Activities of Marlene MIZZI related to 2014/2228(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) (A8-0175/2015 - Bernd Lange)
Amendments (24)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Citation (new)
Citation (new)
– having regard to its earlier resolutions of 23 October 2012 on trade and economic relations with the United States1, 23 May 2013 on trade and investment negotiations with the United States of America2, 12 March 2014 on the US NSA surveillance programme, surveillance bodies in various Member States and their impact on EU citizens’ fundamental rights and on transatlantic cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs3,
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Citation (new)
Citation (new)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Commission is currently negotiating on behalf of the European Union a deep, comprehensive and high standards trade and investment partnership agreement with the United States (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – TTIP) that aims to foster and facilitate commercial exchange of goods and services and enhance investment through inter alia the removal of trade barriers; whereas a significant number of European citizens have voiced legitimate concerns that this agreement would threaten fundamental EU regulations, in particular in the fields of labour rights, environmental protection and food and safety standards
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. reaffirming that existing and future provisions and policies in support of the cultural sector in particular in the digital world are out of the scope of the TTIP negotiations;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Stresses that the main outcome of the negotiations should lead to a deep, comprehensive, ambitious, high-standard, free-trade and investment agreement, that respects and promotes European values, stimulates sustainable growth and the creation of high-quality jobs and contributes to the well-being of all European citizens, by placing their interest at the heart of the TTIP trade deal;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas in order to contribute to the well-being of all European citizens the objectives of the TTIP is to increase trade and investment between the European Union and the United States;should be to regulate globalisation and support sustainable trade and investment flows in a balanced way across Europe, sustainable economic growth, decent jobs creation and promotion of the European Social Model
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Demands that the main outcome of the negotiations be an ambitious and comprehensive agreement, bringing a significant market opening for EU companies, including SMEslead to a deep, comprehensive, ambitious high-standard trade and investment agreement, bringing a significant market opening and new opportunities for EU companies, in particular SMEs and directly benefitting European consumers by placing consumers' interest at the heart of this trade deal;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas the Committee on Petitions has received a number of petitions raising concerns about the EU-US trade agreement (TTIP); whereas the petitioners’ main concerns are related to risks regarding the quality of food imports, the transfer of data from the EU to the US, in particular information allegedly collected by the US regarding natural and legal persons (the right of EU citizens to ‘digital self-determination’), transparency, economic impact, and protection of investorhe lack of transparency of the negotiations, the potential negative economic impact of TTIP, in particular in terms of employment and wages, and the transfer of public authorities’ right to regulate to corporations via the Investor- State Dispute Settlement mechanism (ISDS);
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) continue the current efforts to increase transparency, promote an even closer engagement with the European Parliament, as well as full involvement of civil society and social partners given the potential impact TTIP will have on the lives of the European citizens;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Recital D b (new)
Recital D b (new)
Db. whereas the European Ombudsman’s investigation of July 2014 regarding the transparency of the TTIP scrutinised the withholding of key documents and alleged granting of privileged access to certain stakeholders; whereas the European Ombudsman received more than 6000 emails in reply to its TTIP public consultation;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is convinced, however, that TTIP should not only cut down barriers but also aim at promoting European high levels ofsafeguard the European high standards of labour rights, consumer protection and healthcare; observes that in most sectors EU and US standards and regulatory environments ensure this high level; considers, therefore, that approximating our regulations represents a unique chance to establish even high-er quality standards and laws for consumers which will be the de facto international standards;
Amendment 47 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the importance of developing the trade relationship and bilateralbalanced trade and investment relations between the European Union and the United States of America in order to help growth and employment and generate new economic opportunitieswith adequate safeguards to provide the highest labour, social, health and environmental standards on a global level in order to generate new economic opportunities and regulate globalisation, so that social and environmental dumping is excluded;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Reiterates the importance of the European Parliament's role having the last word in ratification of trade agreement; Notes that the European Parliament will only give its consent to a fair transatlantic and investment agreement that respects and promotes European values, stimulates sustainable growth, support the creation of high-quality jobs and contributes to the well-being of all European citizens;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) guarantee the protection of Services of General Interest;
Amendment 76 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Welcomes the decision of the European Ombudsman concerning its inquiry in relation to the European Commission’s efforts to make TTIP negotiations transparent and accessible to the public; calls on the Commission to rapidly implement the Ombudsman’s recommendations related to public access to consolidated negotiating texts, greater proactive disclosure of TTIP documents and increased transparency as regards meetings that Commission officials hold on TTIP with business organisations, lobby groups or NGOs.
Amendment 77 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Suggests that further steps are needed in order to continue the Commission’s efforts to increase transparency and to promote more comprehensive participation and involvement of the various stakeholders in the negotiating process and in particular of civil society and consumers organisations, given the potential impact TTIP will have on the lives of European citizens;
Amendment 83 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. SuggestBelieves that a more proactive approach to transparency on the part of the Commission couldis absolutely crucial in order to make the negotiating process more legitimate in the eyes of citiz, and urges the Commission to publish all negotiating documents, and encourages the Commission to publish documentsincluding US offers to the EU, in the fashion of standards practices for all international trade negotiations conducted within the frame of the World Trade Organisation, and make meeting information available;,
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Deeply regrets that the access given to Members of the European Parliament to TTIP negotiating texts is extremely limited, as only a very partial selection of documents is made available to them, in a fashion that is not conducive to proper parliamentary scrutiny of the negotiations; highlights that documents available in the EP secured reading room do not contain any consolidated material or any text tabled by the US;
Amendment 92 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Regrets that the petition filed by over one and a half million Europeans was not qualified by the European Commission as a ‘European Citizens’ Initiative’, due to limitations contained in the ECI legislative framework; regrets that in effect these limitations entail that any ECI on trade issues could only be admissible after the entry into force of a trade agreement, and that ECIs aimed at influencing ongoing trade negotiations are not permitted in the current framework;
Amendment 105 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Highlights the high levels of public scrutiny given to the agreement via petitions, which raised strong concerns about the transparency of the negotiations and the adverse negative effects on workers’ rights and public services including health care, social services, education, water and sanitation
Amendment 111 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises that consumer protection and compliance with higher European quality standards for foods and products should be at the centre of the negotiations on the TTIP., the highest standards of environmental protection and strictest control of industrial emissions in the EU and the US and the proper safeguards to protect citizens’ data, should be at the centre of the negotiations on the TTIP; negotiators should not consider any commitments on data protection within the framework of TTIP pending the conclusion of on-going legislative work in this field in the EU and US
Amendment 120 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the priorities and concerns of SMEs are fully taken into account in the TTIP negotiations e.g. by means of impact assessments or targeted public consultationNotes that TTIP should aim at opening the markets and providing new opportunities for EU companies especially for small and medium sized business; Calls on the Commission to ensure that the priorities and concerns of SMEs are fully taken into account in the TTIP negotiations e.g. by including a specific SME chapter to facilitate participation in transatlantic trade and reduce costs for SMEs by eliminating double certification requirements, creating a fast track custom procedures and establishing a one-stop shop information system for SMEs;
Amendment 201 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expects the agreementat TTIP includes a specific chapter on SME's, which aims to make it easier for SMEs to participate in transatlantic trade and reduce costs by modernising, digitising, simplifying and streamlining procedures, eliminate double certification requirements and by raising the de minimis threshold for customs duties and non-randomised controls;
Amendment 221 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Transparency, civil society involvement and public outreach Notes the decision of the Council of the European Union to publish the EU negotiating directives for the ongoing TTIP negotiations; equally notes the decision of the Commission to publish more EU negotiating texts and to allow broader access to other documents in the context of the TTIP negotiations; nevertheless considers that further steps are needed to continue the current efforts to further increase transparency, promote closer engagement with the Member States and various stakeholders and in particular with civil society given the potential impact the agreement will have on the lives of the European citizens;