Activities of Jordi CAÑAS related to 2019/2197(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the implementation of the common commercial policy – annual report 2018
Amendments (46)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission Staff Working Document Report (SWD(2019)370) of 14 October 2019, accompanying the Commission’s report on the Implementation of Free trade Agreements, 1 January 2018 - 31 January 2018 (COM(2019)455),
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 b (new)
Citation 1 b (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication entitled “Trade for All: Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy;
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
Citation 3
— having regard to the Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2019-2024 of the President of the Commission Ms Ursula von der Leyen16 July 2019,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
- having regard to the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015, entitled ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 b (new)
Citation 17 b (new)
- having regard to Articles 2 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and to Chapter V, Title II of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), as well as article 218 TFEU.
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 c (new)
Citation 17 c (new)
- having regard to its resolution in June 2015 on the EU strategy for equality between women and men post-2015;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 d (new)
Citation 17 d (new)
- having regard to its own- initiative resolution on gender equality in trade agreements, March 2018;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 e (new)
Citation 17 e (new)
- Having regard to the gender equality strategy of the European Commission in March 2020;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. Whereas the EU’s common commercial policy is an exclusive competence of the EU that is carried out together by the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. Whereas the Common Commercial Policy comprises a body of trade agreements and legislative measures which aims to ensure that the EU continues to safeguard its existing social and regulatory model, while using trade policy to promote EU values around the world; whereas the EU should step up its efforts to promote fair competition, ensuring a level playing field and addressing contemporary trade issues; whereas fulfilling these objectives requires good orientation of Union trade policy and full and efficient implementation and monitoring thereof in a fairer and more transparent manner;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
A c. Whereas the Union is the world’s leading commercial power and the biggest single market in the world, acting as a major driver of economic prosperity; whereas the Union is the world’s leading exporter of goods and services, sustaining more than 36 million jobs in Europe; whereas the last indicators reveal that in 2019 the EU exports on goods rose to €2.132.3 billion, which amounts to an increase of 3,5% from the previous year, being the largest exporter of agri-food products in the world; whereas despite the current global challenges the main trading partners are the US and China;
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
A d. Whereas the EU trade and investment policy also provides investors with market access and investment protection through legal certainty and a stable, predictable and properly regulated environment in which to conduct their economic activities;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
A e. Whereas since the European Commission adopted in 2015 the Communication entitled ‘Trade for All: Towards a more responsible trade and investment policy’, the EU has concluded and started applying a number of new trade agreements.
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A f (new)
Recital A f (new)
A f. Whereas EU trade agreements should represent opportunities for growth through market access and the lifting of trade barriers; whereas it is of fundamental importance that negotiations are conducted in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit, in order to tackle unfair trade practices and secure EU rules and standards; whereas the Union should continue safeguarding EU geographical indications, which are of great economic and cultural value, in multilateral and bilateral negotiations;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas recent Eurobarometer figures show that around 60 % of the EU citizens believe that the EU’s trade policy bringsy benefits for themrom international trade; whereas part of the public opinion is strongly vocal against trade policy and trade agreements; whereas the European Commission and the Member States must continue to develop a proper communication strategy on trade policy and trade agreements, which aims to tackle misconceptions, erroneous perceptions and distorted interpretations, as well as fake news on trade and to transmit as much information as possible, while targeting specific stakeholders and raising economic operators’ awareness about trade agreements;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that choices in our relationship with the two other trade superpowers, China and the USA, which represent approximately 30 % of our trade exchanges, are key when it comes to driving EU trade policy;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. 