2015/2038(INI) | [ParlTrack]

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Commission to respect the principle of Policy Coherence for Development in all external policies and specifically ~~to include it in all trea~~insists that trade policies must be consistent with all EU's objectives, including social, environmental and development aid objectives;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for the EU to recognise the common but differentiated responsibility of developing countries, while ensuring equity when addressing the post-2015 Development Agenda; recalls the EU’'s direct and historical responsibility in its dealings with partner countries, particularly as regards tax, trade and investment; in particular, stresses upon the need to rebalance global rules governing trade and investment with human rights obligations so as to find the right balance between the rights and responsibilities of firms and governments;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for the EU to recognise the common but differentiated responsibility of developing countries, while ensuring equity when addressing the post-2015 Development Agenda and determining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; recalls the EU’s direct and historical responsibility in its dealings with partner countries, particularly as regards tax, trade and investment;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls that corporate social responsibility is a concept whereby companies voluntarily incorporate social and environmental concerns into their business strategy for the overall wellbeing of stakeholders;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls that the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda (based on ILO Conventions and recommendations) constitutes an essential part of sustainable development strategies that can be applied by business enterprises; in this context, stresses that social dialogue is a key criteria for business accountability;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Notes that the CSR agenda must be adapted to the specific needs of regions and of each specific country in order to contribute to improving sustainable economic and social development;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Encourages the promotion of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, however recalls that those principles may not be read as binding international law; further insists that it is primarily the responsibility of the states to guarantee the respect and promotion of human rights;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Finds regrettable the~~Regrets that at a time of increasing interest in the private sector as a development actor, there is a significant lack of adequate information and transparency as regards the actions of corporations and their impact on social and environmental standards and human rights; deplores that, while the EU is among the most active actors to setting normative standards through trade agreements, the enforceability of social or environmental clauses attached to it remains weak; calls for an effective increase in the transparency of corporations and for independent ex-ante impact analysis prior to the signing of any trade agreement; and strong enforceability mechanisms of social and environmental clauses;

Amendment 18 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Ignazio CORRAO, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Eleonora FORENZA, Sabine LÖSING

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. ~~Finds regrettable the significant lack of adequat~~Calls for more information and transparency as regards the actions of corporations and their impact on social and environmental standards and human rights; ~~calls for an effective increase in the transparency of corporations and for independent ex-ante impact analysis prior to the signing of any trade agreement;~~

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Finds regrettable the significant lack of adequate information and transparency as regards the actions of corporations and their impact on social and environmental standards and human rights; calls for an effective increase in the transparency of corporations and for independent ex-ante impact analysis prior to the signing of any trade agreement; calls for a new monitoring and enforcement mechanism to ensure corporations comply with social, environmental and human rights standards;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls on the Commission to respect the principle of Policy Coherence for Development in all external policies and specifically to include it in all treaties, in ways consistent with agreed international commitments to human rights, decent work, gender equality and environmental sustainability;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Finds regrettable the significant lack of adequate information and transparency as regards the actions of corporations and their impact on social and environmental standards and human rights; calls for an effective increase in the transparency of corporations and for independent ex-ante impact analysis prior to the signing of any trade agreement; calls for efforts to be stepped up to make corporate social responsibility more widespread and ensure it is actually implemented;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that the integration of a human right-based approach should be at the heart of the EU development policy; henceforth, reiterates that at a time when the use of blending as a EU development tool is growing, adherence and implementation of internationally recognised guidelines and principles concerning business behaviour and their accountability instruments (namely the ILO Conventions and standards, including the ILO Declaration on Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Global Compact and the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights) should become key condition to grant private sector support in development cooperation;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Deplores that despite the unanimous endorsement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the Human Right Council in 2011, the number of human rights abuses linked to business activity continues to grow;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Calls on to the Commission to conduct a report on the state of implementation on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers it regrettable that a regulatory framework on the way corporations comply with human rights and obligations with respect to social and environmental standards is still lacking; finds it regrettable that current human rights clauses in free trade agreements and othWelcomes the recent incorporation of human rights clauses in bilateral free trade agreements and other economic partnership agreements, as well as a chapter dealing with sustainable development; considers that these clauses pave the way for a better eco~~nomic partnership agreements are ineffective and are usually not respected~~operation between the EU and its partner countries; urges the Commission to further promote CSR instruments and initiatives for responsible mining, logging and sourcing of commodities so as to ensure the accountability of companies;

Amendment 26 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Ignazio CORRAO, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Eleonora FORENZA, Sabine LÖSING

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Considers it regrettable that a~~Regrets that the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are not embodied in enforceable instruments, thereby hampering individuals and communities around the world to rely effectively on the UN endorsed standards for protection and remedy to defend themselves against human rights violations of multinational corporations; calls for the setting-up of a mandatory and enforceable regulatory framework on the way corporations comply with human rights and obligations with respect to social and environmental standards ~~is still lacking~~; finds it regrettable that current human rights clauses in free trade agreements and other economic partnership agreements are ineffective and are usually not respected; urges the Commission to further promote initiatives for responsible mining, logging and sourcing of commodities so as to ensure the accountability of companies;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers it regrettable that a regulatory framework on the way corporations comply with human rights and obligations with respect to social and environmental standards is still lacking, which allow certain States and companies to circumvent them with impunity; finds it regrettable that current human rights clauses in free trade agreements and other economic partnership agreements are ineffective and are usually not respected; urges the Commission to further promote binding initiatives for responsible mining, logging and sourcing of commodities ~~so as to~~and private sustainability-bound schemes throughout supply chains and to step-up environmental and social product and process life cycle analysis so as to improve consumers information and to effectively ensure the accountability of companies;

Amendment 28 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Ignazio CORRAO, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Eleonora FORENZA, Sabine LÖSING

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Considers it regrettable that a regulatory framework on the way corporations comply with human rights and obligations with respect to social and environmental standards is still lacking; ~~finds it regrettable that current human rights clauses in free trade agreements and other economic partnership agreements are ineffective and are usually not respected~~reiterates its call for the European Commission to be more committed to promoting binding and non- negotiable human rights and social and environmental clauses in negotiations of international agreements; urges the Commission to further promote initiatives for responsible mining, logging and sourcing of commodities so as to ensure the accountability of companies;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5 a. Calls for the EU to follow UNCTAD´s Comprehensive Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development recommendations to ensure responsible transparent and accountable investments to not undermine social and environmental standards, human rights, development and people´s dignity, while guarantee respect of human rights, gender equality, decent work, union rights, environmental protection, social protection, universal access to quality goods and public services (paying particular attention to public and universal health coverage), social protection, universal access to medicines, and food and product safety;

Amendment 3 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Eleonora FORENZA, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Sabine LÖSING, Ignazio CORRAO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Stress that EU trade and investment policies are interlink with social protection, development, human rights and environment policies; Calls on the Commission to respect the principle of Policy Coherence for Development in all external policies and specifically to include it in all treaties and develop legally binding mechanisms to ensure it;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Considering that there has been little progress in the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles, and in a context where existing standards, principles, and mechanisms for redress on business and human rights are fragmented in international law, calls for the EU to engage actively in the work of the UN’s Human Rights Council on an international treaty to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights abuses.

Amendment 31 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Ignazio CORRAO, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Eleonora FORENZA, Sabine LÖSING

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for the EU to engage actively in the work of the UN’s Human Rights Council ~~on a~~and of the UNEP on international treatyies to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights abuses and violations of environmental standards.

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls for the EU and Member States to engage actively in the work of the UN’s Human Rights Council on an international treaty to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights abuses.

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the 1986 UN Declaration on the Right to Development, which confirms the right to development as an inalienable ~~human~~ right; therefore calls on the EU to ~~respect the sovereignty of developing countries in setting policies aimed at responding to the demands of their populations for human rights and dignity~~promote an effective cooperation of all development actors, including the private sector, for the realization of this right and the elimination of obstacles to development;

Amendment 5 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Ignazio CORRAO, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Eleonora FORENZA, Sabine LÖSING

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the 1986 UN Declaration on the Right to Development, which confirms the right to development as an inalienable human right; calls on the EU to respect the sovereignty of developing countries in setting policies aimed at responding to the demands of their populations for human rights and dignity, in line with the development principle of democratic ownership, as embedded in the development effectiveness agenda;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the 1986 UN Declaration on the Right to Development, which confirms the right to development as an inalienable human right; calls on the EU to respect the sovereignty of developing countries in setting policies aimed at responding to the demands of their populations, for ~~human rights and dignity~~ensuring people dignity and obligations and duties of all investors in order to guarantee internationally agreed social, environmental and human rights standards;

Amendment 7 #

Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY, Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ, Ignazio CORRAO, Stelios KOULOGLOU, Eleonora FORENZA, Sabine LÖSING

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recalls the 1986 UN Declaration on the Right to Development, which confirms the right to development as an inalienable human right; ~~calls on the EU to respect the sovereignty of developing countries in setting policies aimed at responding to the demands of their populations for human rights and dignity;~~

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to promote binding measures to ensure that multinational corporations pay taxes in the countries in which their profits are generated and to promote compulsory country-by-country reporting by the private sector, thus enhancing domestic resource mobilisation capacities of countries;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for the EU to ~~recognise the~~take into consideration the principle of common but differentiated responsibility ~~of developing countries, while ensuring equity~~ when addressing the post-2015 Development Agenda~~; recalls the EU’s direct and historical responsibility in its dealings with partner countries,~~ and the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development; recalls the importance of guaranteeing partner countries' ownership and contribution to their own development, and particularly as regards their tax, trade and investment policies;

source: 567.768

2015/10/23 FEMM 42 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Constance LE GRIP

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas trade agreements may affect women and men differently owing to ~~gender~~structural inequalities ~~in access to education, job opportunities, services, resources and decision making~~between them on the labour market;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas women and men are often differently affected by trade liberalisation, owing to different social rules applying to men and women, women’s presence in low skill positions and gender inequalities in access to resources and education;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas trade agreements should on no account weaken the progress made the EU, or its Member States, in gender equality;

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas abolishing barriers to investments in form of legal rights, social standards, consumer protection and environmental regulations will lead to a ‘harmonisation’ towards lower labour standards, as well as privatisation of public services and the welfare sector, which will have a negative impact on gender equality;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas sustainable and inclusive development and growth must include gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas trade liberalisation cannot be expected to eliminate the gender inequalities by its own and needs specific tailored measures and economic recourses to monitor the impact on women;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the effective application of the International Labour Organisation’s core labour standards and its Decent Work Agenda in EU preferential trade agreements as ILO standards are particularly relevant to improving gender equality because of their principles of non-discrimination on the grounds of sex and equal pay for men and women;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the ~~effective~~binding application of the International Labour Organisation’s core labour standards and its Decent Work Agenda as well as international environmental protection commitments in EU preferential trade agreements;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls for a broad-based effective participation of women and women’s rights organisations and trade unions in trade consultations and negotiations as well as in trade policy-making and related implementation;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Calls for increased transparency and accountability to grassroots constituencies in the formulation of international trade rules and national trade policies, while ensuring consistency with respect for workers’ rights, human rights including women’s rights;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)

1c. Calls on the EU to ensure that trade policy does not overturn domestic regulations on social protection, consumer protection, public safety, public health and education, food safety, environmental protection and gender equality;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital A

A. whereas trade agreements affect women and men differently owing to gender inequalities in access to education, job opportunities, services, resources ~~and~~, income, their position as consumers, and their representation in decision making;

Amendment 20 #

Constance LE GRIP, Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Calls on the EU for the systematic inclusion of binding, enforceable and non-negotiable human rights clauses, including girls and women´s rights, in the EU’s international agreements, including trade and investment agreements concluded or to be concluded;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Reiterates its strong support for the ~~practice of including~~inclusion of human rights aspects in the EU’s international trade agreements, including through, where appropriate, legally binding ~~human rights~~ clauses, with particular emphasis on women’s rights~~, in the EU’s international trade agreements~~;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Recalls likewise the EU’s commitment to mainstream gender in all its policies and the importance of guaranteeing that men and women benefit equally from social changes, economic growth and the creation of decent jobs, doing away with discrimination and promoting respect for women’s rights in the world;

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Reiterates the importance of activating the suspension clause of the international trade agreements in the event of human rights infringements by the other contracting party;

Amendment 24 #

Constance LE GRIP

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. C~~onsiders it regrettable that trade agreements are often negotiated without reference to their impact on women’s and girls’ righ~~alls on the Commission and the Member States to collect data on the potential specific impact of trade agreements –on the ~~rights to health, education, food, work and water – and calls on the Commission and the Member States~~situation of women in third countries, in order to increase coherence among different but interlinked policies, such as trade, development, ~~employment, migration~~ and gender equality;

Amendment 25 #

Viorica DĂNCILĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers it regrettable that trade agreements are often negotiated without reference to their impact on women’s and girls’ rights – the rights to health, education, food, work and water – and calls on the Commission and the Member States to analyse in depth the impact thereof on gender issues and increase coherence among different but interlinked policies, such as trade, development, employment, migration and gender equality;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers it regrettable that trade agreements are often negotiated without specific reference to their impact on women’s and girls’ rights –such as the rights to health, ~~education, food, work~~access to education and training, food, safe working conditions and water – and calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase coherence among different but interlinked policies, such as trade, development, employment, migration and gender equality;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Considers it regrettable that trade agreements are often negotiated without reference to their impact on women’s and girls’ rights – the rights to health~~, education, food, work and water~~ and the associated rights, including to reproductive health, education, food, work, water and access to land ownership – and calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase coherence among different but interlinked policies, such as trade, development, employment, migration and gender equality;

Amendment 28 #

Viorica DĂNCILĂ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission, in parallel or prior to the negotiation of trade agreements, to conduct gender assessments, as part of a broader human development impact assessment and to adopt proactive principles and policies in order to counter discrimination and social exclusion, promote gender equality and respect the fundamental rights of all;

Amendment 29 #

Constance LE GRIP, Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the need for sound and reliable data to evaluate the gendered impacts of different trade measures and instruments e.g. TTIP, TISA, CETA;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas comprehensive and balanced trade agreements may have a positive impact on women’s employment rate, contributing to growth and social cohesion;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for existing trade and investment agreements to be assessed thoroughly systematically and compulsory in order to identify any areas which may negatively affect gender equality;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission to include, in trade agreements, gender-equality benchmarks and resources to conduct ex- ante and ex-post assessments of the impact of trade agreements concluded by the EU on women and gender equality;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)

5b. Reinforce its continuous and transparent need for engaging with a wide range of stakeholders throughout the negotiation process of trade agreements, including environmental, consumer, labour, development organisations and in particular, gender equality organisations and institutes ; encourages women and women organisations to participate actively and to put forward initiatives and information relevant to the negotiations;

Amendment 33 #

Constance LE GRIP, Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that EU trade policy must ensure that states’ capacity to regulate and protect women’s rights, as well as the environment, consumer rights and workers’ rights, is not undermined, and make sure that corporations and investors are held accountable to people and governments for their human rights, gender equality, social, environmental and development impacts.

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Stresses that EU trade policy ~~must ensure that states’ capacity to regulate and~~should incentivise third country partners to protect women’s rights, the environment, consumer rights and workers’ rights ~~is not undermined, and make sure that~~, but should also promote EU corporations’ and investors ~~are held accountable to people and governments for their~~’ responsibility as regards their impact on human rights, gender equality, social, environmental and development ~~impacts~~.

