, EPAs cannot be regarded as satisfactory unless they achieve three objectives: offering the ACP countries support for sustainable development, promoting their participation in world trade and strengthening the regionalisation process. One key aim of this agreement is to contribute, through development goals, poverty reduction and respect for fundamental human rights, to achieving the MDGs.

Members call on the Commission to ensure that, if this is the ESA region's wish, it is able to renegotiate any provisions on the contentious issues that it wishes to amend or withdraw. They point out that there is a huge imbalance between the economies of EU and ESA countries which can never be bridged, even partially, by free-trade policies alone. The ACP countries are urged to further the process of liberalisation, and encourage the extension of such reforms beyond trade in goods, to also increase the liberalisation of trade in services.

Parliament calls for the following:

the EU to provide increased assistance both to the authorities in the ACP and to the private sector in order to facilitate the transition of the economies following the signing of the IEPA and to ensure that measures are taken to protect vulnerable groups (elderly people, people with disabilities, single mothers) during the economic transition period; the Commission and Member States to clarify the actual distribution of funds throughout the ACP region stemming from the pledged priority spending within the increased Aid for Trade budget; an early determination and provision of the share of the Aid for Trade resources; the West African Region receive an equitable share of the commitment to increase the EU's collective trade-related assistance to EUR 2 billion (2 000 000 000) annually by 2010 (EUR 1 billion from the Community, EUR 1 billion from the Member States); the relevant countries to provide transparent information about the economic and political situation and development in these countries in order to improve cooperation with the Union; the negotiators of any full EPA to account fully for the transparent management of natural resources and to outline the best practices necessary in order that the ACP countries make the maximum gains from such resources, including combating potential money laundering; any agreements between the Union and countries of the ESA region not to contradict each other or impede regional integration in this wider region; transparent monitoring mechanisms to follow the impact of EPAs, with a comprehensive review of the interim EPA with ESA not later than five years after the date of signature regarding its socioeconomic impact; the Commission to promote the crucial role of ACP parliaments and non-state actors in the ongoing negotiation procedures; the ACP must put forward, with appropriate EU assistance where required, detailed proposals of why additional EPA-related funds are needed; the Commission to do its utmost to restart the negotiations on the DDA and ensure that the trade liberalisation agreements continue to promote development in poor countries; on the chapter on trade defence with, both parties should avoid unnecessary use of bilateral safeguards and the Commission should accept, with a view to concluding a comprehensive EPA, a revision of the safeguards contained in the interim EPA in order to guarantee quick utilisation provided that the criteria for their application are met; the full EPA should encourage processed exports with simpler and improved rules of origin, particularly in key sectors such as textiles and agriculture; the Commission not to put overambitious pressure on the ESA region to accept liberalisation by the end of 2009 and in this regard to take into consideration the ESA Parliament's views; both parties to adhere to their agreed commitment to conclude negotiations on competition and government procurement, taking into account the capacity of ESA countries; the negotiating parties to include binding arrangements regarding public procurement, investment and competition which could boost interest in doing business with, and investing in, the ESA countries;

Parliament insists that it must be fully involved during the transitional negotiating process, through an active informal trialogue with the Council and the Commission.

Lastly, Members encourage the Commission to address the so-called 'contentious issues', such as trade coverage of the agreement, the MFN clause, export taxes, safeguards and rules of origin, in the context of the negotiations on a full regional EPA, in a manner that will be in the interest of the EU and its citizens and will support sustainable development in the EU and the ACP countries.

This resolution should be read in parallel with the ESA Agreement which is the subject of a separate assent procedure (see AVC/2008/0251 ).

Documents
2009/03/25
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2009/03/23
   EP - Oral question/interpellation by Parliament
Documents
2009/03/23
   EP - Oral question/interpellation by Parliament
Documents
2009/03/23
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2009/03/23
   EP - Debate in Parliament
Details

O-0041/2009

O-0042/2009

A motion for a resolution closing this debate was due to be put to the vote on 25 March 2009.