5. Stresses its support for an open, fair, balanced, sustainable, and valued based and multilateral trading system, considering that it has been under pressure over the last years;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for a substantive reform of the WTO, based on modernising its rule- book in order to make it more effective by providing structural and long-term solutions; encourages WTO members to reach an ambitious and balanced agreement on the long-standUnderlines the primary political and economic importance of the multilateral system and calls the international trading partners to work towards the achievement of a well- functioning dissue of fishery subsidies during the ministerial summit in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan and send out a clear signal that the WTOpute settlement system at the WTO, based on modernising its rule- book in order to guarantee its still able to deliver on its negotiating funceffectiveness and provide structural and long-term solutions;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Takes note ofIs very concerned with the dramastic change in the US trade strategy over the past three years, which is focused on bilateral trade, the rise of protectionist measures and often legally questionable unilateral trade measures; takes note ofpoints out the limited progress made towards implementing the joint US-EU Statement of 25 July 2018; stresses the importance of relaunching the EU-US talks on the basis of the existing negotiating mandates adopted in April 2019 by the Council;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Expresses deep concern at the damages that the EU agri-food sector is facing as a result of the Airbus-Boeing dispute; stresses that it has been a long- standing conflict whose implications the European Commission had to foresee, ahead of the tariffs applied by the US, in the most thorough and comprehensive manner; deplores the lack of timely solutions and effective preventive measures to counter the negative impact experienced, and therefore urges the European Commission to take its responsibility and increase its efforts for a coordinated and unified EU response;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Points out that in light of the continued application of US tariffs, some actions that have already been taken at EU level for the protection of some sectors could also be taken in order to safeguard other sectors; calls therefore on the European Commission to revise the measures carried out as regards agricultural products, such as table olives, which have been suffering a significant loss of competitiveness and market share, as well as growth, investment and job creation;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes that China remainpresents a market of opportunities because of its size and growth, but that great challenges remain for EU businesses due to the consolidation of the state-lere are many barriers for EU businesses to access and operate in this market, due to the state-led and state- sponsored Chinese economy, where state- owned businesses benefit from exclusive or dominating market access; condemns all types of discriminatory measures facing EU companies in China and calls on the Commission to constantly monitor the persistent acts of discrimination and work with the Chinese authorities in order to put an end to such actdismantle such acts and barriers;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Acknowledges the promising outcome presented in the Commission’s report regarding the implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs), in particular South Korea, Central and Latin America, Canada, Eastern partners, and African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) countries; stresses that EU trade agreements have a clear track record of, in most cases, reaching their primary objective of creating significant opportunities for EU exporters on third- country trade markets;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Acknowledges the promising outcome presented in the Commission’s report regarding the implementation of free trade agreements (FTAs), in particular South Korea, Central and Latin America, Canada, Eastern partners, and African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) countries; stresses that EU trade agreements have a clear track record of, in most cases, reaching their primary objective of creating significant opportunitpoints out however that the European Commission has estimated an increase of negative economic impact of trade and investment barriers for EU exportersas a result onf third- country trade marketse protectionist trend;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17 a. Points out that the large amount of trade and non-trade barriers, the current divergences in the level and quality of controls, customs procedures and sanctions policies at the EU’s points of entry into the Customs Union, often result in distortion of trade flows, which puts at risk the integrity of the single market; therefore urges the European Commission to address this issue, ensuring that companies can compete fairly on a level playing field;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. NotWelcomes the progress made towards implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which aims to provide a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of people and investments; welcomes the EU’s support in setting up the new African Union Trade Observatory; calls for continued EU support for ACFTA in line with the Africa-Europe Alliance for Sustainable Investments and Jobs;
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6 a (new)
Subheading 6 a (new)
Latin America