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls for in-depth impact analyses, from a human rights, climate, gender equality and sustainability perspective, of the outcome of multilateral and bilateral trade agreements negotiated between the EU and third countries;

Amendment 36 #

Margot PARKER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Competence over negotiating and concluding international trade agreements should be repatriated from the EU back to Member States to ensure democratic accountability, the protection of citizens’ rights and the safeguarding of public services.

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that the EU, when negotiating trade agreements, should be concerned to not only improve global social and environmental standards and a fairer and equitable global model of trade, but also promote gender equality;

Amendment 38 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Regrets that gender perspectives have so far been largely neglected in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR);

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Notes that the gender dimension in EU trade policy has not been fully mainstreamed into its strategy for equality between men and women; deplores that the communication of 15 October 2015 on the new EU strategy for trade and investment failed to take due account of gender;

Amendment 4 #

Viorica DĂNCILĂ

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas gender equality as a strategic objective is essential for the achievement of general EU objectives; whereas the current EU Strategy for equality between women and men (2010- 2015) provides that the EU will integrate gender equality into its trade policy as part of a wider framework of sustainable development;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls for the systematic inclusion in trade agreements of an ambitious and binding chapter on sustainable development, including provisions on its impact on women’s rights, and a mechanism for addressing employment- related or environmental disputes by lodging complaints and meting out sanctions.

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls on the Commission to mainstream gender into its policy on CSR, through including measures, among others: for corporations to increase the representation of women in management positions at all levels, and specifically in sectors where they are underrepresented, to support life-long learning and training for women at work, particularly in male- dominated sectors, to ensure adequate work conditions and rights for women throughout their supply chains, and to avoid sourcing material from conflict areas where there is widespread gender- based violence; calls on the Commission to include gender in CSR clauses in international trade agreements;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Highlights that alternative business models such as cooperatives, mutuals, and social enterprises play an important role at promoting gender equality, and advancing sustainable and inclusive development and growth; calls on the Commission and Member States to facilitate and promote these alternative models across the EU, and in trade and development policy;

Amendment 5 #

Constance LE GRIP

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas any measure improving workers’ skills, employment stability, working conditions, unemployment insurance and benefits – such as paid leave, including parental leave, and healthcare – is likely to benefit women workers greatly, especially those in the most precarious conditions;deleted

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas according to article 8 of the TFEU the EU has an obligation to take account of the principle of gender equality and therefore the gender dimension should be incorporated in all its activities, including when negotiating trade agreements;

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas current human rights clauses in free trade agreements and other economic partnership agreements are ineffective and usually not respected, which have a detrimental effect on gender equality;

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas gender was not mentioned in the Parliament’s 2010 resolution on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in international trade;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the fifth objective of the Sustainable Development Goals is the achievement of gender equality by 2030;

source: 569.857

2016/01/25 AFET 64 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Recital B

B. whereas Article 21 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) ~~reaffirm~~states that the EU’s external actions will be guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principle of equality and solidarity,Union shall define and pursue common policies and actions, in order to consolidate and support democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law; and that the Union shall respect these principles and pursue these objectives in the development and coimpl~~iance with the UN Charter and international law~~ementation of its external action and of the external aspects of its other policies;

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Recital C d (new)

Cd. having regard to the Commission communications entitled ‘Corporate social responsibility: a business contribution to sustainable development’ (2002) and ‘Implementing the partnership for growth and jobs: Making Europe a pole of excellence on corporate social responsibility’ (2006), as well as the ‘Renewed EU strategy 2011-14 for corporate social responsibility’ (2011) and the European Parliament resolution on ‘corporate social responsibility: accountable, transparent and responsible business behaviour and sustainable growth’ (2013); whereas none of these documents is binding in nature and the Commission has refused to define legal responsibilities, has failed to introduce any type of regulation and has left businesses to set their own rules;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas trade and human rights can reinforce each other, and the business community has an important role to play in promoting human rights and democracy; whereas strengthening trade relations enhances mutual understanding and common values such as the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights;deleted

Amendment 12 #

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas t~~rade and human rights can reinforce each other, and the business community has an important role to play in promoting human rights and democracy~~he long-term positive impact on human rights of European businesses operating globally and leading by example through a non-discriminatory corporate culture is acknowledged; whereas strengthening trade relations enhances mutual understanding and common values such as the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas trade and human rights ~~can~~may reinforce each other, and the business community ~~has~~, while obliged to respect human rights, may also have an important role to play in promoting human rights and democracy; whereas strengthening trade relations may enhance~~s mutual underst~~ the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights, provided that trade and in~~g and common values such as the rule of law, good governance and respect for~~vestment policies are carefully designed and implemented to protect, respect and enforce human rights; whereas this positive dynamic also depends on the EU ensuring guarantees to prevent and provide remedies to the possible negative impacts of its policies and action on human rights;

Amendment 14 #

Andrej PLENKOVIĆ

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas trade and human rights can reinforce each other, and the business community has an important role to play in promoting human rights ~~and democrac~~, democracy, environmental standards and corporate responsibility; whereas strengthening trade relations enhances mutual understanding and common values such as the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Recital D

D. whereas trade and human rights can also reinforce each other, and the business community has an important role to play in giving positive incentives in promoting human rights and democracy; whereas strengthening trade relations enhances mutual understanding and common values such as the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights;

Amendment 16 #

Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the European Union has played a leading role in negotiating and implementing a number of global initiatives for global responsibility, in particular the UN's Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, the revised OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council, the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact, and the ISO 26000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas there is a clearly asymmetrical relationship between international rules on trade and investment, which have full legal force as part of international trade law, and international labour standards, which are subject to cultural and political differences between countries, come below national standards in the legal hierarchy, do not have transnational judicial institutions and make no provision for coercive measures or economic sanctions;

Amendment 18 #

Draft opinion
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the draft French law on 'due diligence' advancing the UN Guiding Principles, the statement of President Juncker at the 2015 G7 Summit in favour of "urgent action" to improve responsibility in global supply chains and the commitment of the current Dutch EU Presidency to seek Council Conclusions on global supply chains, all demonstrate the global responsibility for European business to promote and respect international standards;

Amendment 19 #

Draft opinion
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas in many cases trade and investment treaties signed between transnational companies and peripheral states contravene national legislation, are signed under conditions that are known for the pressure exerted and the lack of public information and transparency, and cause serious harm to the development of national industries and people’s right to effective access to essential public goods and services; whereas, as the independent expert Alfred-Maurice de Zayas pointed out in his influential report on the promotion and protection of human rights, drawn up for the United Nations General Assembly, the investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms that generally accompany these agreements have until now been completely opaque and ineffective in terms of guaranteeing the criminal liability of businesses in cases involving serious damage to the environment, public health and food security, and attacks against the physical integrity and lives of people who have opposed or demonstrated against major projects carried out by these undertakings;

Amendment 2 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas the link between trade, human rights and social and environmental standards has become an integral part of the EU’s economic and commercial relations; whereas the EU’s human rights and democracy policy in third countries should continue to be mainstreamed through other EU policies with an external dimension, including the trade policy;deleted

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas the "Realising Long-term Value for Companies and Investors project" being undertaken by the UN Principles of Responsible Investment and the UN Global Compact demonstrate that economic recovery in Europe and the world is compatible with and mutually reinforcing to principles of social justice, environmental sustainability and respect for human rights;

Amendment 21 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that the EU is committed ~~itself~~ to promoting and respecting human rights and democracy in its relations with third countries~~; stresses, therefore, that the advancement of human rights and democratic principles should be supported through~~ in all EU policies, including trade policy, and all relevant EU external financing instruments;

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Recalls that the EU committed itself to promoting human rights and democracy in its relations with third countries; stresses, therefore, that the advancement of human rights and democratic principles should be respected and supported through all EU policies, including trade policy, and all relevant EU external financing instruments;

Amendment 23 #

Ignazio CORRAO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Points out that coherence in human rights policies has to be viewed as a priority in order that the EU, by increasingly shouldering more and more responsibility, may act as a driving force for the international community as a whole, thus making for effective protection of human rights at the practical level;

Amendment 24 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recommends, therefore, that the EU’s trade strategy be a tool for the promotion of ~~European~~democratic values and interests in third countries; welcomes, therefore, the enhancement of trade agreements and trade preference programmes as levers to promote human rights;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Recommend~~Welcomes, therefore, that the EU’s trade strategy be a tool for the promotion of European values and interests in third countries; welcomes, therefore, the enhancement of trade agreements and trade preference programmes as levers to promote human rightse enhancement of trade agreements and trade preference programmes as levers to promote human rights, but regrets that trade and investment agreements still fail to expressly oblige businesses and investors to respect international human rights law and to provide for complaint mechanisms for the populations and individuals whose human rights are affected by EU trade and investment;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Recommends, therefore, that the EU’s trade strategy be a tool for the promotion of European values and interests in third countries; welcomes, therefore, the enhancement of trade agreements and trade preference programmes as levers to promote human rights; welcomes the reference to corporate social responsibility now included in all the EU's trade and other bilateral agreements, but calls for a follow-up mechanism to also be included, to seek to operationalise this commitment;

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 29 #

David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. ~~Recommends, therefore, that the EU’s trade strategy be a tool for the promotion of European values and interests in third countries; welcomes, therefore, the enhancement~~Welcomes the Commission's aim to enhance trade agreements and trade preferences effectiveness and emphasis on core values in its new 'Trade for All' strategy; reiterates the importance of trade agreements and ~~trade~~ preference ~~programme~~s as levers to promote human rights, sustainable development, high safety and environmental standards, and economic opportunity for all;

Amendment 3 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas the link between trade, human rights on the one hand and social and environmental standards on the other has become an integral part of the EU’s economic and commercial relations; whereas the EU’s human rights and democracy policy in third countries should continue to be mainstreamed through other EU policies with an external dimension, including the trade policy;

Amendment 30 #

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Regrets that EU trade and investment agreements do not reaffirm nor fully protect both the right and the obligation of States to regulate in order to enhance and fulfil human rights; calls on the EU to propose new human rights clauses and mechanisms in order to deal with those shortcomings, provide complaint mechanisms for affected populations and their representatives and ensure that human rights are protected including in any (state-to-state or investor-state) dispute settlement mechanism set up in EU agreements;

Amendment 31 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)

2a. Urges the EU to adopt the necessary measures to incorporate labour and social rights into the European and international regulatory framework so that these rights, and in particular the right of collective bargaining, are made binding, as proposed by the Commission in its 2004 communication ‘Partnership for change in an enlarged Europe - Enhancing the contribution of European social dialogue’;

Amendment 32 #

David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the Commission’s efforts to fulfil its commitment to including human rights for impact assessment studies of legislative and non-legislative proposals, implementing measures and trade agreements; ~~furtherm~~but regrets the Commission's failure to carry out a human rights impact assessment for the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, and therefore, calls on the Commission to ~~systematically carry out such~~address this and henceforth ensure that human rights impact assessments andre carried out to improve ~~their~~ quality and comprehensiveness;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the Commission’s efforts to fulfil its commitment to ~~including~~account for human rights ~~for~~and for economic, social and environmental consequences in its impact assessment studies of legislative and non- legislative proposals and trade negotiations, implementing measures and trade agreements; furthermore, calls on the Commission to systematically carry out such human rights impact assessments and ex-post impact assessments to improve their quality and comprehensiveness;

Amendment 34 #

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the Commission’s efforts to fulfil its commitment to including human rights for impact assessment studies of legislative and non-legislative proposals, implementing measures and trade agreements; regrets however that these impact assessments still present shortcomings, notably regarding their capacity to influence the outcome of trade and investment policies; reiterates that impact assessments should lead to enhancing the human rights protections and mechanisms set up in trade and investment agreements and policies; calls, furthermore, ~~calls~~ on the Commission to systematically carry out such human rights impact assessments and to improve their quality and comprehensiveness;

Amendment 35 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Notes the Commission’s efforts to fulfil its commitment to including human rights for impact assessment studies of legislative and non-legislative proposals, implementing measures and trade agreements; furthermore, calls on the Commission to systematically carry out such human rights impact assessments and to improve their quality and comprehensiveness; to this end, welcomes any effort made towards effective coordination with the ILO and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the endorsement and enforcement of all international principles and conventions signed in the field of human rights, specifically as regards labour rights;

Amendment 36 #

Marietje SCHAAKE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its support for the systematic introduction of human rights conditionality clauses in all international agreements between the EU and third countries; stresses that political will is needed to actually enforce commitments made by third countries;

Amendment 37 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its support for the systematic introduction of human rights clauses in all international agreements including trade agreements between the EU and third countries;

Amendment 38 #

Anne-Marie MINEUR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates ~~its support~~the need for the systematic introduction of human rights clauses in all international agreements between the EU and third countries;

Amendment 39 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its support for the systematic introduction of human rights clauses in all international agreements between the EU and third countries; and deplores the fact that despite the unanimous endorsement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by the Human Right Council in 2011, the number of human rights abuses linked to business activity continues to grow; calls on the Commission to report regularly on the state of implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by EU Member States;

Amendment 4 #

Draft opinion
Recital C

C. whereas the Commission's proposal for a new trade and investment strategy, "Trade for All", recognises the link between trade, human rights and social and environmental standards ~~has become~~and insists on the need to make those rights and standards an integral part of the EU’s economic and commercial relations; whereas ~~the EU’s~~ human rights and democracy policy ~~in third countries should continue to be mainstreamed through other~~should however continue to be better integrated into EU policies with an external dimension, ~~including~~notably the trade policy;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its support for the systematic introduction of human rights clauses in ~~all~~ international agreements between the EU and third countries;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Reiterates its support for the systematic introduction of human rights clauses in all international agreements between the EU and third countries; and for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international corporate responsibility standards to be consistently raised by EU representatives in Human Rights Dialogues with third countries;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the EU to support civil society in third countries in contributing to impact assessments and in assessing the human rights impact of the trade and investment agreements that the EU is negotiating in the countries concerned;

Amendment 43 #

Anne-Marie MINEUR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls, furthermore, on the Commission to systematically monitor the implementation of the human rights clauses and to report regularly to Parliament on partner countries’ respect for human rights; calls on the Commission, in close dialogue with the European Parliament and Council, to suspend agreements if third countries systematically violate human rights;

Amendment 44 #

David MARTIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls, furthermore, on the Commission to systematically monitor the implementation of the human rights clauses and to report regularly to Parliament on partner countries’ respect for human rights; insists the Commission acknowledges the importance and value of Domestic Advisory Groups and joint consultative committees;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls, furthermore, on the Commission to systematically ~~monitor the implementation of the human rights clauses and~~review and assess the impact of its trade and investment policies on human rights and to set up the needed safeguards to prevent and remedy the negative impacts, also by amending these agreements when needed; calls on the Commission to report regularly to Parliament on partner countries’ respect for human rights and core ILO standards;

Amendment 46 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls on the Commission to set up adequate monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure companies and investors comply with human rights, centralise complaints made by affected populations and civil society organisations, and report on the provision of remedies for violations of rights;

Amendment 47 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the Commission’s efforts to support the implementation of the UN’s Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights and the UN Global Compact and at the same time to encourage all trading partners to comply with these international principles;deleted

