Activities of Franck PROUST related to 2015/2105(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A forward-looking and innovative future strategy for trade and investment (A8-0220/2016 - Tiziana Beghin) FR
Amendments (16)
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas trade negotiations such as ACTA, TTIP, CETA and TiSA have brought European trade policy to the public’s attention, and whereas more and more citizens are worried thathave a grasp of the CCP and of issues concerning European regulation andor standards could be undermined by the CCP;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas, in its trade policy and the trade negotiations it conducts, the European Union must take into account the sensitivity of certain sectors in terms of market opening, particularly the agricultural sector;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that the CCP is to be conducted in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action as set out in Article 21 TEU; recalls that the EU’s trade and investment policy must be consistent with other external policies and with other policies that have an external dimension; stresses that the EU has a legal obligation to respect human rights, and should foster the sustainable economic, social and environmental development of trading countries; points out that in some cases trade and investment agreements may have negative effects contrary to the EU’s external objectives as enshrined in the Treaties; is of the opinion that the EU has a responsibility to help tackle any negative impact caused by its CCP;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Underlines the importance of effective safeguard mechanisms in trade agreements; calls at the same time for the inclusion of an effective enforcement mechanism for labour and environmental rights to which the human rights clause does not apply; calls for a mechanism according to which civil society representatives, as well as Members of the European Parliament, ar to be able to request that the Commission commence an investigation into violations by a third party of its obligations under an essential elements clause; (It is not clear to whom other than Members of the European Parliament the term ‘civil society representatives’ might apply. As no definition is possible, it is best not to compromise the text.)
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Highlights the importance of Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) and the involvement of civil society in free trade agreements (FTAs); calls for the further strengthening of the work of DAGs; stresses that they should be fully independent; calls on the Commission to take measures to improve the work of DAGs sucho as providing financial resources, prior information and the possibility of using more advanced media in order to facilitate civil society participation;to facilitate civil society participation; (We should observe a separation of powers between the media and political representatives, and keep the DAGs independent. Placing them under any obligation to the Commission would restrict their independence and would be at odds with the aim of strengthening them.)
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to improve the quality of both ex-ante and ex- post assessments and emphasises in particular that such impact assessments should take account of sensitive sectors and of the potential effects of any trade agreements on the outermost regions and their local production, so that specific measures can be put in place for the operators and produce concerned and potentially affected; stresses the need to always submit a deep sustainability impact assessment, including on human, social and environmental rights, for any trade policy initiative; expresses its concern at the lack of interim and ex-post assessments and that the quality of the existing ones is very low, as demonstrated in the European Court of Auditors Special Report 02/2014; insists that high-quality interim and ex-post evaluations be carried out in respect of all trade agreements in order to allow policymakers, stakeholders and European taxpayers to assess whether trade agreements have achieved the intended results; asks the Commission to provide data on the impact of the trade agreements which have been concluded with special regard to SMEs and the creation of jobs;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls on the Commission to focus in a balanced way on the conclusion of the ongoing trade negotiations in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit, and to show the potential benefits of the concluded trade agreements before launching new FTA negotiations, while bearing in mind the sensitive nature of certain products and sectors; reminds the Commission to carry out a thorough, impartial and unprejudiced ex-ante evaluation of European interests before deciding on future FTA partners and negotiation mandates;
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Calls on the Commission to assess in consultation with all sectors concerned the impact of the cumulative effects of the various sensitive-product quotas in order to protect key sectors of the EU economy by reassessing proposals in future free trade agreements;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines, particularly in the context of the current talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the EU- Japan FTA, the high importance for all trade negotiations of focusing on core sensitive issues such as the recognition and protection of geographical indications (GIs) andccess to public procurement and exclusion of public services and audiovisual services from negotiations when negotiating FTAs;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines, in the context of the current talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the EU- Japan FTA, the high importance of focusing on core sensitive issues such as the protection of geographical indications (GIs), sensitive products and public procurement when negotiating FTAs;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Calls on the Commission to start negotiations for an investment agreement with Taiwan in parallel with the one with China; underlines that, in the context of the migration challenges, special focus should be put on the post-Cotonou framework; asks for further impetus to be given to negotiating FTAs with both Australia and New Zealand all the while keeping in mind during said future negotiations that the agricultural sector is very sensitive, as noted in its resolution of 17 February 2016 on the opening of FTA negotiations with Australia and New Zealand;
Amendment 279 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls on the Commission to assess the possibilities and impact of cumulation, in particular for those sensitive products affected by quotas or liberalisation under ongoing negotiations or trade agreements already concluded; reiterates that exclusions for the most sensitive products should be examined on a case by case basis, as should limited volume quotas or appropriate transitional periods;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses that further trade liberalisation measures require the EU to be able to respond even more effectively to unfair trading practices and ensure a level playing field; underlines that TDIs must remain an indispensable component of the EU’s trade strategy and enable greater competitiveness by re-establishing where necessary the conditions for fair competition; recalls that the current EU trade defence legislation dates back to 1995; stresses that the Union’s trade defence system needs to be modernised urgently without being weakened; points out that EU trade defence law must be more effective, accessible for SMEs and adapted to today’s challenges and trade patterns, and also increase transparency and predictability; regrets that the TDI modernisation proposal is blocked in the Council; regrets that the Commission does not refer at all to the need for TDI modernisation in its ‘Trade for All’ communication; calls on the Council to boost its efforts regarding TDI modernisation urgently, especially at a time when China is firmly requesting recognition of MES, and asks the Commission to present a new proposal;
Amendment 288 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Stresses that further trade liberalisation measures require the EU to be able to respond even more effectively to unfair trading practices and ensure a level playing field; underlines that TDIs must remain an indispensable component of the EU’s trade strategy; recalls that the current EU trade defence legislation dates back to 1995; stresses that the Union’s trade defence system needs to be modernised urgently; points out that EU trade defence law must be more effective, adapted to today’s challenges and trade patterns, and also increase transparency and predictability; regrets that the TDI modernisation proposal is blocked in the Council; regrets that the Commission continues to apply the lesser duty rule and does not refer at all to the need for TDI modernisation in its ‘Trade for All’ communication; calls on the Council to boost its efforts regarding TDI modernisation urgently, especially at a time when China is firmly requesting recognition of MES, and asks the Commission to present a new proposal;
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 a (new)
Paragraph 34 a (new)
34a. Points out that the Commission has undertaken to exclude public services from EU trade agreements and reiterates that public services shall not figure in trade negotiations;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34 b (new)
Paragraph 34 b (new)
34b. Reiterates that all trade negotiations shall respect the cultural exemption and exclude audiovisual services; reiterates the importance of being able to preserve, protect or promote cultural and linguistic diversity, abiding fully by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions;