Summary record of the meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade (INTA), Brussels, 29-30 May 2012 - Montesquieu Instituut

 

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COUNCIL OFBrussels, 31 May 2012

THE EUROPEAN UNION

10665/12 -

PE 233 RELEX 491 COMER 128 -

NOTE

from:

General Secretariat of the Council

to: Delegations

Subject: Summary record of the meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade (INTA), Brussels, 29-30 May 2012

The meeting was chaired by Mr MORREIRA (S&D). In spite of the exhaustive agenda (although

without any high-profile debates, however), attendance among Members was very low, resulting in

short debates with often only the rapporteur and the representatives of the Commission speaking.

1. State of play of ongoing trilogue negotiations

INTA/7/04325

Exchange of views

2. Exchange of views with Mikael Gustafsson, Chair of the FEMM Committee, on gender mainstreaming in the work of parliamentary committees -

Mr GUSTAFSSON explained to the Committee the twofold responsibilities of the FEMM

Committee: raising the profile of women's rights and integrating the gender perspective into

other policies. The various results of the latter activity were reflected in a two-yearly report

and resolution. He called for greater synergy in the work of EP Committees and for the gender

issue to be present in all the EP's work.

• 3. 

  Amendment of Council Regulations (EC) No 2008/97, (EC) No 779/98 and (EC) No 1506/98 in the field of imports of olive oil and other agricultural products from Turkey as regards the delegated and implementing powers to be conferred on the Commission

INTA/7/08396 2011/0453(COD) COM(2011)0918 C7-0005/2012

Consideration of draft report

The rapporteur, Mr MORREIRA (S&D and Chair), informed Members that the proposal

needed to be considered in the context of the comitology alignment exercise.

The Commission representative disagreed with certain amendments, which, in her view, did

not comply with the respective common understanding.

Deadline for amendments: 1 June 2012

4. Amendment of Council Regulation (EC) No 774/94 of 29 March 1994 opening and providing for the administration of certain Community tariff quotas for high-quality beef, and for pigmeat, poultrymeat, wheat and meslin, and brans, sharps and other residues INTA/7/08381 2011/0445(COD) COM(2011)0906 C7-0524/2011

6. Macro-financial assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic

INTA/7/08386 2011/0458(COD) COM(2011)0925 C7-0521/2011 -

Consideration of draft report -

The rapporteur, Mr MORREIRA noted that in this proposal, too, comitology was

controversial. The Commission representative emphasised the importance of the agreement

for economic recovery and the stabilisation process in the country. Pending an agreement on

the revised framework Regulation, he called on the European Parliament to find a quick

solution with the Council on the outstanding comitology problems, which also affected other

similar proposals. -

Deadline for amendments: 1 July 2012

• 7. 

  Trade Agreement between the EU of the one part and Colombia and Peru of the other part

INTA/7/06949 2011/0249(NLE) COM(2011)0569 -

Consideration of draft recommendation (consent) -

The rapporteur, Mr DAVID, briefly recalled the European Parliament's concerns regarding

adequate monitoring of provisions on human rights, labour rights and sustainable

development. He would visit the countries concerned together with the S&D shadow

rapporteur, Mr LANGE, later that week. -

Mr LANGE emphasised the need to clarify the package of accompanying measures and to

develop, with the governments concerned, a road map for implementation.

The rapporteur concluded that the newly elected governments shared the same concerns as the

European Parliament and hoped for a constructive way forward. He would propose a positive

vote on the agreement but, pending formal submission of the text by the Council, the vote on

consent needed to be postponed. A vote was held on the accompanying resolution later the

same day, however (see item 20).

8. State of Play on International Trade Negotiations

INTA/7/01417

Exchange of views with Jean-Luc Demarty, Director General, DG Trade, Commission

"in camera "

9. EU accession to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)

INTA/7/08168 2011/0420(NLE) COM(2011)0861

First exchange of views with stakeholders

A representative from the ICAC informed the Committee of the role and working methods of

the organisation and provided facts and figures illustrating the importance of the sector

worldwide.

For the second year running, India had imposed a ban on cotton exports, which created

competitive distortions.

Mr DARTMOUTH (ECR) questioned the legitimacy of the EU's accession to ICAC, while

Mr CUTAS (S&D) welcomed the initiative to give the EU more weight and increase

• 10. 

  Motion for a resolution on the consequences of the crisis in the European tanning

industry -

Consideration of draft opinion in letter form

In the absence of the rapporteur, Ms MUSCARDINI (EPP), Mr CASPARI emphasised the

importance of the sector in terms of turnover and jobs. Several problems, such as the lack of

raw materials, price fluctuation, VAT rules and water treatment, were affecting the tanning

industry and called for institutional action.

A vote was held on the opinion later at the same meeting (see item 20)

11. Joint debate:

Establishing a Partnership Instrument for cooperation with third countries.

INTA/7/08336 2011/0411(COD) COM(2011)0843 C7-0495/2011

Consideration of draft opinion

Establishing common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union's instruments for external action

INTA/7/08645 2011/0415(COD) COM(2011)0842 C7-0494/2011

Consideration of draft opinion

The rapporteur, Ms ANDRIKIEN (EPP), recalled briefly the aim of the proposals (see also

Doc. 83645/12, point 9) and said that, whereas the AFET Committee was the lead committee,

the INTA Committee should also provide broad input. She would have further contacts with

• 12. 

  Joint debate:

Amendment of Directive 2004/109/EC on the harmonisation of transparency requirements in relation to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market and Commission Directive 2007/14/EC

INTA/7/08161 2011/0307(COD) COM(2011)0683 C7-0380/2011

Consideration of draft opinion

Annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings

INTA/7/08984 2011/0308(COD) COM(2011)0684 C7-0393/2011

Consideration of draft opinion

The rapporteur, Mr SCHOLZ (GUE), said that he aimed to follow the line taken by other

reporting committees and the lead committee in proposing to extend the scope of the

proposals to sectors other than extraction and forestry industries in order to maximise

transparency. Real interests should be identified and the scope of implementation could later

be broadened to include SMEs.

Ms SAIFI (EPP) was not convinced about an immediate extension and proposed that the

scope of the proposals remain unchanged. She called for a more precise definition of

"projects" and a review clause.

The Commission representative emphasised that the proposals were designed to focus on

particular sectors and were not appropriate to be applied to others. She explained that

exemptions were limited to situations in which employers could be liable to criminal

sanctions, that thresholds were needed and that overall the proposals sought to increase

feature more prominently, and the exclusion of many Latin American and Asian countries.

Ms SAIFI considered the proposal to be in line with neighbourhood policy instruments and

welcomed more flexibility, conditionality (respect for human rights, rule of law etc.),

specificity and the involvement of civil society and local communities.

Ms BARREA (S&D) spoke along the same lines but warned against overlapping initiatives,

and called for an adequate transitional phasing-out period taking into account other

programmes such as GSP. The INTA Committee should focus its opinion on sustainability

and job creation.

Ms KELLER called for a joining of forces to prevent the EP losing powers and advocated

more coherent policies.

The Commission and EEAS representatives emphasised that the objective of the instrument

had not changed, i.e. the eradication of poverty, but that the proposal aimed to differentiate

better between beneficiary countries and actions in order to have more effect. The exclusion

of certain countries such as India was based on the fact that they had the potential to combat

poverty themselves, and the focus should be on countries that did not have this capacity. Joint

programming with Member States would increase added value, and Commission flexibility

was needed to address changing situations. It was, however, up to the EP and the Council to

define the limits of this flexibility.

• 14. 

  Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II)

INTA/7/08317 2011/0404(COD) COM(2011)0838 C7-0491/2011

Consideration of draft opinion

• 15. 