Amendment 48 #

Andrej PLENKOVIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the Commission’s efforts to support the implementation of the UN’s Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights ~~and the UN Global Compact~~, the revised OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council, the UN Global Compact and the ISO 26000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility, and at the same time to encourage, assist and monitor how all trading partners to comply with these international principles;

Amendment 5 #

Marietje SCHAAKE

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas trade policy and ambitious trade agreements are key to promoting and strengthening the global-rules based trading system, which is essential for the EU with its trade-dependent economy; whereas the EU should use trade policy to aim towards setting high global standards in the area of human and social rights, consumer protection, the environment and animal and plant health;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Welcomes the Commission’s efforts to support the implementation of the UN’s Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights and the UN Global Compact and at the same time ~~to encourage~~calls on all trading partners to comply with these international principles; considers that more efforts should be made to recognise binding and enforceable due diligence requirements and considers that the access to remedies remains the weak link of the national action plans and EU strategy under the UNGP; calls on the Commission to propose legislative initiatives on mandatory due diligence for companies and to address and reinforce all aspects of access to remedies (including access to justice, legal aid, access to information, burden of proof) as a matter of priority;

Amendment 51 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Deplores the obstructive behaviour by EU member states in relation to the establishment of the Open-ended Inter- Governmental Working Group (IGWG) on the elaboration of an international legally-binding instrument on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights; welcomes the work so far of the IGWG and calls on the EU and its Member States to constructively engage in the negotiations;

Amendment 52 #

Andrej PLENKOVIĆ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Recognizes the importance of the spread of sustainable practices and environmental management norms to transnational corporations (TNCs) as well as the promotion of environmental management system (EMS) codes;

Amendment 53 #

Marietje SCHAAKE

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the European Commission to present a legislative proposal for an update of EU dual use export control legislation without further delay, which is needed to make sure that EU companies are not involved in human rights violations in third countries and to align the EU's strategic goals and its values;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Urges the EU to ensure that the EU Court of Justice specialises in labour law and can pass judgment on failure to comply with labour law at European and international level;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) (Regulation (EU) No 978/2012) on 1 January 2014; recalls that partner countries are required to implement the 27 core international conventions on human rights and labour standards listed in the GSP Regulation; stresses that the Commission has to monitor and report on the implementation of these conventions by the GSP+ beneficiaries; calls for continuing the dialogue with GSP+ countries, where the EU can have the most impact on the fight against human rights violations, and to be ready to suspend GSP+ benefits in the most serious cases of human rights violations.deleted

Amendment 56 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) (Regulation (EU) No 978/2012) on 1 January 2014; recalls that partner countries are required to implement the 27 core international conventions on human rights and labour standards listed in the GSP Regulation; stresses that the Commission has to monitor and report on the implementation of these conventions by the GSP+ beneficiaries; calls for continuing the dialogue with GSP+ countries, where the EU can have the most impact on the fight against human rights violations, and to be ready to take restrictive measures and suspend GSP+ benefits in the most serious cases of human rights violations.

Amendment 57 #

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Welcomes the study on dealing with gross corporate violations of human rights through judicial remedy which was conducted by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights, and reiterates its call on the European Union and its Member States to engage constructively in the UN Working Group for a treaty process on business human rights;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Encourages the Commission and Member States to work towards the promotion in Europe of social and solidarity-based economy entities (cooperatives, mutual societies, foundations, associations and others) in third countries, which in themselves represent new formats for intervention that give priority to individual rights and the values of social justice, reciprocity, democracy, ecological sustainability and social and technological innovation over company profits;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Stresses that the European's "Trade for All" strategy commits the European Union to "reinforcing corporate social responsibility initiatives" and underlines that this must mean new action at the EU level including the agreement of a new EU CSR Action Plan up to 2020;

Amendment 6 #

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas trade policies can have a negative impact on human rights of residents, consumers and workers; whereas, the issues of human rights should be considered prior to concluding any bilateral or multilateral EU trade negotiations in a sound and transparent manner;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Urges the Commission to provide an urgent and forceful account of cases of business irresponsibility that have occurred in Europe in relation to tax evasion committed by major European and multinational undertakings and fraud surrounding checks on pollutant gas emissions in the car industry, that will serve as an example and bolster the EU’s credibility when calling for human and environmental rights to be complied with in third countries; to this end, proposes stepping up fiscal control and transparency mechanisms and strengthening judicial cooperation among states;

Amendment 61 #

Miguel URBÁN CRESPO, Javier COUSO PERMUY, Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Strongly welcomes the inclusion of human rights reporting by large business in the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive; calls on the EU Member States to transpose the Directive swiftly and effectively; draws attention to the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework, the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark and the objective of 'integrated reporting', and calls on all EU listed companies and their stakeholders to comply with the spirit of the Directive;

Amendment 62 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Urges the Commission and Member States to play an active part in the proceedings opened by the United Nations Human Rights Council and the United Nations Environment Programme with the aim of ensuring that businesses are effectively held accountable for human rights abuses and environmental crimes; to this end, reiterates the need for international agreements signed between the EU and third countries to incorporate clauses relating to human rights and the protection of the environment and fundamental ecological equilibria in the territories where these businesses operate.

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)

7d. Reiterates its call on the Commission, in particular its DG Trade, to move from a 'passive' to an 'active' approach to the OECD Guidelines, inter alia by applying to adhere to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises, which includes the OECD Guidelines, ensuring the promotion of, and continuous support for, the OECD Guidelines by the EU's Delegations in third countries, funding capacity-building initiatives in conjunction with businesses, trade unions and civil society in third countries in relation to the implementation of the Guidelines, ensuring that the Guidelines are specifically cited in all new agreements between the EU and third countries, including all trade and investment treaties; and to provide civil society groups with concrete support for raising 'specific instances' of alleged breaches, in cooperation with Member States;

Amendment 64 #

Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ, Miguel URBÁN CRESPO

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 e (new)

7e. Invites the European Commission to apply the emerging results of the "Realising Long-term Value for Companies and Investors project" being undertaken by the UN Principles of Responsible Investment and the UN Global Compact, to its own European Fund for Strategic Investments, to its dialogue with investors and to support the concept of a "Sustainable Capital Markets Union".

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas in 2000 the UN launched the United Nations Global Compact, in which it appealed to transnational companies voluntarily to implement 10 principles dealing with a range of aspects linked to human rights, labour rights, non- discrimination, the environment and anti- corruption; whereas in 2011 the United Nations Human Rights Council established the guiding principles on business and human rights, which were adopted by the UN Human Rights Council and oblige states to protect human rights where third parties, particularly businesses, take action that affects their territory and/or jurisdiction, and to make businesses responsible for ensuring that human rights are respected and guarantee that victims have the right to effective remedy; whereas several major companies, many of which operate with European capital and have signed up to the above international instruments, have been the target of claims and complaints relating to human and labour rights violations or on the grounds that they have caused environmental disasters;

Amendment 8 #

Josu JUARISTI ABAUNZ, Miguel URBÁN CRESPO

Draft opinion
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas on 26 June 2014 the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the establishment of an intergovernmental working group with the task of launching a process leading to the introduction of an international legally binding instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises in the framework of international law; whereas the European Union voted against this resolution;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas as long ago as 1974 the UN Centre on Transnational Corporations drew up a Code of Conduct for transnational corporations, and again in 2003, the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights published its Norms on the responsibility of transnational corporations and other business enterprises; whereas, in both cases, corporations prevented the documents from being adopted and instead drew up their own voluntary and unilateral codes of conduct;

source: 575.306

2016/02/22 EMPL 86 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

~~1. Calls for the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries to be systematically included in all bilateral EU trade agreements;~~deleted

Amendment 10 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls for trade negotiations with any country which has not ratified these conventions to be halted immediately;

Amendment 11 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recalls that the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning multinational enterprises and social policy, the ILO Decent Work Agenda and the labour elements of the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprise, are core texts in relation to corporate social responsibility, and underlines that DG Employment of the European Commission must continue to play a leading role in jointly coordinating the EU’s corporate social responsibility policy, as in the past;

Amendment 12 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Highlights the need to include social clauses in public procurement aligning social and labour standards for third- country providers with those found at national level;

Amendment 13 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the Commission to follow up the EU renewed strategy for the period 2011-2014 in the field of the CSR, taking into account to launch a public consultation aimed at the adoption of legislative proposals, notably directives, ruling the corporate social responsibility;

Amendment 14 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Recalls the interplay of social and environmental standards, human rights, labour rights, and development policy in EU external relations, and the important role the EU has to play to promote these rights and standards particularly in external trade policy and agreements;

Amendment 15 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Emphasises that corporate social responsibility - embodied, for example, in the ideal of the honest trader - has a long European tradition and that socially responsible businesses continue to set an example today;

Amendment 16 #

Elena GENTILE, Sergio Gaetano COFFERATI, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL, Evelyn REGNER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Emphasises that, in addition to its impact at global level, CSP has an impact at local and regional level which must be acknowledged and fostered;

Amendment 17 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Believes that a business’s tax policy should be considered part and parcel of CSR and that socially responsible behaviour consequently leaves no room for strategies aimed at evading tax or exploiting tax havens;

Amendment 18 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for a stepping up of efforts to enable full participation of the ILO in the work of the WTO, including granting the ILO observer status in the WTO and the right to speak at WTO ministerial conferences;deleted

Amendment 19 #

Claude ROLIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls for ~~a stepping up of efforts to enable full participation of the ILO~~the ILO to be involved in the work of the WTO, ~~including~~by granting it~~he ILO~~ observer status ~~in the WTO~~ and the right to speak at WTO ministerial conferences;

Amendment 2 #

Danuta JAZŁOWIECKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for ~~the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries to be systematically included~~a complete inclusion of EU labour standards and law in all bilateral EU trade agreements;

Amendment 20 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

2. Calls ~~for a~~on the Commission to step~~ping~~ up ofthe efforts in order to enable a full participation of the ILO in the work of the WTO, including granting the ILO observer status in the WTO and the right to speak at WTO ministerial conferences; calls for promoting a fair relevance of the CSR in the trade policy at multilateral level, within the international fora fostering the CSR, notably OECD and ILO, as well as within the WTO;

Amendment 21 #

Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 22 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 2

Amendment 23 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. C~~alls for~~onsiders that closer cooperation at multilateral level wi~~th a view~~ll promote to achieving genuine coordination between the international organisations ~~WTO and ILO~~;

Amendment 24 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL, Evelyn REGNER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. ~~Calls for~~Urges the Commission on a closer cooperation at multilateral level with a view to achieving genuine coordination between the international organisations WTO and ILO, enabling ILO to carry out, in the trade disputes, independent experts’ reports, in order to integrate in the WTO’s activities the labour and decent labour provisions, preventing from jeopardizing the social development;

Amendment 25 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. C~~alls for~~onsiders closer cooperation at multilateral level with a view to achieving genuine coordination between the international organisations WTO and ILO;

Amendment 26 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 3

3. Calls for closer cooperation at multilateral level with a view to achieving genuine coordination ~~between~~with the international organisations WTO and ILO;

Amendment 27 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

~~4. Calls for a strengthening of the chapter on sustainable development in bilateral agreements through the provision of a complaints procedure open to the social partners;~~deleted

Amendment 28 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for a strengthening of the chapter on sustainable development in bilateral agreements through the provision of a ~~complaints procedure~~monitoring and reporting mechanism open to the social partners;

Amendment 29 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for a strengthening of the chapter on sustainable development in bilateral agreements through the provision of a ~~complaints procedure~~dialogue procedure which is also open to the social partners;

Amendment 3 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL, Evelyn REGNER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries, and also provide incentives for enterprises to enter into CSR commitments and an obligation of diligence for enterprises and groups of enterprises, i.e. an obligation to take proactive measures to identify and prevent any violation of human or environmental rights, corruption or tax evasion, including in their subsidiaries and supply chains, to be systematically included in all bilateral EU trade agreements; point out the importance towards the observance of the mandatory labour minimum standards therein included in order to enable their inclusion into third states’ national law, and, therefore, call on the Commission to forecast monitoring mechanisms;

Amendment 30 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for a strengthening of the chapter on sustainable development in bilateral agreements through the provision of a complaints procedure ~~open to the social partners~~;

Amendment 31 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for a strengthening of the chapter on sustainable development in bilateral agreements through the provision of a complaints procedure ~~open to the social partners~~;

Amendment 32 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for a strengthening of the chapter on the sustainable development in bilateral agreements through the provision of a complaints procedure open to the social partners; and calls that such a procedure goes together with well-proportioned sanctions in case of recorded violations in the field of sustainable development or infractions of a part of provisions and labour standards;

Amendment 33 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4

4. Calls for a strengthening of the chapter on sustainable development in bilateral and multilateral agreements through the provision of a complaints procedure open to the social partners, and the establishment of accountability mechanisms in the event of non- compliance;

Amendment 34 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Calls on the Council and the Commission to include a mandatory and enforceable CSR clause in all bilateral trade and investment agreements signed by the EU, which would bind European investors to the principles of CSR as defined at international level, including the 2010 update of the OECD Guidelines, standards defined by the UN, ILO and EU; requests that in the next EU trade agreements with third countries, work safety and health should take a more prominent place as part of the agenda on decent work; calls for the EU technical support for the implementation of these provisions in order not to constitute a trade barrier;

Amendment 35 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Considers better implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights essential to uphold core labour, social and environmental standards in workplaces;

Amendment 36 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Calls on the Commission, notably its DG Justice, to put forward proposals for better facilitating the access to justice in the EU Courts for the most extreme, egregious cases of human or labour rights violations by European-based businesses or their subsidiaries, subcontractors or business partners, as recommended by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Business and Human Rights;

Amendment 37 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL, Evelyn REGNER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)

4c. Points out the need to include in the CSR new areas such as the organisation of work, equal opportunities and social inclusion, anti-discrimination measures, the development of lifelong education and training; emphasises that CSR should cover, for example, quality of work, equal pay and career prospects and the promotion of innovative projects so as to assist the shift towards a sustainable economy;

Amendment 38 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Evelyn REGNER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 d (new)

4d. Agrees with the view expressed in a recent Commission communication that compliance with applicable law and collective labour agreements is a sine qua non of corporate social responsibility; also believes that socially responsible behaviour must of necessity translate into proper relations with trade unions, in particular respect for trade union rights, a continuous flow of information to workers and their representative organisations, and their involvement in company decision-taking;

Amendment 39 #

Maria ARENA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. ~~Calls~~Believes that the social, environmental and human rights policies need to be conveyed through the EU’s various activities, including through bilateral agreements; notes, also, that no EU policy should hinder policies implemented by states parties to bilateral agreements on sustainable development and respect for individual rights and freedoms laid down in the European Charter of Human Rights; calls, therefore, for sustainable impact assessments and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, before, during and after the negotiations; ~~takes the view, also, that nego~~insists, also, on the automatic activat~~ors should take into account to a greater extent the priori~~ion of any suspension clause in bilateral agreements in the case where serious infringements of bilaterally agreed social, environmental and human rights objectives and ~~concerns that emerge from these impact stud~~/or standards are uncovered, and also on the establishment of an additional penalty procedure against the offending states parties;

Amendment 4 #

Claude ROLIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for particular attention to be given to the inclusion of the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries ~~to be systematically included in~~in the negotiation of all bilateral EU trade agreements;