Documents

Votes

B6-0145/2009 - Accord États d'Afrique de l'Est et du Sud - CE - am 8 #

2009/03/25 Outcome: +: 381, -: 247, 0: 14
IT FR PL PT GB BE ES LT DK NL FI LV EE BG DE IE CY AT SE MT RO LU SI EL ?? SK HU CZ
Total
63
64
42
20
60
20
44
9
11
25
14
7
5
16
83
11
2
15
16
3
28
4
7
17
1
14
20
21
icon: PSE PSE
186

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

3

Ireland PSE

1

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Czechia PSE

2
icon: ALDE ALDE
81

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

Against (2)

2

Slovenia ALDE

2
2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
40

Italy Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
33

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

1
icon: UEN UEN
36

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

France IND/DEM

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Poland IND/DEM

Against (1)

3

United Kingdom IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
23

Italy NI

Abstain (1)

3

Poland NI

1

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

5

Bulgaria NI

3

Austria NI

Abstain (1)

2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
231

Lithuania PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Denmark PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria PPE-DE

3

Ireland PPE-DE

4

Malta PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Slovenia PPE-DE

4

PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

B6-0145/2009 - Accord États d'Afrique de l'Est et du Sud - CE - am 7 #

2009/03/25 Outcome: +: 616, 0: 17, -: 7
DE IT GB FR ES PL RO NL BE HU PT CZ EL AT SK BG FI SE IE DK LT LV SI EE MT LU CY ??
Total
83
61
60
64
43
41
28
25
22
20
20
21
18
15
14
16
14
16
11
11
9
7
7
5
3
3
2
1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
229

Denmark PPE-DE

1

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Latvia PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

PPE-DE

For (1)

1
icon: PSE PSE
186

Czechia PSE

2

Ireland PSE

1

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
81
2

Austria ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Latvia ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Estonia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
39

Italy Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1
icon: UEN UEN
35

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
33

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
25

Italy NI

Abstain (1)

3

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (2)

5

Poland NI

1

Belgium NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Austria NI

Abstain (1)

2

Bulgaria NI

3
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

United Kingdom IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

France IND/DEM

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

B6-0145/2009 - Accord États d'Afrique de l'Est et du Sud - CE - am 10 #

2009/03/25 Outcome: +: 384, -: 236, 0: 14
IT FR PL BE NL PT GB BG DK LT SE ES LV FI EE DE IE CY AT MT RO SI EL ?? SK LU HU CZ
Total
62
63
42
22
25
20
59
16
11
8
16
44
7
13
5
81
10
2
15
3
28
7
18
1
14
2
20
20
icon: PSE PSE
183

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

3

Ireland PSE

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Czechia PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
79

Sweden ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

2
2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
38

Italy Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Romania Verts/ALE

1
icon: UEN UEN
35

Denmark UEN

Against (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
25

Italy NI

Abstain (1)

3

Poland NI

1

Belgium NI

2

United Kingdom NI

Abstain (1)

5

Bulgaria NI

3

Austria NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

France IND/DEM

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Poland IND/DEM

3

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

United Kingdom IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

Czechia IND/DEM

Against (1)

1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
230

Bulgaria PPE-DE

3

Denmark PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Latvia PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Ireland PPE-DE

4

Malta PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia PPE-DE

4

PPE-DE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

B6-0145/2009 - Accord États d'Afrique de l'Est et du Sud - CE - am 9 #

2009/03/25 Outcome: +: 611, 0: 16, -: 9
DE FR IT GB ES PL RO BE NL HU PT CZ SE EL FI AT BG SK DK IE LT SI LV EE LU MT CY ??
Total
83
63
62
58
45
42
26
22
25
20
19
20
16
18
14
15
16
14
11
10
9
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
229

Denmark PPE-DE

1

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Malta PPE-DE

For (1)

1

PPE-DE

For (1)

1
icon: PSE PSE
184

Czechia PSE

2

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
78

Romania ALDE

2
2

Sweden ALDE

2

Austria ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
40

Italy Verts/ALE

2

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
36

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
25

United Kingdom NI

5

Poland NI

1

Belgium NI

2

Austria NI

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Bulgaria NI

3
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

France IND/DEM

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

United Kingdom IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

B6-0145/2009 - Accord États d'Afrique de l'Est et du Sud - CE - am 6 #

2009/03/25 Outcome: +: 611, 0: 11, -: 6
DE FR IT GB ES PL RO NL BE HU PT CZ AT SE FI EL SK IE DK BG LT SI LV EE LU MT ?? CY
Total
81
62
61
60
44
42
26
25
22
20
20
18
15
16
13
16
13
11
11
16
9
7
5
5
4
3
1
2
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
228

Denmark PPE-DE

1

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

Malta PPE-DE

For (1)

1

PPE-DE

For (1)

1
icon: PSE PSE
184

Czechia PSE

For (1)

1

Ireland PSE

1

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
79
2

Austria ALDE

1

Sweden ALDE

For (1)

