68 Amendments of Daniel VARELA SUANZES-CARPEGNA
Amendment 1 #
2008/2289(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas Mexico has embarked on a scheme of structural reforms in strategic sectors and has become the world's tenth economic power,
Amendment 2 #
2008/2289(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas Mexico's strategic situation and its network of trade agreements mean that this country is of great strategic importance for European exports, the European Union being its second source of foreign investment,
Amendment 4 #
2008/2289(INI)
Draft opinion
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas immigration, inter alia, is one of the most important and most sensitive issues for Mexico, and in view of the quantity and quality of Mexican immigrants in the European Union,
Amendment 5 #
2008/2289(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Highlights the positive effects that the application of the Global Agreement has had for both parties, with an increase in bilateral trade of more than 100% being recorded;
Amendment 6 #
2008/2289(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the EU-Mexico Strategic Partnership is part of the bilateral relationshipwill give fresh impetus to the bilateral relationship and will favour the expansion and improvement of cooperation programmes, such as the Integral Support Programme for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (PIAPYME), the results of which will benefit both parties; calls, in this context, for an information campaign to be carried out to publicise all the programmes from which both parties will benefit within the framework of this deepening of their relations; points out that this strategic partnership will serve still further to consolidate coordination between the two parties in the main multilateral fora and institutions;
Amendment 7 #
2008/2289(INI)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls on the Joint Council, on the basis of the Future Developments Clause, under Article 43 of the Global Agreement, to consider the timeliness of establishing, inter alia, an agreement on an immigration policy between the two parties, in particular as it concerns Mode 4 procedures.
Amendment 13 #
2008/2237(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas SMEs, when initiating their processes of internationalisation, have to deal with specific problems, such as lack of international experience, scarcity of experienced human resources, a highly complex international regulatory framework, and the need to introduce changes in organisation and business culture,
Amendment 138 #
2008/2237(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 a (new)
Paragraph 19 a (new)
19a. Calls for the strengthening of the Market Access Teams set up by the Commission within its delegations in third countries, as well as for the creation in that same context of a service to be specifically responsible for following up problems related to SMEs, to consist of business specialists;
Amendment 139 #
2008/2237(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 b (new)
Paragraph 19 b (new)
19b. Believes that the programmes for the internationalisation of SMEs at national or regional level are an extremely useful tool and are yielding good results; calls for their continued cofinancing from the ERDF and for increased funding for transnational cooperation projects between sectoral associations aimed at supporting SMEs' export and internationalisation capacities, jointly opening new markets and developing joint marketing strategies in third countries;
Amendment 140 #
2008/2237(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19 c (new)
Paragraph 19 c (new)
19c. Believes it is desirable to encourage the creation of joint ventures or other partnership agreements between SMEs with a view to entering new markets, developing projects for direct investment in third countries, and participating in calls for tenders; calls on the Commission to mobilise resources, especially via the European territorial cooperation objective, so as to promote transnational cooperation between SMEs in the EU;
Amendment 10 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D a (new)
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas SMEs have to cope with specific problems when embarking on the process of internationalisation, such as their lack of international experience, the difficulty of gaining access to finance, the shortage of experienced human resources, a very complex international normative framework or the need to overcome their aversion to risk and make changes in their structure and company culture,
Amendment 26 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Emphasises the importance to SMEs of the conclusion of the negotiations on all chapters of the Doha Round;
Amendment 63 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Welcomes the Commission’s current efforts to provide access to third country markets, but considers that further improvements should be made to make this instrument more suited and more easily exploitable by SMEs, and that a dialogue should be held with professional organisations to this end;
Amendment 65 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that the Market Access DatabaseTeams set up by Commission in its delegations to third countries should be strengthened and that a desk specifically responsible for monitoring SME-related issues and made up of specialists on company matters should be set up within them;
Amendment 81 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Takes the view that the Commission should refrain from concluding free-trade agreements or other trade agreements that are not favourable to the European economy as a whole and to SMEs in particular or that do not provide for trade concessions at similar level, except in the cases of the least developinged countries;
Amendment 85 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Takes the view that it is also necessary to extend support programmes so that SMEs have access to all global markets in which they can be competitive;
Amendment 97 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new) (after the new sub-heading "Supporting the internationalisation of SMEs")
Paragraph 30 a (new) (after the new sub-heading "Supporting the internationalisation of SMEs")
Supporting the internationalisation of SMEs 30a. Considers that national or regional support programmes for the internationalisation of SMEs are a very useful tool producing good results; asks that they continue to be co-financed using ERDF funds and that more financial resources be allocated to transnational cooperation projects developed by sectoral associations, with the aim of supporting the export and internationalisation capability of SMEs, jointly opening up new markets and developing common marketing strategies in third countries;