Amendment 40 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for sustainable impact assessments ~~and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level~~to be carried out, before, during and after the negotiations; takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies;

Amendment 41 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for social and sustainable impact assessments and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, before, during and after the negotiations; ~~takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies~~condemns the lack of initiative of the Commission in this regard; calls for the creation of review mechanisms triggering the suspension of those provisions in trade agreements found to have a negative social impact;

Amendment 42 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for ~~sustainable impact assessments and~~ human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, before, during and after the negotiations; takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies;

Amendment 43 #

Elena GENTILE, Flavio ZANONATO, Brando BENIFEI, Emilian PAVEL

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for sustainable impact assessments and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, before~~, during and after the negotiations~~ the negotiations, as well as for an ex-post systematic monitoring and evaluation to be applied; takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies;

Amendment 44 #

Danuta JAZŁOWIECKA

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for sustainable impact assessments and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, ~~before, during and after~~with regards to the negotiations; takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies;

Amendment 45 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls on the Commission for sustainable impact assessments and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, before, during and after the negotiations; takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies; calls, therefore, for promptly informing the EP about the outcomes of such assessments and to follow up with actions involving the EP;

Amendment 46 #

Csaba MOLNÁR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for ~~sustainable impact assess~~economic, sustainability, social, environmentsal and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, before, during and after the negotiations; takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies;

Amendment 47 #

Jérôme LAVRILLEUX

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for sustainable impact assessments and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, before, during and after the negotiations; takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies for their action to be more realistic and effective;

Amendment 48 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5

5. Calls for sustainable impact assessments and human rights impact assessments to be carried out, at bilateral level, before, during and after the negotiations; takes the view, also, that negotiators should take into account to a greater extent the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies; proposes to this end that a binding clause be included in those assessments;

Amendment 49 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Stresses the important role global supply chains play in monitoring and enforcing social, environmental and labour standards, and in this respect, calls on the Commission to work with the ILO and propose actions along the supply chain to enable compliance, (including obligatory reporting requirements), in line with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and recognises that this will require significant support for such companies;

Amendment 5 #

Anne SANDER, Tokia SAÏFI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the respect of the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries ~~to be systematically included in all~~in the framework of the bilateral EU trade agreements;

Amendment 50 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Calls for the results of these impact studies to be decisive in choosing whether or not to continue negotiations; insists that the negotiations be halted if the results are negative for Member States and their citizens;

Amendment 51 #

Anne SANDER, Tokia SAÏFI

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission to include ~~systematically~~ in all free trade agreements negotiated with non-EU countries a series of high social standards ~~that include the full~~in line with the implementation of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda in order to better promote jobs, to obtain recognition and respect for the rights of workers, to extend social protection and to promote social dialogue;

Amendment 52 #

Marian HARKIN, Renate WEBER

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission to ~~includ~~respect and promote systematically in all free trade agreements negotiated with non-EU countries a series of social standards that include ~~the full implementation of~~but are not limited to the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda;

Amendment 53 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission to include systematically in all free trade agreements negotiated with non-EU countries a series of social standards that ~~include the full implementation of~~are in keeping with the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda;

Amendment 54 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6

6. Calls on the Commission to include systematically in all free trade agreements negotiated with non-EU countries a series of social standards that include the full implementation of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, that sets out key objectives to ensure dignified, stable and peaceful work environments and the importance of social partner engagement in promoting this agenda; also calls on EU businesses to fully implement these core objectives both within the Union, and in dealings with non-EU actors;

Amendment 55 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Stresses that the European ‘Trade for All’ strategy commits the European Union to ‘reinforcing corporate social responsibility initiatives’ and underlining that this must mean new action at the EU level including the agreement of a new EU CSR Action Plan up to 2020 and a mechanism in all new trade agreements not simply referencing corporate social responsibility, business and human rights but introducing a follow-up and implementation mechanism in each case;

Amendment 56 #

Marian HARKIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission to proactively and constructively engage with the OECD and the ILO to develop a global approach to improving working conditions in the garment sector;

Amendment 57 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Urges the Commission to reject the use of ‘stand still’ and ‘ratchet’ clauses and ‘negative or hybrid’ listing in trade agreements as well as the inclusion of investor-State trade dispute mechanisms, such as ISDS, since they jeopardise future improvements in social and labour standards;

Amendment 58 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls for trade negotiations with any country which refuses to accept these conditions to be halted immediately;

Amendment 59 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Considers that the lack of respect for international social standards represent a kind of social and environmental dumping harming both businesses and workers; points out that the lacking observance of strict environmental provisions by European businesses in the third countries must be put on the same footing of the observance of workers’ rights, as such a lack jeopardises the health of workers and destroys rural and fishing areas depriving local population of any development chance;

Amendment 6 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries to be ~~systematically includ~~respected and implemented in all bilateral EU trade agreements;

Amendment 60 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Urges the Commission and the Council to strengthen the implementation of all binding agreements in the case of breach of standards including social, human rights, environmental standards by providing accessible complaint procedure open to social partners, appeal mechanism to an independent body accepted by both parties and enforceable sanctions in the form of fines or temporary suspensions of certain trade benefits provided under the agreement;

Amendment 61 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls on the Commission, when negotiating new trade agreements - for example those with Australia and New Zealand - to establish on a bilateral basis new standards for democratic, transparent fair trade agreements which come to be recognised as milestones in a new era of global trade policy;

Amendment 62 #

Jean LAMBERT, Tamás MESZERICS

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Recalls that the European Social Dialogue provides an integral opportunity for the social partners to address corporate social responsibility issues, and encourages the negotiation of new Framework Agreements in particular sectors to advance CSR aims;

Amendment 63 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Stresses that EU institutions consider as a priority a business’s record and proven commitment to sustainable and ethical conduct when awarding public procurement contracts, and urges contracting authorities to use these criteria in accordance with the procurements directives;

Amendment 64 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the fundamental role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in ensuring sustainable economic growth both in the European Union and around the world; ~~urges the Commission to adopt a new strategy on CSR that establishes stronger reporting and compliance requirements, and~~ urges the Member States to endorse the promotion of CSR.;

Amendment 65 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses th~~e fundamental role of~~at corporate social responsibility (CSR) can fulfil its role in ensuring sustainable e~~conomic growth both in the European Union and around the world~~nvironmental, human right, labour standards and fighting corruption both in the European Union and around the world only if it includes adequate transparency standards and reliable accountability mechanisms; urges the Commission to adopt a new strategy on CSR that establishes stronger reporting and compliance requirements ensuring better implementation of the UN Guiding Principle on Business and Human Rights, and urges the Member States to endorse the promotion of CSR.

Amendment 66 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the fundamental role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in ensuring sustainable economic growth both in the European Union and around the world; suggests that undertakings be held more accountable in this regard; urges the Commission to adopt a new strategy on CSR that establishes stronger reporting and compliance requirements, and urges the Member States to endorse the promotion of CSR.

Amendment 67 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the fundamental role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in ensuring sustainable economic growth both in the European Union and around the world; urges the Commission to adopt a new non-legislative strategy on CSR that establishes stronger reporting and compliance requirements, and urges the Member States to endorse the promotion of CSR.

Amendment 68 #

Csaba MOLNÁR

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the fundamental role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in ensuring sustainable economic growth both in the European Union and around the world; urges the Commission to adopt a new strategy on CSR that establishes stronger reporting and compliance requirements, and urges the Member States to endorse the promotion of CSR. and make provision for the 'corporate social responsibility clause' to be included in every trade agreement;

Amendment 69 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the fundamental role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in ensuring sustainable economic growth both in the European Union and around the world; urges the Commission to adopt a new strategy on CSR that establishes stronger reporting and compliance requirements, and urges the Member States to endorse the promotion of CSR on a voluntary basis.

Amendment 7 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries to be ~~systematically includ~~promoted in all bilateral EU trade agreements;

Amendment 70 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7

7. Stresses the fundamental role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in ensuring sustainable economic growth both in the European Union and around the world; urges the Commission to adopt a new strategy on CSR that establishes stronger reporting and compliance requirements, and urges the Member States to endorse the promotion of CSR; underlines at the same time that CSR have to keep its voluntary status.

Amendment 71 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Continues urging the Commission to ban all sort of EU import of goods and services using modern forms of slavery, forced labour, especially of vulnerable groups, or in violation of basic human rights;

Amendment 72 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission to provide constructive support for entrepreneurs who make a commitment to CSR, to foster sustainable CSR partnerships worldwide, for example by means of active mediation, and to take executive measures to coordinate this work;

Amendment 73 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Emphasises that in its resolution of 6 February 2013 on Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR (2012/2097/INI) the European Parliament made it absolutely clear that in a free society CSR can never make charitable action compulsory; is firmly convinced that if CSR were to be made compulsory, people would be less willing to support charitable causes;

Amendment 74 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission to submit periodically to the EP and to the Council in the context of trade policy and agreements with third countries an impact assessment of CSR in these agreements, also in order to minimise the impact and to prevent violent conflicts and the violations of human rights;

Amendment 75 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Is concerned at the dilution of legal and economic responsibility across subcontracting chains; calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that MNCs are held accountable for social abuses committed by third parties operating within their supply chain; stresses that ensuring the full compliance of providers with national laws and a relevant core of labour and social standards, such as those addressed in the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda, should be a minimum requirement of Corporate Social Responsibility;

Amendment 76 #

Marian HARKIN

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Calls on the Commission to create incentives and promote the uptake of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which must complement and under no circumstances replace labour and environmental laws;

Amendment 77 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Welcomes the role of DG Employment and the European Commission in convening the High Level Group in Corporate Social Responsibility amongst EU Member States and calls for increased dialogue and cooperation between EU institutions and Member States to promote the European Union’s corporate social responsibility strategy;

Amendment 78 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Strongly welcomes the labour elements in the social impact reporting by big business incorporated in the EU Non- Financial Reporting Directive; Calls on the EU Member States to transpose the Directive swiftly and effectively; Calls on all EU listed companies and their stakeholders to comply with the spirit of the Directive, in order to pursue a more socially just and sustainable economy;

Amendment 79 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Strongly urges the Commission to suspend all EU trade agreements with Morocco and Israel applying to Western Sahara and Palestine, respectively, following the ECJ ruling of 10 December 20151a ; stresses that a just and fair trade agenda is incompatible with the commercial exploitation of labour from territories under occupation; __________________ 1a http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/doc ument.jsf?docid=172870&%3Bdoclang=F R

Amendment 8 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries to be systematically included through a binding social clause in all bilateral EU trade agreements; stresses the need to ensure not only ratification, but full incorporation into national law and its effective implementation, which requires adequate staffing of labour inspectorates in line with ILO recommendations and the participation of social partners in the monitoring of labour law and agreed social standards;

Amendment 80 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls on the Council to approve as soon as possible the directive on the Union system for supply chain due diligence self-certification of responsible importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating in conflict-affected and high-risk areas;

Amendment 81 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Is firmly convinced that entrepreneurial freedom and the principle of the voluntary nature of CSR and the basic tenet that in a free society support for charitable causes can never be made compulsory must form the basis for all consideration of and for the framing of any legal rules governing CSR;

Amendment 82 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Regards the voluntary approach to CSR as an excellent opportunity to tailor European 'smart legislation' to business realities and as preferable to unnecessary regulation in this area; calls, therefore, for a smart legislation act as an extension of the REFIT strategy;

Amendment 83 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 b (new)

7b. Calls on the Commission to execute a mid-term review on bilateral or multilateral EU trade agreements where social or human rights provisions are suspected or considered to be breached and prepare proportional fines or suspension of trade benefits as long as requirements are met;

Amendment 84 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Notes the increasing attention to promoting good employment practices through global supply chains following the Rana Plaza factory collapse, the introduction of the draft French law on ‘due diligence’ and the statement of President Juncker at the G7 Summit in favour of ‘urgent action’ to improve responsibility in global supply chains;

Amendment 85 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 c (new)

7c. Urges that microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must not in any way be required to disclose non-financial information about their voluntary social engagement; emphasises that such disclosure can generate disproportionately high bureaucratic costs and would jeopardise, rather than fostering, social engagement on the part of firms;

Amendment 86 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 d (new)

7d. Recalls that there is a continuing failure for the European Union to address the justice gap in relation to the provisions of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights on ‘access to remedy’ in extreme cases where there is a mass loss of life by workers such as the Bhopal tragedy; Calls for provisions to be brought forward to enable jurisdiction by European Courts in such cases where there is insufficient remedy available in the third countries concerned;

Amendment 9 #

Draft opinion
Paragraph 1

1. Calls for the ILO’s eight core labour standards and the four ILO Priority Conventions for the industrialised countries to be systematically included in all bilateral and multilateral EU trade agreements, and for the binding application of these standards;

source: 577.071

2016/03/15 INTA 219 amendments...

Amendment 1 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 2

– having regard to Articles 11, 153, 191, 207 and 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Amendment 10 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)

-Aa. whereas Governments that encourage open markets have the best chance of generating inclusive and sustainable economic growth;

Amendment 100 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b

~~(b) introduction of mechanisms for mandatory periodic HR impact assessments, including through the establishment of an interinstitutional committee,~~deleted

Amendment 101 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b

(b) introduction of mechanisms for ~~mandatory~~ periodic HR impact assessments, including through the establishment of an interinstitutional committee,

Amendment 102 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b

(b) introduction of mechanisms for mandatory periodic HR impact assessments~~, including~~ done in accordance with the guiding principles developed by the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, as well as through the establishment of an inter-institutional committee,

Amendment 103 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point b

(b) ~~introduction of mechanisms for mandatory periodic HR impact assessments, including through the establishment of an interinstitutional committee~~periodic, in-depth monitoring of the implementation of trade agreements, particularly with regard to human rights and social and environmental standards, such as by publishing regular reports;

Amendment 104 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point c

~~(c) a civil society monitoring mechanism that is dedicated to dealing with the HR impact of the agreement,~~deleted

Amendment 105 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point c

(c) ~~a civil society monitoring mechanism that is dedicated to dealing with~~consulting and involving civil society in the process of monitoring the implementation of trade and investment agreements, particularly with regard to compliance with social and environmental standards and respect for human rights; recalls in this connection the HR imp~~act of the agreement,~~ ortance of involving the public in efforts and negotiations to ensure transparency;

Amendment 106 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point c

Amendment 107 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point d

~~(d) the possibility of introducing direct domestic complaint mechanisms enabling individuals and communities whose HR are affected by trade and investments to address the EU;~~deleted

Amendment 108 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point d

(d) ~~the possibility of introducing direct domestic complaint mechanisms enabling individuals and communities whose HR a~~reiterates its request for sustainable development forums or advisory groups to be set up at the various stages of drafting, negotiating and implementing an agreement so as to ensure, a~~ffected by trade and investments to address the EU~~mong other things, consultation with the social partners and civil society representatives;

Amendment 109 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point d

(d) the possibility of introducing direct domestic complaint mechanisms enabling individuals and communities whose HR are affected by trade and investments to address the EU without excessive bureaucratic burdens;

Amendment 11 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)

