14 Written explanations of Sorin MOISĂ

I voted in favour of this report because emerging technologies such as blockchain and DLTs have the potential to improve EU economic competitiveness, while creating a trusted social and economic environment for citizens and companies.Parliament through this report shows its open-mindedness towards this new technology, carefully acknowledging related challenges, and asks the European Commission and EU Member States to make use of such tools in our public sector, boost Digital Single Market efforts and embrace innovation-friendly policies, but also provide legal certainty and long-term perspectives to EU investors and entrepreneurs.

. ‒ The high-potential 3D printing technology is no longer captive in a closed market. This opens the door for many use cases, benefitting businesses and private users alike. Similarly, it provides numerous advantages across industries. For SMEs, it may decrease significantly the cost of labour and offers flexibility in design, whereas for large companies the footprint of the industrial additive manufacturing system is much lower than the traditional one. I therefore welcome this report that offers clear recommendations to the European Commission on how to further facilitate transition towards legal certainty while stimulating innovation and growth in the EU.

. ‒ I welcome this agreement, which establishes a comprehensive framework for enhanced bilateral cooperation between the EU and Australia. We now have the right legal basis for broadening our bilateral relationship by building on shared values and covering policy areas such as the environment, climate change, energy, education, culture, health, labour, disaster management, fisheries and maritime affairs, transport, legal cooperation, and combating money laundering and terrorist financing, organised crime and corruption.The framework agreement also contains basic provisions on economic and trade cooperation (including on trade and investment related areas, agricultural trade, sanitary and phytosanitary issues etcetera), creating the conditions for negotiation of a fully fledged free-trade agreement between the EU and Australia. It is important that such negotiations be launched before the summer of 2018.

. ‒ I fully endorse this resolution and I welcome, in particular, the fact that it supports the upcoming launch of negotiations for an EU-Australia free-trade agreement. As the rapporteur for this proposal in the Committee on International Trade, I believe it is important that such negotiations start before the summer of 2018. I trust that the Council will adopt the negotiating directives during the Bulgarian Presidency and will fully take into account the input provided by Parliament in the resolution of 26 October 2017 containing its recommendation to the Council on the proposed negotiating mandate for trade negotiations with Australia.

. ‒ I voted in favour of this agreement, which implements the commitment assumed under the EEA agreement by the EU and Norway to pursue further liberalisation in the agricultural trade and to carry out reviews at regular intervals. The result of the current review is significant: 36 tariff lines, ranging from plants to fermented beverages, will be eliminated and new quotas will be opened for certain EU exports (meat, cheese and cereals). While I welcome such new opportunities for EU producers, I note however that further work needs to be undertaken in order to address remaining trade barriers, notably the imposition by Norway of ad valorem duties for beef and lamb meat and for cheese.

I welcome the positive vote in the European Parliament, which paves the way for a Council decision allowing the enforcement of certain provisions of the Schengen acquis in Romania and Bulgaria. For Romania, this has an immediate practical value, as it gives to national authorities the possibility to consult the Schengen visa information data, in order to take better decisions on national visa applications and work towards a coordinated approach with the other Schengen countries.More importantly, this is yet another confirmation of the fact that Romania belongs in Schengen. The vote today in the European Parliament confirms what the European Commission had been saying since 2009 and was reiterated by President Juncker on 13 September 2017 in his State of the Union Address – that Romania fulfils all the conditions to join Schengen and should be allowed to do so immediately.

I drafted this report firmly believing that the 100 million in macrofinancial assistance and the accompanying reform package can offer real transformative potential for the Moldovan economy and society. The package supports the country’s commitment to sound management of public finances, the fight against corruption and money laundering, the depoliticisation of public administration, an independent judiciary, media freedom, reform of the energy sector and implementation of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. I encourage the Moldovan authorities to fully implement the ambitious programme of reforms that forms part of this package, and to take very seriously the recent recommendations of the Venice Commission, in the context of the debate over electoral reform, which will no doubt be the focus of monitoring under the Joint Statement adopted by the three EU institutions.