Amendment 98 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 b (new)
Paragraph 30 b (new)
30b. Stresses the need to improve access to finance, and especially to micro-credit, for SMEs; believes that Community instruments such as the European Investment Fund, the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme and the 'Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises' (JEREMIE) can help develop a better framework for access to finance for SMEs with internationalisation plans;
Amendment 99 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 c (new)
Paragraph 30 c (new)
30c. Considers that the creation of joint ventures or other partnership agreements between SMEs should be fostered as a strategy for penetrating new markets, developing direct investment projects in third countries and taking part in invitations to tender; calls on the Commission to mobilise resources, especially through the 'European territorial cooperation' objective, to promote transnational cooperation among SMEs in the European Union;
Amendment 100 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 d (new)
Paragraph 30 d (new)
30d. Welcomes the creation of Market Access Teams in the Commission's delegations to third countries and recognises the important work they can carry out to support the penetration of new markets by SMEs, help them with tendering procedures, and become a point of reference regarding infringements of intellectual property rights;
Amendment 101 #
2008/2205(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 e (new)
Paragraph 30 e (new)
31e. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up their efforts in the fields of research and development, improving access to finance and fiscal aspects that impose the greatest burden on companies, given that these are key elements of business competitiveness and, thus, of the capability of European SMEs to operate on the international stage;
Amendment 3 #
2007/2265(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
Amendment 25 #
2007/2265(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Believes that the agreement should commit the parties to ratifying the core International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions and ensuring their effective implementation, particularly as regards child and forced labour, the eradication of which is a crucial challenge for the ILO, as it points out in its report entitled 'End of Child Labour: Within Reach;
Amendment 28 #
2007/2265(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Invites the Commission to consider ways of providing incentives to countries that improve labour standards, so as to ensure that the spread of FTAs does not undermine the attractiveness of qualifying for GSP+ status, whilst also studying the possibility of introducing a clause ratifying the basic United Nations and ILO conventions on human and labour rights, particularly those relating to child and forced labour;
Amendment 42 #
2007/2265(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Considers it necessary to give detailed treatment to the fishing industry, and in particular the tuna sector, given the strong socio-economic impact that the full and immediate liberalisation of tariffs would have on this sensitive sector, as recognised by the Commission in its study on the sector drawn up at Parliament's request;
Amendment 43 #
2007/2265(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Stresses the importance of compliance with hygiene and health rules in the fishing industry as a means of achieving the improved and increased development of the industry in these countries, as well as fair competition with the EU fishing industry;
Amendment 2 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1 a (new)
Citation 1 a (new)
1a. having regard to its resolution of 15 November 2007 on the European interest: succeeding in the age of globalisation1,,
Amendment 4 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 b (new)
Citation 2 b (new)
2b. having regard to its resolution of 25 October 2006 on the annual report from the Commission to the European Parliament on third country anti- dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard action against the Community (2004)1,
Amendment 18 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas in the framework of the Doha Development Agenda, the WTO rules on trade defence are subject to multilateral negotiations which have not yet been resumed; whereas, the vast majority of WTO member states do not intend to introduce new trade defence rules which would lead to more free and fair trade without protectionism
Amendment 19 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the EU has already one of the most liberal TDI regimes in comparison to its trading partners; whereas unilateral reform could have tremendous effects on the competitiveness of European companies,
Amendment 20 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the European Parliament has already stated its opposition to a unilateral dismantling of the TDIs and its preference to maintain the existing level of stringency,
Amendment 22 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas, in TDI investigations, a balance has too often failed to be attained among taking timely action when unfair trade is injuring EU industry, the need to maintain the quality and thoroughness of Commission investigations and the maintenance of transparency and opportunity for all interested parties to contribute,
Amendment 30 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas, European competitiveness depends on the ability to shelter European companies from uncompetitive and unfair trade practice, whereas European production and manufacturing play a crucial role in the creation of economic growth and employment,
Amendment 31 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
Amendment 36 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas, in a globalised world, EU companies need a reinforced mechanism to combat unfair commercial practices, allowing them to create jobs and stimulate growth in the EU,
Amendment 42 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Stresses the importance of enhancing the competitiveness of EU industries by eliminating unfair trade practices in international trade; underlines the importance of effective TDIs;
Amendment 44 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Amendment 45 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
Amendment 51 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Considers that, in the absence of internationally recognised rules on competition, the current European TDI system is the best response to ensure a level playing field for all actors and to avoid distorting effects in international trade;