Against (1)

2

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Slovenia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
36

Italy Verts/ALE

1

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Romania Verts/ALE

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
33

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1

Lithuania UEN

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

France GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
24

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

Against (1)

5

Poland NI

1

Belgium NI

2

Austria NI

2

Slovakia NI

2

Bulgaria NI

3
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
12

France IND/DEM

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

United Kingdom IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Ireland IND/DEM

For (1)

1

B6-0145/2009 - Accord États d'Afrique de l'Est et du Sud - CE - résolution #

2009/03/25 Outcome: +: 501, -: 114, 0: 18
DE GB PL IT ES RO HU NL SK PT BG SE FI EL LT CZ SI AT IE EE LV MT BE LU ?? CY DK FR
Total
80
59
42
62
44
28
20
25
13
19
15
16
14
18
9
20
7
15
11
5
6
3
21
4
1
2
11
63
icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE
226

Lithuania PPE-DE

1

Malta PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE-DE

2

PPE-DE

For (1)

1

Denmark PPE-DE

1
icon: PSE PSE
185

Lithuania PSE

For (1)

1

Czechia PSE

2

Slovenia PSE

For (1)

1

Ireland PSE

1

Estonia PSE

3

Luxembourg PSE

For (1)

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
81
2

Sweden ALDE

2

Slovenia ALDE

2

Austria ALDE

1

Ireland ALDE

Abstain (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

2

Latvia ALDE

1

Cyprus ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: UEN UEN
35

Lithuania UEN

2

Denmark UEN

For (1)

1
icon: IND/DEM IND/DEM
11

United Kingdom IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

Poland IND/DEM

3

Netherlands IND/DEM

2

Sweden IND/DEM

2

Czechia IND/DEM

1

Ireland IND/DEM

Against (1)

1

France IND/DEM

Abstain (1)

1
icon: NI NI
24

United Kingdom NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

5

Poland NI

1

Italy NI

Against (1)

3

Slovakia NI

2

Bulgaria NI

3

Austria NI

2

Belgium NI

2
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
32

Netherlands GUE/NGL

2

Portugal GUE/NGL

3

Sweden GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Ireland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

France GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
39

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

5

Italy Verts/ALE

2

Romania Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

History

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

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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2009-0180_EN.html
activities
  • date: 2009-03-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090323&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2009-03-25T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17007&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-2009-180 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0180/2009 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
committees
    docs
    • date: 2009-03-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2009-211&language=EN title: B6-0211/2009 type: Oral question/interpellation by Parliament body: EP
    • date: 2009-03-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2009-212&language=EN title: B6-0212/2009 type: Oral question/interpellation by Parliament body: EP
    • date: 2009-03-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=MOTION&reference=B6-2009-145&language=EN title: B6-0145/2009 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
    • date: 2009-10-08T00:00:00 docs: url: /oeil/spdoc.do?i=17007&j=0&l=en title: SP(2009)3245 type: Commission response to text adopted in plenary
    events
    • date: 2009-03-23T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090323&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament summary: O-0041/2009 O-0042/2009
    • date: 2009-03-25T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17007&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
    • date: 2009-03-25T00:00:00 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-2009-180 title: T6-0180/2009 summary: Following the debate which took place during the sitting of 23 March 2009, the European Parliament adopted by 501 votes to 114 with 18 abstentions a resolution on the Interim agreement establishing a framework for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Eastern and Southern Africa States (ESA) on the one part and the EC and its Member States on the other part. The resolution was tabled on behalf of the Committee on International Trade. Parliament reaffirms its view that, if appropriately designed and accompanied by effective development-oriented policies, EPAs represent an opportunity to revitalise ACP-EU trading relations, promote ACP economic development and diversification, as well as regional integration, and reduce poverty in the ACP countries. However, EPAs cannot be regarded as satisfactory unless they achieve three objectives: offering the ACP countries support for sustainable development, promoting their participation in world trade and strengthening the regionalisation process. One key aim of this agreement is to contribute, through development goals, poverty reduction and respect for fundamental human rights, to achieving the MDGs. Members call on the Commission to ensure that, if this is the ESA region's wish, it is able to renegotiate any provisions on the contentious issues that it wishes to amend or withdraw. They point out that there is a huge imbalance between the economies of EU and ESA countries which can never be bridged, even partially, by free-trade policies alone. The ACP countries are urged to further the process of liberalisation, and encourage the extension of such reforms beyond trade in goods, to also increase the liberalisation of trade in services. Parliament calls for the following: the EU to provide increased assistance both to the authorities in the ACP and to the private sector in order to facilitate the transition of the economies following the signing of the IEPA and to ensure that measures are taken to protect vulnerable groups (elderly people, people with disabilities, single mothers) during the economic transition period; the Commission and Member States to clarify the actual distribution of funds throughout the ACP region stemming from the pledged priority spending within the increased Aid for Trade budget; an early determination and provision of the share of the Aid for Trade resources; the West African Region receive an equitable share of the commitment to increase the EU's collective trade-related assistance to EUR 2 billion (2 000 000 000) annually by 2010 (EUR 1 billion from the Community, EUR 1 billion from the Member States); the relevant countries to provide transparent information about the economic and political situation and development in these countries in order to improve cooperation with the Union; the negotiators of any full EPA to account fully for the transparent management of natural resources and to outline the best practices necessary in order that the ACP countries make the maximum gains from such resources, including combating potential money laundering; any agreements between the Union and countries of the ESA region not to contradict each other or impede regional integration in this wider region; transparent monitoring mechanisms to follow the impact of EPAs, with a comprehensive review of the interim EPA with ESA not later than five years after the date of signature regarding its socioeconomic impact; the Commission to promote the crucial role of ACP parliaments and non-state actors in the ongoing negotiation procedures; the ACP must put forward, with appropriate EU assistance where required, detailed proposals of why additional EPA-related funds are needed; the Commission to do its utmost to restart the negotiations on the DDA and ensure that the trade liberalisation agreements continue to promote development in poor countries; on the chapter on trade defence with, both parties should avoid unnecessary use of bilateral safeguards and the Commission should accept, with a view to concluding a comprehensive EPA, a revision of the safeguards contained in the interim EPA in order to guarantee quick utilisation provided that the criteria for their application are met; the full EPA should encourage processed exports with simpler and improved rules of origin, particularly in key sectors such as textiles and agriculture; the Commission not to put overambitious pressure on the ESA region to accept liberalisation by the end of 2009 and in this regard to take into consideration the ESA Parliament's views; both parties to adhere to their agreed commitment to conclude negotiations on competition and government procurement, taking into account the capacity of ESA countries; the negotiating parties to include binding arrangements regarding public procurement, investment and competition which could boost interest in doing business with, and investing in, the ESA countries; Parliament insists that it must be fully involved during the transitional negotiating process, through an active informal trialogue with the Council and the Commission. Lastly, Members encourage the Commission to address the so-called 'contentious issues', such as trade coverage of the agreement, the MFN clause, export taxes, safeguards and rules of origin, in the context of the negotiations on a full regional EPA, in a manner that will be in the interest of the EU and its citizens and will support sustainable development in the EU and the ACP countries. This resolution should be read in parallel with the ESA Agreement which is the subject of a separate assent procedure (see AVC/2008/0251 ).
    • date: 2009-03-25T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
    links
    other
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure EP 128-p5
      procedure/legal_basis/0
      Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 128-p5
      procedure/subject
      Old
      • 6.20.01 Agreements and relations in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
      • 6.20.02 Export/import control, trade defence
      • 6.20.03 Bilateral economic and trade agreements and relations
      • 6.30 Development cooperation
      • 6.30.01 Generalised scheme of tariff preferences, rules of origin
      • 6.30.02 Financial and technical cooperation and assistance
      • 6.40.06 Relations with ACP countries, conventions and generalities
      New
      6.20.01
      Agreements and relations in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
      6.20.02
      Export/import control, trade defence, trade barriers
      6.20.03
      Bilateral economic and trade agreements and relations
      6.30
      Development cooperation
      6.30.01
      Generalised scheme of tariff preferences (GSP), rules of origin
      6.30.02
      Financial and technical cooperation and assistance
      6.40.06
      Relations with ACP countries, conventions and generalities
      procedure/subtype
      Old
      Debate or resolution on oral questions
      New
      Debate or resolution on oral question/interpellation
      activities
      • date: 2009-03-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090323&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
      • date: 2009-03-25T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17007&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-2009-180 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0180/2009 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
      committees
        links
        other
          procedure
          reference
          2009/2542(RSP)
          title
          Resolution on the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the EC and the Eastern and Southern African States
          legal_basis
          Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 128-p5
          stage_reached
          Procedure completed
          subtype
          Debate or resolution on oral questions
          type
          RSP - Resolutions on topical subjects
          subject