I voted in favour of granting autonomous trade concessions to Ukraine, to help this country overcome the economic and political difficulties generated by the annexation of Crimea. The stability of the countries that are included in the European neighbourhood policy should be a constant EU concern and this report shows clearly that trade policy can help the EU to attain its broader external action objectives. On the other hand, the EU should calibrate its trade policy in a way that ensures an optimal effect on the number and quality of jobs in Europe. With this idea in mind, I took the initiative, together with my colleague Iuliu Winkler (EPP), to eliminate from the Commission’s initial proposal a trade concession on urea, which would have affected negatively the EU market and producers, notably from Member States in close geographical proximity, such as Romania.

I voted in favour of this report, which underlines the continued engagement of Serbia on the path of EU integration. Serbia’s progress in implementing economic reforms has been confirmed by the opening of negotiations on Chapter 20 (Enterprise and Industrial Policy) and by the good record in the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. At the same time, much remains to be achieved in order to strengthen democracy. Substantial progress in the negotiation of the chapters related to the rule of law (chapters 23 and 24) is therefore essential.

I welcome the formation of a new government in the country and the adoption of this well-balanced report. Parliamentary elections have taken place in accordance with international standards and in line with OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and this is a good opportunity to permanently end the political and institutional crisis and enhance stability and prosperity. Further reforms are required for the country to stay on course for its EU and Euro-Atlantic integration, notably in key areas like the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, media freedom, as well as regional cooperation. At the same time, economic integration should be enhanced through market-based economic policies, with particular focus on preserving macro-economic stability and reducing youth unemployment.

. ‒ I supported the call by the S&D Group for an ambitious approach, and I am happy to see that call answered today. I strongly believe that EU consumers do not want indirectly to finance human right abuses and armed conflict when they buy everyday goods like mobile phones, household appliances or jewellery.This legislation imposes mandatory checks, to be performed by companies that import so-called ‘conflict minerals’ (tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold sourced in conflict regions) into the EU. The new rules are flexible and combine extensive coverage (95% of all conflict minerals imported into Europe will now be covered) with protection for small EU businesses (e.g. dental practices), which will not face any additional burden.

I voted for CETA because it is good for our economy, particularly for SMEs, and it does not threaten our choices, values or laws. More than 70 000 EU companies export to Canada, over 50 000 of them SMEs, and over 865 000 European jobs depend, directly or indirectly, on those exports. All of these figures are likely to increase significantly with the application of CETA.CETA is not perfect, but is a progressive agreement leading to a fairer trade policy. The resolution that Gianni Pittella and I tabled on behalf of the S&D Group clearly states that further improvements are needed, especially as regards sustainable development (sanctions-based approach to non-compliance) and completion of the work programme on the investment court system. Both matters should get under way as soon as the provisional application starts.

As S&D shadow rapporteur for CETA, I have tabled this Resolution together with Gianni Pittella on behalf of the S&D Group. The resolution reflects the S&D Group’s common view that CETA is an important step in the right direction - a more progressive trade policy, where the benefits are widely spread among all citizens.The S&D Group has spoken with one clear voice calling in its Resolution for further improvements, notably: better provisions on sustainable development and a sanctions-based approach in case of non-compliance, further improvements to the Investment Court System and full involvement of the European Parliament in the designation of judges, improved protection of public services, better and more balanced public participation and increased opportunities for EP involvement in the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements in general and CETA in particular.

As the S&D shadow rapporteur for this file, I was directly involved in reaching an agreement with the Council and the Commission on an amended proposal, improving the text initially presented by the Commission.The amended text voted by Parliament, which I fully support, foresees the extension to Ecuador (following its accession to the EU-Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru) of the safeguard mechanisms already implemented in EU law and improvements to one of these mechanisms, the stabilisation mechanism for bananas. Amongst other things, at the request of Parliament, there is an alert mechanism when banana import volumes reach 80% of the trigger import volume agreed with the countries in question. The Commission shall continue to carry out annual analyses of the state of the market and the situation of European producers after expiry of the stabilisation mechanism for bananas in 2019.As it stands, the adopted text reaches a good result in ensuring that the opening of the EU market to producers from the countries concerned (and notably from Ecuador, which is the biggest source of import of bananas into the EU market) does not negatively affect the functioning of the EU market and the situation of European producers.