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19 a. Recalls that the European Union and Latin America maintain close cooperation with each other on the basis of their historical, cultural and economic ties, with the LAC region representing the EU's fifth largest trade partner. Believes that the EU's presence in the region is fundamental in terms of both enhancing cooperation based on shared values as well as a vector for pursuing the EU's external action policy, notably in terms of strengthening the multilateral rules-based trade system;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19 b. Welcomes the conclusions of the trade negotiations with Mexico and the Mercosur countries, which have both the potential to deepen our strategic partnership with Latin America and to create additional opportunities in our trade relations with those countries; notes that such opportunities would also give EU companies access to an increasingly growing market;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19 c. Is convinced that the modernisation of the Association Agreement with Chile will serve to further boost the EU's presence in the wider region and help promote an international trade agenda based on sustainable development, stronger protection for environmental and labour standards and respect for human rights; call on the Commission to ensure the on-going negotiations deliver on these principles and an agreement can be reached in a timely manner;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 d (new)
Paragraph 19 d (new)
19 d. Considers that the Association Agreement between the EU and Mercosur represents the first "block to block" deal of its nature, with the potential to create a free market area encompassing approximately 800 million citizens, and placing the EU in a unique position given its "first mover advantage" in an otherwise highly-protectionist market;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Welcomes the entry into force of the EU-Singapore trade agreement of 21 November 2019; welcomes its consent on the EU-Vietnam agreement and calls for its quick implementation; notes that in 2018 the EU exported to Vietnam around 13.8€ billion worth of goods and points out that the rules-based FTAs and IPAs will ensure predictability and rule-of-law for investors, as well as positively increase exports in both ways and create stability and trust for SMEs; views these agreements as a step towards concluding an FTA with the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region;
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8 a (new)
Subheading 8 a (new)
Stresses that the European Commission and Member States must work on a better communication strategy of EU trade policy benefits and awareness-raising in order to effectively engage with society and stakeholders; recalls that roadmaps provide the opportunity for the European Commission to communicate and explain the reasons behind a particular initiative and its objectives, as well as to engage with them and receive feedback; points out that the European Commission should ensure the full transparency of roadmaps and other consultation activities to maximise their impact and guarantee the involvement of stakeholders;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Welcomes in this regard the inclusion of the Paris Agreement and its binding nature in the TSD Chapter of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, which represents a clear commitment with the fight against climate change, deforestation and to the multilateral approach that is needed in order to reduce global warming.
Amendment 273 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32 a. Notes that rules under EU trade agreements should be effectively enforced in order to ensure their effectiveness and address market distortions; stresses the urgency on this matter and welcomes the European Commission’s proposal to amend the Enforcement Regulation, with the aim of reinforcing the Union’s tools on compliance and enforceability of trade rules; points out that sanctions should only be used as a measure of last resort, as they have proven to be inefficient; asks the European Commission to further clarify the role of the proposed Chief Trade Enforcement Officer;
Amendment 282 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Points out that the share of trade in services in the overall trade picture is underestimated; sStresses that the EU is by far the world’s biggest exporter of services and that services represent about 70 % of the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP);
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes that SMEs account for approximately 30 % of the EU goods exports; supports the idea that a specific chapter on SMEs should be part of all proposed FTAs, as done in the EU-Japan agreement, and that they should be included when revising existing FTAs, as is the case of the modernised Agreement with Mexico; notes that trade barriers and bureaucracy are especially problematic for SMEs that cannot afford the extra work to overcome them;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 a (new)
Paragraph 39 a (new)
39 a. Is convinced of the importance of including gender provisions in free trade agreements, in order to promote gender equality; insist on strengthening the economic position of women in third countries and calls on the European Commission to combat the exploitation of women;
Amendment 308 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 b (new)
Paragraph 39 b (new)
39 b. Believes that trade agreements should become vectors for achieving gender equality and improving living standards for women across all industries covered by the EU's FTAs, especially with regards to equal pay. Notes that women receive less than two-fifths of the benefits of free trade agreements in terms of jobs generated; Insists on the need to start collecting gender-disaggregated data to formulate the provisions necessary to strengthen the position of women and to monitor the progress of women;
Amendment 309 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39 c (new)
Paragraph 39 c (new)
39 c. Welcomes the introduction of gender aspects in the modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement and the recommendations on gender and trade issued by the EU-Canada Joint Committee, setting out a platform that can promote understanding on how trade agreement can contribute to gender equality.