  Establishing an Instrument for Stability

INTA/7/08348 2011/0413(COD) COM(2011)0845 C7-0497/2011

Consideration of draft opinion

In the absence of Mr ABAD (EPP), Ms SAIFI introduced the scope of the proposal, which

provided inter alia for more flexibility. She suggested that the INTA Committee propose

including in the scope the Kimberley process, access to vital resources, commercial

infrastructure and support for border controls.

The Commission representative recalled the need to link possible amendments to the

objectives of the proposal: crisis management in the short and longer term. He suggested that

certain amendments be reviewed, stating that work on the Kimberley process was already

ongoing and that the access to vital resources could be better addressed by ECHO or

macro-financial assistance.

Deadline for amendments: 1 June 2012

• 16. 

  Establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument

INTA/7/08327 2011/0405(COD) COM(2011)0839 C7-0492/2011

Consideration of draft opinion -

The rapporteur, Ms CORREA ZAMORA, said that the proposal was timely as regards

adapting the instrument to the challenges of the Arab Spring. She favoured the principle

"more for more" in particular for the trade aspects where more commitments could be taken in

The EEAS representative commented on certain proposed amendments saying that, in the

event of a breach of WTO commitments, EU aid should not be suspended but that the normal

WTO or FTA dispute-settlement rules should be followed.

Deadline for amendments: 1 June 2012

• 17. 

  Monitoring Group Activities

INTA/7/08162

Exchange of views -

In the absence of most Members responsible for the monitoring groups, the Chair reported

briefly on the activities of certain groups and Ms ANDRIKIEN informed Members on the

constituent meeting of the monitoring group for the South Caucasus, which was scheduling

meetings with the relevant ambassadors and Commission representatives.

• 18. 

  EU/New Zealand agreement amending the Agreement on Mutual Recognition in

Relation to Conformity Assessment between the European Community and New Zealand INTA/7/03040 2010/0139(NLE) 12126/2010 C7-0058/2012

Consideration of draft report

Amendment of the Agreement on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment, certificates and markings between the European Community and Australia INTA/7/03045 2010/0146(NLE) 12124/2010 C7-0057/2012

Consideration of draft report

The Chair, rapporteur for both proposals, proposed giving consent to these technical

• 19. 

  Votes

The following acts were adopted with amendments:

Trade Agreement between the EU of the one part and Colombia and Peru of the other part

INTA/7/09402

Adoption of motion for a resolution (vote on consent will follow later once the agreement has been formally submitted by the Council)

Trade aspects of the Eastern partnership INTA/7/08037 2011/2306(INI)

Adoption of draft report

2013 Budget - Mandate for Trilogue INTA/7/08812 2012/2016(BUD) Adoption of draft opinion

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (2014 - 2020) INTA/7/07506 2011/0269(COD) COM(2011)0608 C7-0319/2011

Adoption of draft opinion

The following acts were adopted without amendment:

EU-Russia agreement on trade in parts and components of motor vehicles INTA/7/07922 2011/0324(NLE) 16806/2011 C7-0517/2011

Adoption of draft recommendation (consent)

EU-Russia Agreement regarding the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Co-operation Agreement INTA/7/08000 2011/0328(NLE) 16815/2011 C7-0522/2011

Adoption of draft recommendation (consent)

Scheme of generalised tariff preferences

Adoption of compromise package after negotiations with Council

Transitional arrangements for bilateral investment agreements between Member States and third countries

Adoption of compromise package after negotiations with Council

The vote on a question for oral answer and a motion for a resolution on EU-Japan trade

negotiations was cancelled after a procedural debate initiated by Mr STURDY (ECR), who

complained that no translations were available and that there was no time for amendments.

Mr CASPARY stated that his group would table the question and the motion at the next

part-session and that the other political groups (which did not contest the vote) could join.

However, the draft agenda for the June part-session already provided for a Commission

statement on EU trade negotiations with Japan.

• 21. 

  Date, time and place of next meeting:

·

· 20 June 2012, 9.00-12.30 and 15.00-18.30 (Brussels)

21 June 2012, 9.00-12.30 (Brussels)

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