Activities of Nicola CAPUTO related to 2015/2105(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A forward-looking and innovative future strategy for trade and investment (A8-0220/2016 - Tiziana Beghin) IT
Amendments (17)
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers the opening of new markets to be of the utmost importance in the context of the current farming crisis and accordingly favours the balanced negotiation of bilateral or multilateral agreements with third countries, provided that the most sensitive sectors are adequately protected; considers it vital, however, to encourage domestic demand in relation to fruit and vegetable consumption in particular, since 24 of the 28 Member States consume less than the daily portion of 400 g recommended by the World Health Organisation;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Calls on the Commission to actively promote the agricultural interests of the EU and to facilitate access to the markets of third countries for European products, in view of the substantial export potential of high-quality European agrofood products; stresses, inter alia, the need to step up promotion programmes, including by increasing the EU's cofinancing rate;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Takes the view that the common agricultural policy has been a pillar of European policy since its introduction in 1962; recalls that, ever since the creation of the CAP, the European Union has insisted on ‘Community preference’, which means giving priority to products from the Member States;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Points out that the European Union’s common agricultural policy runs counter to the major agricultural policies in the rest of the world, under which agricultural support is directly linked to prices or production volume and is characterised by its countercyclical nature; takes the view that it is important under these circumstances to negotiate agricultural free-trade agreements that do not destabilise the European agricultural and rural sector;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Opposes any form of negotiation involving the treatment of European agriculture as an expendable bargaining chip and warns of the cumulative effect of tariff concessions granted under different trade agreements; points out that a zero rate of duty is imposed on 71 % of all EU agri- food imports; stresses the need for specific studies drawn up by independent bodies on the repercussions on European agriculture of existing trade agreements and the potential impact of those currently being negotiated;
Amendment 39 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. OpposesStresses that agriculture is a highly strategic political issue on which food security and the way of life of all Europeans depend; opposes, therefore, any form of negotiation involving the treatment of European agriculture as an expendable bargaining chip and warns of the cumulative effect of tariff concessions granted under different trade agreements; points out that a zero rate of duty is imposed on 71 % of all EU agri- food imports;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Takes the view that any trade negotiations must be aimed at the strict preservation of standards on food security and human and animal health, as defined under EU legislation, ensure that fundamental values of the EU such as the precautionary principle and sustainable agriculture are respected, and firmly oppose any lowering of food standards;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Deplores the Commission's approach, which too often grants concessions in the field of agriculture for the purpose of gaining better access, in third countries, to the market for industrial goods and services; calls on the Commission to stop placing the interests of industry and services before those of agriculture;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Regrets that agriculture is the adjustment variable in international negotiations; regrets that this also applies to the negotiations with the US;
Amendment 70 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to conduct impact assessments of European agriculture and to publish the results before launching negotiations; stresses the need to consult all stakeholders, particularly at Parliament; considers that these impact assessments should consider the particular characteristics of all basic agricultural products;
Amendment 84 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that trade agreements should ensure a level playing field between the different trading partners in the agricultural sector, taking into account the high environmental, food safety and social costs to be met by European farmers, so as to ensure that the latter are able to benefit fully from the opening of new markets; tariff barriers remain an indispensable tool to this end and must be maintained;
Amendment 95 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Recalls that EU producers are obliged to meet the highest standards in terms of quality, product hygiene, sustainable production methods, plant health, animal health and welfare, traceability, pesticide residue control, veterinary medicine and additives;
Amendment 96 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the Commission to ensure that compliance with European standards of food safety, human, plant and animal health, and consumer protection is a fundamental and essential principle of the negotiations for European agriculture;
Amendment 98 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Strongly believes that producers in third countries wishing to export to the EU must provide European consumers with the same guarantees in terms of health, food safety, animal welfare, sustainable development and minimum social standards as those required of EU producers; stresses that this is the only way to ensure that EU farmers compete with third countries on equal terms and stresses the need for tighter import controls at borders and more stringent Food and Veterinary Office inspections of production and marketing conditions in countries exporting to the EU in order to ensure compliance with Union rules;
Amendment 106 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the protection of geographical indications should be a sine qua non in trade negotiations with third countries, especially the USA; therefore opposes the conclusion of any trade agreement which does not comply with the principle of geographical indications;
Amendment 114 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Regrets that,under recently concluded or ongoing trade negotiations, only a ‘short list’ of EU geographical indications is protected by our trading partners; asks the Commission to establish rules ensuring a high level of protection of all EU geographical indications of economic relevance on the markets of third countries with which negotiations are under way, together with suitable implementing measures; notes that the protection and recognition of geographical indicators in third countries is potentially of great value to the entire EU agri-food sector;
Amendment 130 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. rejects any negotiations which would jeopardise the precautionary principle;