-Aa. whereas the European Parliament’s 2010 recommendations which were not implemented notably included: - the consolidation of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) concept in the EU’s Common Commercial Policy (CCP), including elements that are binding on companies such as a requirement to publish CSR balance sheets and a requirement for undertakings to show due diligence; - the inclusion of CSR in all EU trade agreements and provisions for greater enforcement, notably the possibility to carry out investigations on alleged cases of breaches of CSR commitments and the establishments of EU contact points modelled on the OECD contact points; - the inclusion of comprehensive, legally binding and enforceable Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD)chapters in all EU trade agreements; - the reorientation of TSD chapters towards greater implementation, in particular through enhanced monitoring by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Social Partners, including complaint procedures directly accessible to Social Partners, appeal mechanisms to independent bodies to settle disputes and the recourse to trade agreements’ general dispute settlements on an equal footing with the others parts of the agreements, with provisions for fines or at least temporary suspension of trade benefits; - the launch of investigations under GSP+ if consistent evidence indicates that some countries are not implementing their commitments; - the inclusion in the GSP regulation of CSR conditionality; - active support by the European Commission to set up a Trade and Decent Work Committee at the WTO;

Amendment 110 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Takes the view that trade policy must be a way to encourage the EU’s partner countries to adopt stringent social and environmental standards; considers, therefore, that it might be useful to strengthen the ‘GSP +’, such as by introducing corrective measures in the event of breaches by a given third country;

Amendment 111 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Recalls that there is a continuing failure for the EU to address the justice gap in relation to the provisions of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights on ‘access to remedy’ in extreme cases where there is a mass loss of life by workers such as the Bhopal tragedy; calls for provisions to be brought forward to enable jurisdiction by European Courts in such cases where there is insufficient remedy available in third countries concerned;

Amendment 112 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)

5a. Regrets the lack of involvement of the European Parliament in assessing the compliance of Free Trade Agreements with Human Rights obligations and calls the council to consult with the European Parliament concerning any decisions to revise or even suspend the application of an agreement if this is necessary;

Amendment 113 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – introductory part

6. FAcknowledges the inclusion of Trade and Sustainable Development chapters (TSD) in all the trade agreements of the EU; Underlines the needs to strengthen their enforceability and to better mainstream their provisions throughout the agreement in line with the 2010 recommendations; in this regards, firmly demands that all future EU trade agreements have sustainable chapters (TSD) with:

Amendment 114 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – introductory part

6. ~~Firmly demands that all future EU trade agreements have sustainable chapters (TSD) with~~Recalls its 2010 request that each EU trade agreement, whether bilateral or multilateral, should include comprehensive, legally binding and enforceable TSD chapters, with the following features:

Amendment 115 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – introductory part

6. Firmly demands that all future EU trade agreements have sustainable chapters (TSD) ~~with:~~;

Amendment 116 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – introductory part

6. ~~Firmly demands that~~Asks for all future EU trade agreements to have ambitious sustainable chapters (TSD) with:

Amendment 117 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a

~~(a) a preliminary commitment by each of the parties to ratify and transpose into national law and to implement the eight core and four priority ILO Conventions,~~deleted

Amendment 118 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a

(a) ~~a preliminary commitment by each of the parties to ratify and transpose into national law~~provisions ensuring that the chapters on sustainable development seek to apply and to implement the eight core ~~and four priority ILO Conventions,~~ILO Conventions and their contents; these chapters must continue to seek to strengthen social and environmental standards and respect for human rights;

Amendment 119 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a

(a) a preliminary commitment by each of the parties to ~~ratify and~~ transpose into national law and to implement the eight core and four priority ILO Conventions,

Amendment 12 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A b (new)

-Ab. whereas the EU underlines its firm commitment to promote sustainable development as reaffirmed in its ‘Trade for All’ strategy , human rights and good governance through incentive based means - GSP+ and the preferential market access provisions in countries committed to implementing core international conventions in those areas;

Amendment 120 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a

(a) a preliminary commitment by each of the parties to ratify and transpose into national law and to implement the eight core and four priority ILO Conventions as well as the 12 international environmental agreements listed in Annex VIII of Regulation 978/2012,

Amendment 121 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point a a (new)

(aa) a complaint procedure directly accessible to Social Partners;

Amendment 122 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b

~~(b) a general dispute settlement mechanism directly accessible to the social partners and civil society,~~deleted

Amendment 123 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b

~~(b) a general dispute settlement mechanism directly accessible to the social partners and civil society,~~deleted

Amendment 124 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b

~~(b) a general dispute settlement mechanism directly accessible to the social partners and civil society,~~deleted

Amendment 125 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b

(b) a ~~general~~complaint procedure and a dispute settlement mechanism directly accessible to the social partners and civil society,;

Amendment 126 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b

(b) ~~a general dispute settlement mechanism directly accessible to the social partners and civil society,~~recourse to trade agreements’ general dispute settlements on an equal footing with the others parts of the agreements;

Amendment 127 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point b

(b) a general dispute settlement mechanism ~~directly accessible to the social partners and civil society,~~able to ensure compliance with human rights and social and environmental standards;

Amendment 128 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point c

Amendment 129 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Sorin MOISĂ, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point c

(c) more than a merely incentives-based approach: sanctions must cause an effective suspension of trade benefits in the form of countervailing duties. In addition to sanctions, a decision may require an action plan that could include legislative and/or regulatory reformthe introduction of deterrent measures to slow down the implementation of the agreement or reduce the scope of benefits in the event of serious, proven breaches of the provisions of the agreement’s chapter on sustainable development; stresses that the introduction of action plans with our partners could help remedy non- compliance with certain commitments made in trade and investment agreements;

Amendment 13 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A b (new)

-Ab. whereas the European Parliament acts as a co-legislator with respect to measures defining the framework for implementing the Union’s CCP; whereas the consent of the European Parliament is required for the ratification of every trade agreement negotiated by the Union; the implementation of the European Parliament’s recommendations is therefore necessary to ensure the success of any initiative undertaken by the European Commission in the field of the CCP;

Amendment 130 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point c

(c) more than a merely incentives-based approach: sanctions must cause an effective suspension of trade benefits in the form of countervailing duties. ~~In addition to sanctions, a decision may requir~~however, warns against counterproductive effects of these san action ~~plan that could include legislative and/or regulatory reforms~~s to the cause of open societies, human rights and international cooperation;

Amendment 131 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 – point c

(c) ~~more than a merely incentives-based approach: sanctions must cause an effective suspension of trade benefits in the form of countervailing duties. In addition to sanctions, a decision may require an~~effective deterrents, in the form of monetary remedies or the suspension of trade benefits, possibly linked to action plans that could include legislative and/or regulatory reforms;

Amendment 132 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Points out that EU trade policy can help to set high international standards in areas including human rights, as well as social and environmental standards; draws attention, in this connection, to the need for the EU to maintain a close and regular dialogue with the WTO, the ILO and the OECD;

Amendment 133 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Calls the European Commission to improve the effectiveness of the existing domestic advisory groups and dialogue with civil society mechanisms also trough a substantial information and advertising campaign to maximise the participation of the groups concerned; recalls the need that all the domestic advisory groups are fully independent and that their work should be regularly reported and assessed by the parties’ Parliaments;

Amendment 134 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)

6a. Take note of the criticisms often voiced by participants to Domestic Advisory groups set up by the EU under existing trade agreements that their deliberations have no practical impact; calls on the Commission to systematically respond in a concrete manner to concerns raised by EU DAGs and ensure appropriate follow up to initiatives proposed by EU SCOs and Social Partners in this framework;

Amendment 135 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)

6b. Calls for TSD chapters in EU trade agreements to lay out basic logistical provisions to enable effective implementation, in particular resources and timetables, as these aspects have proven to be serious hurdles; recalls the importance of accompanying measures in this respect, such as technical assistance and cooperation programmes;

Amendment 136 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)

6c. Regrets the many discrepancies displayed by TSD chapters in the various EU trade agreements; calls on the European Commission to uphold the highest level of consistency in all trade negotiations, in particular when dealing with developing countries; calls in this respect for a common approach to be defined and implemented for HR and Sustainable Development monitoring with respect to ACP countries, in the framework of the Economic Partnership Agreements;

Amendment 137 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Regrets the lack of~~Welcomes the involvement of the EP in assessing the compliance of FTAs with HR obligations, and calls on the Council to consult Parliament on any decisions to revise or even suspend the application of an agreement if this is necessary;

Amendment 138 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. ~~Regrets the lack of~~Calls on the Commission to involve~~ment of~~ the EP ~~in assess~~more closely ing the ~~compliance of FTAs with HR obligations, and calls on the Council to consult Parliament on any decisions to revise or even suspend the application of an agreement if this is necessary~~process of monitoring the implementation of trade and investment agreements with regard to compliance with human rights and with social and environmental standards;

Amendment 139 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7

7. Regrets the lack of involvement of the EP in assessing the compliance of ~~FTA~~parties to EU trade agreements with HR and TSD obligations~~, and~~; recalls its request to the European Commission to be granted observer status in EU trade negotiations; calls on the Council to consult Parliament on any decisions to revise or even suspend the application of an agreement if this is necessary;

Amendment 14 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas EU trade policies could contribute positively to the harmonisation process in the direction of implementation and development of human rights (HR), social and environmental sustainability; whereas it must be ensured that trade and investment agreements not reduce ~~their~~Member States ability to meet their HR, social and environmental obligations, which must prevail over investors and profits interests; whereas there is public concern about the detrimental impact on the concrete enjoyment of HR, environmental and labour standards of non-tariff barrier reduction; whereas the new generation of trade agreements risks acting as a back- door deregulation instrument;

Amendment 140 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)

7a. Reiterates its call on the Commission, in particular its DG Trade, to move from a ‘passive’ to an ‘active’ approach to the OECD Guidelines, inter alia by applying to adhere to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises, which includes the OECD Guidelines, ensuring the promotion of, and continuous support for, the OECD Guidelines by the EU’s Delegations in third countries, funding capacity-building initiatives in conjunction with businesses, trade unions and civil society in third countries in relation to the implementation of the Guidelines, ensuring that the Guidelines are specifically cited in all new agreements between the EU and third countries, including all trade and investment treaties; and to provide civil society groups with concrete support for raising ‘specific instances’ of alleged breaches, in cooperation with Member States;

Amendment 141 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the Commission’s decision to carry out ex ante and ex post sustainability impact assessments for all trade agreements in accordance with the integrated guidelines, ~~while not~~and asks it to involve Parliament at every stage ing th~~eir limited capacity to influence the conc~~is process; calls on trade and investment agreement negotiators to take greate ~~outcomes of the FTAs and IPA~~r account of the findings of such assessments during negotiations;

Amendment 142 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8

8. Welcomes the Commission’s decision to carry out ex ante and ex post sustainability impact assessments (SIAs) for all trade agreements in accordance with the integrated guidelines~~, while noting their limited capacity to influence the concrete outcomes of the FTAs and IPAs~~; calls on the European Commission to ensure proper involvement of SCOs and Social Partners in the development of SIAs; recalls the need for the timely publication of SIAs in order to enable the public and its elected representatives to properly assess any proposed agreement;

Amendment 143 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

~~9. Regrets the Commission decision to finalise the agreement with Vietnam before the conclusion of the human rights impact assessment (HRIA);~~deleted

Amendment 144 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

~~9. Regrets the Commission decision to finalise the agreement with Vietnam before the conclusion of the human rights impact assessment (HRIA);~~deleted

Amendment 145 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Regret~~Notes the Commission decision to finalise the agreement with Vietnam before the conclusion of the human rights impact assessment (HRIA); calls on the Commission to conduct that assessment at the earliest opportunity;

Amendment 146 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. Regrets the Commission decision to finalise the agreement with Vietnam before the conclusion of the human rights impact assessment (HRIA) and fully endorses the conclusions of the European Ombudsman in this regard;

Amendment 147 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9

9. ~~Regrets~~Takes note of the Commission decision to finalise the agreement with Vietnam before the conclusion of the human rights impact assessment (HRIA);

Amendment 148 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Firmly demands that HRIAs and sustainability~~Calls for rigorous and transparent impact studies and sectoral assessments to be carried out by the Commission prior to the commencement of all trade negotiations, in order to take account of the impact a~~ssess~~greements ~~(SIAs) become binding and begin at an early stage in order to~~ will have on human rights and sustainable development; calls for such impact studies also to take account of the special circumstances of people who are particularly vulnerable as a result, for example, of membership of a minfor~~m negotiating positions even before they are formulated;~~ ity or geographical isolation; draws attention, in this connection, to the commitment given by the Commission to assess the impact of free-trade agreements on the EU’s outermost regions in particular;

Amendment 149 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Firmly demands that HRIAs and~~Stresses that human rights impact studies complement the sustainability ~~impact~~ assessments ~~(SIAs) become binding and begin at an early stag~~carried out and that the fin ~~order to inform negotiating positions even before they are formulated~~ding must be taken into account by negotiators;

Amendment 15 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas EU trade policies could contribute positively to the harmonisation process in the direction of implementation and development of human rights (HR), social and environmental sustainability; whereas it must be ensured that trade and investment agreements not reduce their ability to meet their HR obligations, which must prevail over investors and profits interests; whereas there is public concern about the detrimental impact on the concrete enjoyment of HR and labour standards of non-tariff barrier reduction; ~~whereas the new generation of trade agreements risks acting as a back-door deregulation instrument;~~

Amendment 150 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. ~~Firmly demand~~Proposes that HRIAs and sustainability impact assessments (SIAs) become binding and begin at an early stage in order to inform negotiating positions even before they are formulated;

Amendment 151 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10

10. Firmly demands that HRIAs and sustainability impact assessments (SIAs) ~~become binding and~~ begin at an early stage in order to inform negotiating positions even before they are formulated;

Amendment 152 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)

10a. Recalls that the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning multinational enterprises and social policy, the ILO Decent Work Agenda and the labour elements of the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises, are core texts in relation to corporate social responsibility, and underlines that DG Trade of the European Commission must engage with the EU’s corporate social responsibility policy;

Amendment 153 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises that universal access to common goods such as water and sanitation, education, healthcare and medicines is a key component of Member States’ capacity to guarantee human and social rights;deleted

Amendment 154 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises that ~~universal~~ access to common goods such as water ~~and sanitation, education~~, healthcare and med~~icines is a key component of Member States’~~ucation is an important reflection of a country’s capacity to guarantee human and social rights;

Amendment 155 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11

11. Recognises that universal access to quality public services and common goods such as water and sanitation, education, healthcare and medicines is a key component of Member States’ capacity to guarantee human and social rights; asks the Commission and Member States to refrain from including in trade agreements a ‘negative list’ approach for public services commitments as well as ‘standstill’ and ‘ratchet’ mechanisms that could threaten states’ capacity to reverse achieved liberalisation floors;

Amendment 156 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Welcomes the entry into force of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) (Regulation (EU) No 978/2012) on 1 January 2014; points out that the 14 GSP+ beneficiary countries are required to ratify the 27 core international conventions and to ensure that they are applied in accordance with the criteria laid down in those conventions; welcomes the publication of the first GSP monitoring report for the period 2014- 2015 and stresses that cooperation with Parliament on this issue must continue and that Parliament must be given regular progress reports on GSP+;

Amendment 157 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Reiterates its request that the EU should introduce a horizontal import ban of products from forced labour and slavery;

Amendment 158 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to ensure that its trade and investment policies and agreements comply with international standards and obligations on human rights including the rights of indigenous peoples such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP);

Amendment 159 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)

11a. Invites the European Commission to apply the emerging results of the ‘Realising Long-term Value for Companies and Investors project’ being undertaken by the UN ¨Principles of Responsible Investment and the UN Global Compact, to its own European Fund for Strategic Investments, to its dialogue with investors when negotiating trade agreements and to support the concept of a ‘Sustainable Capital Markets Union’ through supporting sustainable trade;

Amendment 16 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas EU trade policies could contribute positively to the harmonisation process in the direction of implementation and development of human rights (HR), social and environmental sustainability; whereas it must be ensured that trade and investment agreements not reduce their ability to meet their HR obligations, which must prevail over investors and profits interests; whereas there is public concern about the detrimental impact on the concrete enjoyment of HR and labour standards of non-tariff barrier reduction; whereas the new generation of trade agreements risks acting as a back-door deregulation instrument;

Amendment 160 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Is of the view that the current trade and sustainable development chapters should be made enforceable by submitting them to the main dispute settlement body of a trade agreement; believes that the threat of sanctions is a powerful instrument to improve compliance with the commitments of those chapters;

Amendment 161 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Supports the European Commission commitment towards the elimination of the worst form of child labour; welcomes the adoption of the Staff Working Document and encourages the implementation of measures such as labelling child-labour-free products, trade preferences given to countries that meet certain labour standards and import prohibitions concerning products made by using the worst forms of child labour;

Amendment 162 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Strongly welcomes the inclusion of human rights reporting by large business in the EU Non-financial Reporting Directive; calls on the EU Member States to transpose the Directive swiftly and effectively; draws attention to the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework, the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark and the objective of ‘integrated reporting’, and calls on all EU listed companies and their stakeholders to comply with the spirit of the Directive within EU and when trading outside of the EU;

Amendment 163 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)

11b. Draws attention to the commitment made by the Commission on 6 November 2015 to promote relevant objectives at global level with a view to putting an immediate and definitive end to the worst forms of child labour and to cracking down on all forms of forced or compulsory labour; reiterates the call it made on the Commission in 2010 to submit a balanced and realistic proposal for legislation combating forced labour, in particular where the most vulnerable social groups are involved;

Amendment 164 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11c. Asks the Commission to take into consideration recommendations related to UPR (Universal Periodic Review), the UN Human Rights Council’s process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States, before defining trade relations with third parties;

Amendment 165 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)

11c. Stresses the importance of including the objective of combating forced labour and child labour in EU trade agreements, in the chapters on sustainable development, so that the parties sign up to that objective; points to the need for the EU be involved in international discussions with the ILO, the OECD, the United Nations and the WTO, so that progress may be made in combating forced labour and child labour;

Amendment 166 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)

11d. Urges the European Commission (EC) to actively engage with CSOs, human rights defenders and trade unions, in Brussels and in third countries, during all phases of the GSP+ eligibility process, eligibility – i.e. application, monitoring, and review – and the EC should provide clear information on how third parties can submit input. This is of particular importance during the application stage, which may be the point at which the conditionality of GSP+ are taken most seriously by applicant countries;

Amendment 167 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)

11e. Urges the Commission to make more accessible its Scorecards, not only to highlight specific issues in the beneficiary countries, but also allowing CSOs to work on improving these identified issues: asks the Commission to clarify, by means of a delegated act, the standard procedure to define a systematic violation of the GSP+ core convention and treaties:

Amendment 168 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 f (new)

11f. Asks the Council and the Commission to monitor, assess and report to the European Parliament also the effectiveness and implementation of the EBA and GSP arrangements and their capacity to fight against human and labour rights breaches;

Amendment 169 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Acknowledges the Commission’s efforts to negotiate a plurilateral agreement on green goods and calls for those negotiations to produce an ambitious and balanced agreement; calls on the Commission to focus on a diversified strategy that can also address anti-dumping policies in the renewable energy sector~~, intellectual property regimes, tight financing programmes and the lack of national environmental policies that create the demand for such goods~~;

Amendment 17 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas EU trade policies could contribute positively to the harmonisation process in the direction of implementation and development of human rights (HR), social and environmental sustainability; whereas it must be ensured that trade and investment agreements not reduce their ability to meet their HR obligations, which must prevail over investors and profits interests; whereas there is public concern about the detrimental impact on the concrete enjoyment of HR and labour standards of non-tariff barrier reduction; whereas the new generation of trade agreements ~~risks~~must and will not act~~ing~~ as a back-door deregulation instrument;

Amendment 170 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Acknowledges the Commission’s efforts to negotiate a plurilateral agreement on green goods; calls on the Commission to focus on a diversified strategy that can also address anti-dumping policies in the renewable energy sector, intellectual property regimes, tight financing programmes ~~and the lack of national environmental policies that create the demand for such goods~~;

Amendment 171 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Acknowledges the Commission’s efforts to negotiate a plurilateral agreement on green goods; calls on the Commission for such an agreement to be as ambitious as possible and to cover as many sectors as possible; calls on the Commission to focus on a diversified strategy that can also address anti-dumping policies in the renewable energy sector, intellectual property regimes, tight financing programmes and the lack of national environmental policies that create the demand for such goods;

Amendment 172 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. ~~Acknowledge~~Supports the Commission’s efforts to negotiate a plurilateral agreement on green goods; ~~calls on the Commission to focus on a diversified strategy that can also address anti-dumping policies in the renewabl~~believes that trade policy could make a greater contribution towards energy transition and that EU trade instruments should foster the enmerg~~y sector, intellectual property regimes, tight financing programmes and the lack of national environmental policies that create the demand for such goods~~ence and development of renewable energies and the development of green goods and technologies in Europe;

Amendment 173 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12

12. Acknowledges the Commission’s efforts to negotiate a plurilateral agreement on green goods~~; calls on the Commission to focus on a diversifie~~ (the Environmental Goods Agreement - EGA); regrets however the fact that product nomination in the framework of the EGA negotiations has been to date done on a case by case basis, with no clear quantitative or qualitative criteria to identify ‘green goods’; calls on the Commission to remedy this situation and promote a credible and stra~~tegy that can also addres~~nsparent methodology in the EGA negotiations; further calls on the Commission to take due account of factors influencing trade in green goods, such as anti-dumping policies in the renewable energy sector, intellectual property regimes, tight financing programmes and the lack of national environmental policies that create the demand for such goods;

Amendment 174 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)

12a. Regrets that lack of progress in building a better link between UNFCCC and trade and considers that COP 21 has represented a missed opportunity in that respect; deplores the Commission’s opposition to discuss trade matters under the UNFCCC in Paris and calls on the Commission to change its position in the future;

Amendment 175 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 176 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

Amendment 177 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Urges the EU to reconsider its~~Recognises the importance of intellectual property rights (IPRs) policy with a view to a less stringent interpretation of property rights and a clear recognition of governments’ power to apply additional requirements in drawing up domestic legislation and to adopt and use intellectual property flexibilities in order to realise HR, including those covering geographical indications for both agricultural and processed agricultural products, requests that the Commission continue to ensure respect for GIs in trade agreements in addition to ensuring sufficient protection for intellectual property so that innovators are encouraged to invest in research and development in new technologies;

Amendment 178 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Urges the EU to reconsider its intellectual property rights (IPRs) policy with a view to a less stringent interpretation of property rights and a clear recognition of governments’ power to apply additional requirements in drawing up domestic legislation and to adopt and use intellectual property flexibilities in order to realise HR; calls Member States to address barriers created by policies and intellectual property rights (IPRs) and facilitate access to and the deployment of technology;

Amendment 179 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. ~~Urges the EU to reconsider its~~Calls for EU policy on intellectual property rights (IPRs) policy with a view to a less stringent interpretation of property rights and a clear recognition of governments’ power to apply additional requirements in drawing up domestic legislation and to adopt and use intellectual property flexibilities in order to realise HRto ensure that inventions and creations, as well as geographical indications, are properly protected;

Amendment 18 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas EU trade policies ~~could~~ contribute positively to the harmonisation process in the direction of implementation and development of human rights (HR), social and environmental sustainability; whereas ~~it must be ensured that~~ trade and investment agreements not reduce their ability to meet their HR obligations, which must prevail over investors and profits interests; whereas there is public concern about the detrimental impact on the concrete enjoyment of HR and labour standards of non-tariff barrier reduction; whereas the new generation of trade agreements risks acting as a back-door deregulation instrumentcontribute to promoting and protecting the values the EU holds dear, including respect for human rights, as well as Europe’s trade interests; whereas one of the aims of EU trade policies is to eliminate non-tariff barriers, while guaranteeing that European standards cannot be compromised, safeguarding human rights and ensuring compliance with social and environmental rules;

Amendment 180 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13

13. Urges the EU not to reconsider its intellectual property rights (IPRs) policy with a view to a less stringent interpretation of property rights and a clear recognition of governments’ power to apply additional requirements in drawing up domestic legislation and to adopt and use intellectual property flexibilities in order to realise HR;

Amendment 181 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)

13a. Regrets the lack of real progresses in in the development of schemes to differentiate products according to their production process and method (PPM) and sustainability criteria to ensure their environmental and social effectiveness as well as the compliance with the WTO rules and asks the Commission and Member States to progress in this regard;

Amendment 182 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)

13b. Reiterates the request to make sure that any measure adopted by a Party in the framework of the COP21 Agreement or relating to any of the principles or commitments contained in Articles 3 and 4 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will not be subject to any existing or future treaty of a Party to the extent that it allows for investor-state dispute settlement;

Amendment 183 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15

~~15. Confirms its opposition to any direct or indirect provision affecting trade in energy-related services that would allow technological neutrality of subsidies;~~deleted

Amendment 184 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Notes that the Commission is of the understanding that introducing distinctions between products according to their production and processing methods (PPMs) can be achieved within the framework of the WTO and requests the Commission to differentiate similar products in terms of their carbon footprint, energy footprint or technological standards within current and future trade agreements;

Amendment 185 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Recalls the intrinsic link between climate change and deforestation caused by unsustainable and illegal commodities extraction; calls on the Commission to guarantee the effective implementation and enforcement of FLEGT and EUTR including the obligation to legality in timber supply chains;

Amendment 186 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Welcomes the Commission’s decision to initiate a feasibility study for an European Action Plan on Deforestation and Forest Degradation and instructs the Commission to ensure that any future actions undertaken on deforestation free commodity supply chains (such as soya, palm oil, bio-fuels, beef and leather) envisage compliance with international standards and obligations on the environment and human rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples, such as UNDRIP and Free Prior Informed Consent;

Amendment 187 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)

15b. Points out that no progress has been made in considering the use of border tax adjustments to reduce emissions and calls on the Commission to consider this policy measure in the framework of the ETS revision;

Amendment 188 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)

15c. Asks the Commission to seriously engage in the negotiation within the International Civil Aviation Organisation in order to create a global system for the taxation of kerosene;

Amendment 189 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Sorin MOISĂ, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)

15d. Reiterates its position that the rising CO2 Emissions from international trade undermine the European Climate Strategy and underlines that shifting to local production and consumption patterns is needed to support the Paris Agreement´s objectives;

Amendment 19 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A

A. whereas ~~EU trade policies could~~the EU has the ability to contribute positively to ~~the harmonisation process in the direction of implementation and development of human rights (HR), social and environmental sustainabi~~greater respect for human rights (HR) and sustainable development globally through its trade politcy; whereas it must be ensured that trade and investment agreements not reduce their ability to meet their HR obligations, which must prevail over investors and profits interests; whereas there is public concern about the detrimental impact on the concrete enjoyment of HR and labour standards of non-tariff barrier reduction; whereas the new generation of trade agreements risks acting as a back-door deregulation instrumentthis requires proactive and resolute action on the part of the European Commission; whereas trade and investment agreements may also be detrimental to human rights and sustainable development, and should therefore be designed in such a way as to support rather than hinder social and environmental progress;

Amendment 190 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)

15e. With regard to European Parliament´s resolution 2010/2103 point 12, points out that a report, assessing the extent to which the WTO’s Committee on Trade and Environment has fulfilled its remit as set out in the WTO Ministerial Decision on Trade and Environment, taken at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994 and its conclusions as to what more needs to be done, particularly in the context of the global dialogue on Climate Change mitigation and adaptation and the WTO, was never presented to the European Parliament and upholds the requests for the Commission to prepare such the report;

Amendment 191 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3

~~Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in international~~Responsible global supply chains management in EU trade agreements.

Amendment 192 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)

15a. Recalls that the EU is the World’s leading actor in terms of National Action Plans for CSR; calls on the Commission to actively promote responsible business conduct amongst EU companies operating abroad with a special focus on ensuring strict compliance with all their legal obligations stemming from either domestic laws or any bilateral or international legal obligations that their business operations are subject to therein, not least, compliance with international standards and rules in the areas of human rights, labour and environment; to achieve this aim, further suggests that the Commission actively engages with its partner countries to exchange best practices and know-how on ways and means to improve the business environment and awareness concerning responsible business conduct;

Amendment 193 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. Regards as insufficient the efforts towards the inclusion of CSR clauses in the TSD chapters and asks the Commission to step up its efforts towards achieving compliance by companies, throughout their supply chains, and full respect for ILO core labour standards and internationally recognised CSR standards, in particular the recently updated OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact, the ISO 26000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility, the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;

Amendment 194 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ~~Regards as insufficient the~~Notes continuous efforts towards the inclusion of CSR clauses in the TSD chapters and asks the Commission to step up its efforts towards achieving compliance by companies, throughout their supply chains, and full respect for ILO core labour standards and internationally recognised CSR standards;

Amendment 195 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ~~Regards as insufficient the efforts towards~~Calls for the inclusion of CSR clauses in the TSD chapters and asks the Commission to step up its efforts towards achieving compliance by companies, throughout their supply chains, and full respect for ILO core labour standards and internationally recognised CSR standards;

Amendment 196 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16

16. ~~Regards as insufficient the efforts towards the inclusion of CSR clauses~~ Welcomes the progress made by the EU in incorporating into its trade and other policies legislation and criteria on CSR, including the TSD chapters and asks the Commission to step up its efforts towards achieving compliance by companies, throughout their supply chains, and full respect for ILO core labour standards and internationally recognised CSR standards; regulation of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market (FLEGT Regulation), the regulation of 25 November 2009 on the EU Ecolabel, the directive of 22 October 2014 on disclosure of non-financial and diversity information by certain large undertakings and groups and the communication of 14 October 2015 entitled ‘Trade for All: Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy’; encourages the Commission to continue and step up its efforts in this area;

Amendment 197 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Commission to update its strategy on CSR, with a view to tightening up social and environmental standards and, in particular, to making sure that CSR is taken into account in trade and investment agreements negotiated by the EU; calls on the Commission to step up discussions on CSR at international level, in particular with the ILO and the OECD;

Amendment 198 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Calls on the Commission to implement the Parliament´s request to make compliance by transnational corporations with national and international legal obligations in the areas of human rights, labour standards and environmental rules binding in context of the GSP;

Amendment 199 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)

16a. Welcomes the adoption of initiatives such as the Sustainability Compact for Bangladesh and the Commission’s flagship initiative on responsible management of the supply chain in the garment sector, taking into account already existing national initiatives in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Denmark, and believes that it is crucial for the EU to act as global champion of supply chain responsibility;

Amendment 2 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 9 a (new)

– having regard to the European Ombudsman decision in case 1409/2014/MHZ on the European Commission’s failure to carry out a prior human rights impact assessment of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement,

Amendment 20 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas trade and foreign investment by international undertakings contribute to an increased commitment to human rights, social rights and workers’ rights in the countries where the undertakings operate;

Amendment 200 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Draws attention to the Sustainability Compact launched by the Commission together with Bangladesh, the ILO and the United States following the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013; stresses the importance of continuing to pursue the pact’s sustainability objectives in order to improve workers’ rights, as well as the need for more responsible management of supply chains at international level; calls on the Commission to pursue similar programmes and measures with other EU trade partners;

Amendment 201 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)

16b. Calls on the Commission to implement the Parliament´s request to ban host-country agreements, secretive agreements concluded between certain multinational corporations and host countries which are beneficiaries of the GSP+ system;

Amendment 202 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)

16c. Points out that due diligence requirements have not been incorporated in the CSR clauses of European Free Trade Agreement yet and calls on the Commission to be guided by the recommendations of the European Parliament ´s resolution 2009/2201 point 26 when negotiation future free trade agreements;

Amendment 203 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 204 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

Amendment 205 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Believes it is crucial to ensure increased access to information on the conduct of enterprises; considers it fundamental to introduce a mandatory reporting system and due diligence for EU companies that outsource their production to third countriecontinue efforts to ensure transparency with regard to access to information on the conduct of enterprises, and points to the importance of companies meeting their due diligence obligations;

Amendment 206 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Believes it is crucial to ensure increased access to information on the conduct of enterprises; ~~considers it fundamental to introduce a mandatory reporting system and due diligence for EU companies that outsource their production to third countries~~recalls its position from 2010 to request companies to publish their CSR balance sheets and all undertakings to show due diligence;

Amendment 207 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Believes it is crucial to ensure increased access to information on the conduct of enterprises; considers it fundamental to introduce a mandatory reporting system which provides information linking all the actors within the value chain of a single product, from the production place to the retailers; and due diligence for EU companies that outsource their production to third countries;

Amendment 208 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17

17. Believes it is crucial to ensure increased access to information on the conduct of enterprises; considers it fundamental to introduce a ~~mandatory~~ reporting system and due diligence for EU companies that outsource their production to third countries;

Amendment 209 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Believes that in a context of global supply chains binding due diligence becomes even more necessary to ensure a fairer redistribution of the benefits of globalisation; requests the Commission to follow up on OECD and UN initiatives by incorporating recently and newly developed international standards into EU legislation;

Amendment 21 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)

Aa. whereas reformed trade defence measures can also provide an incentive for the EU’s trading partners to engage in sustainable development; whereas, unlike international agreements, this strategy has the potential to yield results through unilateral EU actions; whereas the European Parliament adopted an amendment to article 7.2 of Regulation (EU) 1225/2009 on protection against dumped imports in order to exempt EU trade defence measures from the ‘Lesser Duty Rule’, in full compliance with WTO rules, where ‘the exporting country does not have a sufficient level of social and environmental standards’; whereas this reform has been blocked in the Council of the European Union since November 2014;

Amendment 210 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Also recalls that the European Parliament requested in 2010 the consolidation of the CSR concept, on the basis in particular of a harmonised definition of the relations between parents companies in order to establish the legal liability of each them; considers that the concept of voluntarily CSR is outdated and largely ineffective and should be made operational through a shift towards mandatory rules to ensure responsibility throughout global supply chains;

Amendment 211 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)

17a. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to take steps to make supply chain operators – in particular in the clothing and extractive industries, in which infringements of human rights and social standards are more common – more aware of their responsibilities;

Amendment 212 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the EU and the Member States to promote ~~binding~~ measures to ensure that companies pay taxes where economic activities take place and value is created, and to promote compulsory country-by- country reporting by the private sector;

Amendment 213 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the EU and the Member States to pro~~mote binding measures to ensure that companies pay taxes where economic activities take place and value is created, and to promote compulsory country-by- country rep~~vide good governance in tax matters and effective tax collection and ensuring it is given priority on the agenda in its policy dialogue (political, development and trade) and to support the role of civil society in ensuring public scrutiny of tax governance and monitorting ~~by the private sector~~of cases concerning tax fraud;

Amendment 214 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the EU and the Member States to promote binding measures to ensure that companies pay taxes where economic activities take place and value is created~~, and to promote compulsory country-by- country reporting by the private sector~~;

Amendment 215 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18

18. Calls on the EU and the Member States to promote binding measures to ensure that companies pay taxes where economic activities take place and value is created, and to promote compulsory country-by- country reporting by the private sector, as recommended by the OECD;

Amendment 216 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)

18a. Calls on the Commission to take trade and investment measures involving the award of labels, the granting of preferential access to EU public contracts and the implementation of SME support programmes that will encourage and reward companies introducing CSR strategies;

Amendment 217 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19

19. Calls for the EU and the Member States to engage actively in the work of the UN’s Human Rights Council and of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on ~~an international treaty to hold transnational corporations accountable for HR abuses and violations of~~the drafting of high international standards for compliance with human rights and with social and environmental standards;

Amendment 218 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)

19a. Calls for the EU to set up CSR dialogue platforms bringing together civil society, businesses, international organisations and other stakeholders;

Amendment 219 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)

20a. Stresses that the effective implementation of these recommendations constitutes a crucial element in the European Parliament’s assessment of trade agreements negotiated by the European Commission; requests a detailed and timely response from the European Commission to all the items raised in this resolution;

Amendment 22 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B

B. whereas the European Parliament’s contribution can be measured in terms of the effective implementation of its recommendations, so that a constant and systematic monitoring exercise is of paramount importance, inter alia in order to narrow the gap between commitments and the concrete impact of trade policies on HR and social sustainability; whereas the implementation of the agreements must be monitored periodically to ensure compliance with the objectives and commitments enshrined in trade agreements, particularly those on protecting human rights;

Amendment 23 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)

Ba. whereas the increased impact of trade on human rights, social and environmental standards demands further development of effective actions to close the gap between the pronounced commitments and the effectiveness of the instruments put in place;

Amendment 24 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)

Bb. whereas, according to Article 208 of the TFUE, the EU and its Member States actually have a legal obligation to make their policies coherent with development objectives; whereas the level of integration of Commission trade policies with development, human rights and environment policies is not yet able to meet up the expectations raised by the 2010 resolutions;

Amendment 25 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)

Bc. whereas the European Commission’s proposal for a new trade and investment strategy ‘Trade for All’ recognises the link between trade, human rights and social and environmental standards and insists on the need to make those rights and standards an integral part of the Union’s economic and commercial relations;

Amendment 26 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)

Bd. whereas, as indicated in the 2010 recommendations, human rights and democracy should continue to be further integrated into EU policies with an external dimension, including trade and investment strategies that needs to be more carefully designed and implemented to protect, respect, enforce and consolidate human rights; whereas it is imperative to identify and remedy to the negative impact that trade agreements may have on the full enjoyment of social and human rights;

Amendment 27 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)

Be. whereas the Human Rights clause has been used so far only to react to situations of major political instability and does not fully address the impact and consequences of trade and investment agreements; whereas the current format of the human rights clauses should allow a party to suspend its own obligation when needed to respect, protect and fulfil human rights;

Amendment 28 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B f (new)

Bf. whereas transnational global retailers and enterprises have a great deal of responsibility, with the current production patterns, in improving the improvement of labour conditions and wages in producing countries;

Amendment 29 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital B g (new)

Bg. whereas public services plays a crucial role in ensuring basic and fundamental rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and personal security, the right to an adequate standard of living and the right to freedom of expression; whereas trade agreements can impact Member States’ capacity to provide quality Public Services by encouraging privatisation, restrict governments’ ability to regulate in the public interest and create new and powerful rights for large multinational corporations;

Amendment 3 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 13 a (new)

– having regard to the Commission’s report of 28 January 2016 on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences covering the period 2014-2015,

Amendment 30 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas women’s rights are a constitutive part of HR; whereas trade agreements and liberalisation affect women and men differently owing to structural gender inequalities; whereas sustainable and inclusive development, growth and trade agreements must pay due account of human rights, including from a gender perspectivegender equality falls within the scope of the chapters of trade agreements on sustainable development; whereas the specific impact of trade and investment agreements on women and men differs according to the structural organisation of national markets and policies;

Amendment 31 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C

C. whereas women’s rights are a constitutive part of HR; whereas trade agreements and liberalisation affect women and men differently owing to structural gender inequalities, and whereas sustainable and inclusive development, growth and trade agreements must include HR~~, including from a gender perspective~~;

Amendment 32 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)

Ca. whereas the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda recognises the crucial impact of trade policies in implementing its goals by covering number of policy areas such as the rules of origins the regulation of food, commodity markets and gender equality;

Amendment 33 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)

Cb. whereas the absence of any direct possibility for the EU civil society to bring up a complaint about HR violations associated with a trade agreement stands in stark violation of the EU Values as well as one of the main unsolved request of the 2010 recommendation;

Amendment 34 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)

Cc. whereas the potential of GSP and GSP+ system to ensure ratification and implementation of human and labour rights conventions in developing countries can be improved by linking an economic incentive to the effective adoption and constantly monitoring of the implementation of core human and labour rights conventions;

Amendment 35 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)

Cd. whereas the GSP+ beneficiaries adoption and implementation of the core human and labour rights conventions and treaties are based on so called scorecards; whereas such scorecards remain not accessible to relevant stakeholders and the public, including, including CSOs or labour rights organisations, thereby leaving out a key player in the process of monitoring the compliance with conventions in practice;

Amendment 36 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C e (new)

Ce. whereas clear benchmarks, based on pre-established, well-defined and accessible criteria, should be incorporated into the GSP+ framework, would facilitate CSOs, EU and EU Member States in verifying any progress made by third countries;

Amendment 37 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital C f (new)

Cf. whereas, as a result of the Rana Plaza disaster, the EU, in cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh and the ILO, launched a Global Compact for Improvements in Labour Rights and Factory Safety in Bangladesh that seeks to improve labour, health and safety conditions for workers, as well as to encourage responsible behaviour by businesses in the ready-made garment industry in Bangladesh;

Amendment 38 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas ~~a regulatory framework on the way corporations comply with HR obligations with respect to social and environmental standards is still lacking~~the EU’s new generation of trade investment and agreements comprise chapters on sustainable development that call on the parties to undertake to protect human rights, comply with social and environmental standards and ensure corporate social responsibility;

Amendment 39 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D

D. whereas a regulatory framework on the way corporations comply with HR obligations with respect to social and environmental standards is ~~still lack~~not existing;

Amendment 4 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 16 a (new)

– having regard to its report on Gender mainstreaming in the work of the European Parliament (A8-0034/2016),

Amendment 40 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the EU has played a leading role in negotiating and implementing a number of global initiatives for global responsibility, in particular the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, the revised OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council, the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact, and the ISO 26000 guidance Standard on Social Responsibility;

Amendment 41 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Sorin MOISĂ, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas the private sector must contribute, alongside the public sector, to sustainable development; whereas companies must act in a socially and environmentally responsible manner;

Amendment 42 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. whereas since 2010 the global context for trade and sustainable development has changed, as illustrated by the repercussions of the tragic events surrounding the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh in 2013, which led to greater public awareness on issues related to global supply chain responsibility as well as innovative solutions to tackle issues related to TSD, such as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh;

Amendment 43 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)

Da. General Remarks

Amendment 44 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas TSD chapters have displayed a decreasing level of ambition in successive EU trade agreements, from EU-Korea and EU-Colombia/Peru to EU- Canada and the Economic Partnership Agreements with regional groupings of African countries; whereas this trend is extremely alarming and must be reverted;

Amendment 45 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Sorin MOISĂ, Joachim SCHUSTER, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Recital D b (new)

Db. whereas the draft French law on ‘due diligence’ advancing the UN Guiding Principles, the statement of President Juncker at the 2015 G7 Summit in favour of ‘urgent action’ to improve responsibility in global supply chains and the commitment of the current Dutch EU Presidency to seek Council Conclusions on global supply chains, all demonstrate the global responsibility for European business to promote and respect international standards;

Amendment 46 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas the European Commission’s 2015 ‘Trade for All’ strategy makes TSD a priority for the EU; whereas in order for this strategy to give proper impetus to the TSD agenda, the European Commission must now turn its much welcomed ambition into resolute and concrete actions;

Amendment 47 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Recital D c (new)

Dc. whereas the ‘Realising Long-term Value for Companies and Investors project’ being undertaken by the UN Principles of Responsible Investment and the UN Global Compact demonstrate that economic recovery in Europe and the world is compatible with and mutually reinforcing to principles of social justice, environmental sustainability and respect for human rights;

Amendment 48 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D d (new)

Dd. whereas concerns about the implementation of TSD standards on the ground should not lead to a weakening of the EU’s ambitions; whereas incentives to comply with TSD requirements can only be effective if backed by deterrents;

Amendment 49 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Recital D e (new)

De. whereas the implementation of the new EU General Scheme of Preferences’ special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (‘GSP+’) has also proven to be disappointing, in particular due to the absence of a credible deterrent; whereas the European Commission is bound by the GSP regulation to seek information on compliance with international labour and Human Rights conventions from their relevant monitoring bodies, but should not however externalise decision- making functions;

Amendment 5 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Citation 21

– having regard to its resolution of 25 November 20150 on corporate social responsibility in international agreements13, __________________ 13 OJ C 99E, 3.4.2012, p. 101. OJ C 99E, 3.4.2012, p. 101.

Amendment 50 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital D f (new)

Df. whereas in the case of international conventions on core labour rights referred to in Part A of Annex VIII of Regulation (EU) 978/2012 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences, several ILO bodies can be used by the European Commission as ‘relevant monitoring bodies’ in the sense, inter alia, of Articles 9 and 19 of the Regulation; whereas overreliance by the European Commission on annual reports of the International Labour Conference and the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards is detrimental to a credible and effective implementation of the EU GSP regulation, due to the heavily politicised nature of the content of these reports; whereas the ILO’s Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations is composed of 20 eminent jurists appointed by the ILO’s Governing Body and provides impartial and technical evaluation of the state of application of international labour standards;

Amendment 51 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Stresses that the EU’s long-term record in accounting for social and environmental issues within the context of its trade diplomacy is already ahead of other major global trade players; underlines that the human rights engagements of our trading partners provide a solid basis for ongoing dialogue, cooperative process and progressive improvement in the long-term; warns against politicizing international trade by making it an arena for human rights issues;

Amendment 52 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. Encourages the Commission to ~~bring strong pressure to bear with a view to~~step up its efforts to build consensus towards a reform of WTO governance leading to:

Amendment 53 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. ~~Encourages the Commission to bring strong pressure to bear with a view to a reform of WTO governance leading to~~Stresses how important it is for the EU to build cooperation at multilateral level and encourages the Commission to support a reform of the WTO leading to, in particular:

Amendment 54 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – introductory part

1. ~~Encou~~Reiteragtes its call to the Commission to ~~bring strong pressure to bear with a view to a reform of WTO governance leading to~~take a leading role in the reform of WTO governance in particular with respect to achieving the following objectives:

Amendment 55 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) ~~effectiv~~to strengthen the cooperation of the WTO with ~~other~~ UN agencies~~, and in particular with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and with the ILO~~ such as the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the ILO, in particular in giving the ILO official observer status at the WTO and in involving the ILO and High Commissioner for Human Rights in all trade disputes related to breaches of international labour conventions,

Amendment 56 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) effective cooperation and regular dialogue of the WTO with ~~other UN~~UN human rights agencies, and in particular with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the OECD and with the ILO,

Amendment 57 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) ~~effective~~increased cooperation ofbetween the WTO ~~with other~~and the relevant UN agencies, ~~and~~ in particular ~~with~~ the High Commissioner for Human Rights and ~~with the ILO,~~the International Labour Organisation;

Amendment 58 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point a

(a) effective cooperation of the WTO with ~~other~~ UN agencies, and in particular with the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and with the ILO,

Amendment 59 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) ato reform of WTO trade policy review mechanisms to include the ~~impact on the~~ social, environmental and HR dimensions in the implementation of multilateral and plurilateral agreements and to promote sustainable development, in particular through the setting up of a Committee on Trade and Decent Work at the WTO alongside the existing Committee on Trade and Environment;

Amendment 6 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 a (new)

– having regard to the EU’s reformed GSP set out by Regulation 978/2012,

Amendment 60 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) a reform of WTO trade policy review mechanisms to include the impact on the social, environmental and HR dimension in the implementation of multilateral and plurilateral agreements based on the ILO, UN Human Rights Council and MEAs guidelines and reports as well as on the assessment of economic impacts based also on alternative economic models instead of a single mainstream model;

Amendment 61 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 – point b

(b) ~~a reform of WTO trade policy review mechanisms~~the establishment of a committee for trade and decent work within the WTO, as requested in its recommendations of 2010, to include the impact on the social, environmental and HR dimension in ~~the implementation of multilateral and plurilateral agreements~~international trade policy;

Amendment 62 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Stresses the importance of trade and foreign investments as important tools to achieve economic growth sustainable development, good governance and the protection of human rights;

Amendment 63 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. Calls on the EU to play an active role in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 70th session;

Amendment 64 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. In addition calls on the European Commission to actively promote further reforms of the WTO in order to define and enforce multilateral rules for the sustainable management of global supply chains in a responsible way, which should in particular include: - mandatory supply chain due diligence and transparency requirements, building from the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human rights; - minimum health and safety standards, recognising in particular workers’ right to safety committees; - a social protection floor, including minimum living wages; - the right to collective bargaining;

Amendment 65 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Emmanuel MAUREL, Sorin MOISĂ, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)

1b. Welcomes in this context the initiative launched by the G20 leaders on Global Value Chains (GVC), with support from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World Bank Group (WBG); takes note of the G20’s priority to make GVCs ‘more inclusive’; endorses the OECD, WTO, and WBG’s findings that participation in GVCs does not automatically lead to sustainable development, and that ‘strong social, environmental, and governance frameworks and policies are important to maximising the positive impact of GVC activities and minimising risks in all countries’, as contained in the report prepared for the 2014 meeting of G20 Trade Ministers; strongly supports the OECD, WTO and WBG’s call for countries participating in GVCs to ‘observe international core labour standards, including establishment and enforcement of occupational health, safety, and environmental standards and related capacity-building for compliance’; calls on the European Commission and EU countries participating in the G20 to support this initiative, and to promote balanced and comprehensive policy recommendations including a strong sustainable development dimension on GVCs at the July 2016 meeting of G20 Trade Ministers in Shanghai;

Amendment 66 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ~~incorporate a gender- sensitive approach into all their policies, as well as into EU trade strateg~~take account of gender equality in its trade policy, guaranteeing inter alia effective compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); calls on the Commission to ~~draw up an in-depth, binding impact assessment of the EU trade strategy from the perspective of women, HR and gender~~take aspects related to gender equality into account in its impact assessment of the EU trade strategy;

Amendment 67 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to inc~~orporate a gender- sensitive~~rease their efforts to promote the economic empowerment of women; recommends including a gender mainstreaming approach into all their policies, as well as into EU trade strategy, guaranteeing inter alia effective compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); ~~calls on the Commission to draw up an in-depth, binding impact assessment of the EU trade strategy from the perspective of women, HR and gender;~~

Amendment 68 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to incorporate a ~~gender- sensitive~~job creating approach into all their policies, as well as into EU trade strategy, guaranteeing inter alia effective compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); calls on the Commission to ~~draw up an in-depth, binding impact assessment of the EU trade strategy from the perspective of women, HR and gender~~invest more resources in closing on-going FTA negotiations;

Amendment 69 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2

2. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ~~incorporate a gender- sensitive approach~~take gender parity into account into all their policies, ~~as well as~~including into EU trade strategy, and guarantee~~ing~~ inter alia effective compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); calls on the Commission to draw up an in-depth~~, binding~~ impact assessment of the EU trade strategy ~~from the per~~in respect~~ive~~ of ~~women,~~ HR and gender equality;

Amendment 7 #

Motion for a resolution
Citation 29 b (new)

– having regard to the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council Report on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences during the period 2014 – 2015 {COM(2016) 29 final},

Amendment 70 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the European Commission to step up its efforts towards policy coherence between EU trade, labour, development and environmental policies in all the treaties in ways consistent with international commitments to HR, decent work, gender equality and environmental sustainability, introducing binding and effective mechanism of policy assessment and review as well as with provisions aimed at better coordinate development aids with trade policy;

Amendment 71 #

Tomáš ZDECHOVSKÝ

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to step up its efforts not only towards policy coherence between EU trade, development and environmental policies in all the treaties, but also towards cooperation at EU level on national policies in these areas, in ways consistent with international commitments to HR, decent work, gender equality and environmental sustainability;

Amendment 72 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the Commission to ~~step up~~continue its efforts towards policy coherence between EU trade, development and environmental policies in all the treaties in ways consistent with international commitments to HR~~, decent work, gender equality and environmental sustainability~~ and social and environmental standards, while serving the EU’s trade interests and ensuring its competitiveness;

Amendment 73 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Alessia Maria MOSCA, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3

3. Calls on the ~~Commission to step up its efforts towards policy~~EU to ensure greater coherence between EUits trade, development and environmental policies ~~in all the treaties in ways consistent with international commitments to HR, decent work, gender equality and environmental sustainability~~and to strive to ensure that all stakeholders comply with international standards on human rights, gender equality, labour law and respect for the environment;

Amendment 74 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Calls on the Commission to make full use of the provisions of Regulation (EU) 978/2012 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences, with view to limit the scope for arbitrary decisions and enhance the credibility of GSP+ in adopting a delegated act to clarify the definitions of a ‘serious failure to effectively implement’ an international conventions and ‘serious and systematic violation of principles’ contained in an international convention;

Amendment 75 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Pedro SILVA PEREIRA, Alessia Maria MOSCA

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)

3a. Welcomes the Commission’s efforts to support the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the revised OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the ILO tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council, the UN Global Compact and the ISO 26000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility and, at the same time to encourage, assist and monitor how all trading partners comply with these international principles;

Amendment 76 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. In addition, calls on the European Commission to propose a revision of regulation (EU) 978/2012 in order to enhance the monitoring of the commitments undertaken by beneficiary countries; Social Partners should be given a formal role in GSP and GSP+ monitoring, and have the ability to directly lodge a complaint with the Commission in cases of non-compliance;

Amendment 77 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL, Marita ULVSKOG

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)

3b. Welcomes the study on dealing with gross corporate violations of human rights through judicial remedy which was conducted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and reiterates its call on the EU and its Member States to engage constructively in the UN Working Group for a treaty process on business and human rights;

Amendment 78 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)

3c. Ahead of these legislative changes, calls on the Commission to diversify its sources of expertise and to seek the views of all relevant monitoring bodies in order to properly assess compliance with the international conventions referred to in the GSP Regulation; in particular, calls on the Commission to depart from its overreliance on the ILO’s Conference Committee on the Application of Standards and to take into account the views expressed by the ILO’s Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions, with respect to both granting and suspending trade preferences in accordance with the GSP Regulation;

Amendment 79 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)

Regrets the very limited progress in the cooperation between ILO and WTO, encourages the Commission to continue to advocate towards a closer cooperation through the granting of ILO of official observer status and towards the institution of a trade and decent work committee

Amendment 8 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)

-A. whereas trade plays a powerful role in promoting business opportunities, creating prosperity and increasing employment as well as in driving economic development, social progress, living standards, quality of life and improvement of human rights standards in the long-term;

Amendment 80 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 b (new)

Reiterates the importance to advocate towards the ILO and UNHRC permanent participation in Trade Dispute settlements panels of the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) related to relevant breaches of international labour convention and Human Rights (HR)

Amendment 81 #

Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 c (new)

Considers that the investment arbitration systems as currently constituted is not a fair, independent, and balanced method for the resolution of disputes between sovereign nations and private investors; consider insufficient the revision exercise put forward by the Commission and calls to overcome the current investor-state dispute settlement by the creation of an international investment court where the judges would be bound to give priority to the UN Charter and the core United Nations human rights treaties; a court that would have competence to examine suits brought by investors against states and by states against investors and that would allow mutual counter-claims. A standing international investment court that would replace the system of multiple ad hoc arbitral tribunals with a single institutional structure established by treaty in the framework of the United Nations system

Amendment 82 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission and Council’s efforts to insert legally binding HR clauses into all the free trade agreements (FTAs) in accordance with the common approach; ~~regrets that HR clauses are not included in treaties such as those with Korea and Canada (CETA) or in the TTIP and Vietnam negotiations;~~

Amendment 83 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

Amendment 84 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the reference to corporate social responsibility now included in all the EU’s trade and other bilateral agreements, but calls for a follow-up mechanism to also be included, to seek to operationalise this commitment; welcomes the Commission and Council’s efforts to insert legally binding HR clauses into all the free trade agreements (FTAs) in accordance with the common approach; regrets that HR clauses are not included in treaties such as those with Korea and Canada (CETA) or in the TTIP and Vietnam negotiations; and calls for implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other international corporate responsibility standards to be consistently raised by EU representatives in Human Rights Dialogues with third countries;

Amendment 85 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission and Council’s efforts to insert legally binding HR clauses into all the free trade agreements (FTAs) in accordance with the common approach; regrets that HR clauses are not included in treaties such as those with South Korea and Canada (CETA) or in the TTIP and Vietnam negotiations;

Amendment 86 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission and Council’s efforts to insert ~~legally~~ binding HR clauses into all the ~~free~~ trade and investment agreements ~~(FTAs)~~ in accordance with the common approach; ~~regrets that HR clauses are not included in treaties such as those with Korea and Canada (CETA) or in the TTIP and Vietnam negotiation~~stresses that the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Canada contains provisions to ensure respect for human rights; calls for the ongoing trade negotiations with the EU’s other partners, particularly those on TTIP, to ensure the inclusion of ambitious chapters on sustainable development in line with the EU’s new generation of agreements;

Amendment 87 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL, Joachim SCHUSTER

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission and Council’s efforts to insert legally binding HR clauses into all the free trade agreements (FTAs) in accordance with the common approach; considers fundamental that the Council makes it public and regrets that HR clauses are not included in treaties such as those with Korea and Canada (CETA) ~~or in the TTIP and Vietnam negotiations~~as well as calls the Commission and Council to ensure that the common approach is followed also in ongoing negotiations such as the TTIP;

Amendment 88 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4

4. Welcomes the Commission and Council’s efforts to insert legally binding HR clauses into all the free trade agreements (FTAs) in accordance with the common approach; regrets that HR clauses arhave not been included in t~~reaties such as those~~he agreement with Korea, Vietnam and Canada (CETA) ~~or in the TTIP and Vietnam negotiations~~; calls for the inclusion of legally binding HR clauses in the future agreement with the USA (TTIP);

Amendment 89 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Stresses that the European Union’s ‘Trade for All’ strategy commits the European Union to ‘reinforcing corporate social responsibility initiatives’ and underlines that this must mean new action at the EU level including the agreement of a new EU CSR Action Plan up to 2020;

Amendment 9 #

Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)

-A. whereas the European Parliament issued recommendations to the European Commission related to social and environmental standards, human rights and corporate responsibility in 2010; whereas a number of these recommendations have been implemented, while others have not;

Amendment 90 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Recalls that trade and foreign direct investment increase prosperity in poorer countries; recalls that there is a by no means negligible connection between increased prosperity and better protection of human rights, social rights and workers’ rights and strong environmental protection;

Amendment 91 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)

4a. Points out that a legally binding human rights clause needs to be practically enforceable and therefore requests that human rights clauses are covered by respective dispute settlement clauses in the trade agreements of the European Union. Furthermore, believes that a sub-committee for human rights and trade must be included in all trade agreements of the European Union in order to ensure a serious and systematic follow up on issues of human rights violation in relation to trade;

Amendment 92 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)

4b. Welcomes the recently published ‘Guidelines on the analysis of human rights impacts in impact assessments for trade-related policy initiatives’ which also take into account the methodological recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food; urges the Commission to immediately apply these guidelines to assess the impact on human rights of the FTA with Vietnam in order to allow the Parliament to take an informed decision on whether to give its consent or not; urges the Commission to update the impact assessments of ongoing negotiations based on the new methodology;

Amendment 93 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part

5. ~~Remains concerned about the too limited effects of traditional HR clauses in ensuring that the EU fulfils its HR obligations and commitments; c~~Calls on the Commission and the Council to comprehensively rethink the protection and guarantees offered to HR in FTAs and IPAs and to propose a new model for a set of binding HR clauses, in particular through:

Amendment 94 #

Jude KIRTON-DARLING, David MARTIN, Agnes JONGERIUS, Emmanuel MAUREL

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part

5. Remains concerned about the too limited effects of traditional HR clauses in ensuring that the EU fulfils its HR obligations and commitments despite the recommendations expressed in the 2010 resolution; calls on the Commission and the Council to comprehensively rethink the protection and guarantees offered to HRuman Rights in FTAs and IPAs and to propose a new model for a set of binding HR clauses, in particular through:

Amendment 95 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part

5. Remains concerned about the too limited effects of traditional HR clauses in ensuring that the EU fulfils its HR obligations and commitments; calls on the Commission and the Council to comprehensively rethink the protection and guarantees offered to HR in FTAs and ~~IPA~~framework agreements and to propose a new model for a set of binding HR clauses, in particular through:

Amendment 96 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part

5. Re~~mains concerned about the too limited effects of traditional HR~~calls the importance of respecting and implementing HR clauses in trade agreements; adds that these clauses in ensur~~ing~~e that the EU fulfils its HR obligations and commitments; calls on the Commission and the Council to ~~comprehensively rethink the protection and guarantees offered to HR in FTAs and IPAs and to propose a new model for a set of binding HR clauses, in particular~~maintain such clauses in agreements it negotiates and to implement the following approaches through:

Amendment 97 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – introductory part

5. Remains concerned about the too limited effects of traditional HR clauses in ensuring that the EU fulfils its HR obligations and commitments; calls on the Commission and the Council to comprehensively rethink the protection and guarantees offered to HR in FTAs and IPAs and to propose a new model for a set of binding HR clauses~~, in particular through:~~;

Amendment 98 #

Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 – point a

~~a) trade safeguard provisions to protect HR domestically and to preserve each party’s capacity to meet its HR obligations in the areas in which it is primarily responsible,~~deleted

Amendment 99 #