Amendment 52 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Recalls that negotiations are currently taking place on multilateral disciplines concerning TDIs within the framework of the DDA ; welcomes those negotiations but regrets US opposition to reforms of the WTO’s framework for TDIs; Notes that the worldwide increase in the use of TDIs, particularly by advanced industrial countrie and, calls for new and more stringent rules at WTO level so as to ensure free and fair world trade is maintained;
Amendment 53 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Warns of the danger of unilaterally weakening the EU to such an extent that it is unable to counteract unfair trading practices in an international context marked by the proliferation of such practices and the intensive, and often abusive, use of trade defence measures by third countries against imports from the EU;
Amendment 57 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reiterates the belief in the benefits of an open trading system, based on free and fair competition, offsetting its potentially disruptive impact, and contributing decisively to the stimulation of growth and the creation of jobs; takes the view that the EU should continue to promote increased global liberalisation and free and fair trade and resist any protectionist temptation;
Amendment 59 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines that the EU already has a TDI regime with higher standards, resulting in more stringent application, than other trading partners especially with regard to the initiation, course and subsequent outcome of these investigations;
Amendment 62 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 67 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Emphasises that TDIs are not intended to serve the general economic interests of the EU, but to protect the interests of producers and employees against impairment caused by dumping or illegal subsidies;
Amendment 75 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Believes that the current EU TDI system already takes due account of the rightful and legitimate interests of all European stakeholders, as was stated by the majority of governments and stakeholders during the public consultation on the above-mentioned Green Paper;
Amendment 76 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 80 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges the Commission to demand a strict application of the existing WTO rules on dumping and subsidies to the emerging economies such as China; asks the Commission to engage in bilateral talks on free and fair competition with these countries;
Amendment 85 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 86 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
Amendment 89 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Believes that the EU TDI system should address all increasing unfair trading actions that hamper the ordinary course of trade, such as fraud, circumvention and dual pricing, which greatly affect fair competition in international markets;
Amendment 100 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
Amendment 103 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Believes that the current application by the Commission lacks clarity with regard to the initiation of investigations; stresses the need to concentrate the investigations in this phase on gathering evidence of dumping and injury;
Amendment 107 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls for the creation of a special TDI-helpdesk for SMEs for advice on the preparation of complaints; asks further to provide a simplified questionnaire for SMEs; asks the Commission to grant open access to Eurostat and access to information collected on site by EU representations in third countries concerned;
Amendment 117 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on Commission and the Member States to take into account the long-term impact of TDI measures on consumers, by assessing their consequences in terms of price level, quality, availability and choice as well as sustainable competition in the markets;
Amendment 126 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Believes that there is no reason to reconsider the current definition of "Community industry" to take greater account of the interests of those companies which have moved or subcontracted part of their production outside the Union in so far as those companies are not affected by the duties unless they engage in dumping or receive subsidies;
Amendment 129 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Considers that anti-dumping procedures should always give priority to the need to restore a level playing field, as the effects of unfair competition in the long run are against the interests of all participants in the Community market;
Amendment 130 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Considers therefore that the analysis of the impact on other interests can only justify the non-imposition of anti- dumping measures in exceptional cases, where it is obvious that defence measures will not be able to improve the situation of Community producers, and in any event cannot justify a downward adjustment in the level or duration of the duties imposed;
Amendment 137 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Endorses the creation of the Hearing Officer within the Commission’s DG Trade to assist interested parties; calls on the Hearing Officer to submit, following an independent analysis, to the European Parliament periodic reports in particular on the handling of cases by the Commission, including the conformity of the administrative practices with the basic regulations, and on the synthesis of its activities; stresses that for the sake of transparency and ensuring a meaningful role for the Hearing Officer, his/her reports following individual interventions should be made known to interested parties and the Antidumping Committee;
Amendment 140 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and predictability of the procedure of TDI investigations in the EU, to accelerate and simplify procedures, as well as to facilitate the accessibility of TDIs for SMEs, as they constitute the majority of the European industrial sector;
Amendment 153 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Stresses that the EU current de minimis thresholds that apply to dumping and injury should not be set at a higher level; states that for the dumping de minimis threshold, even low levels of dumping can have very significant effects in the market, in particular on price sensitive and seasonal products;
Amendment 156 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Takes the view that AD and countervailing duty measures applied by the Commission should take the alternative form of quotas or tariff-quotas when this is deemed appropriate and that a phase-in or phase-out system similar to the one implemented in the footwear case is put into operation in new cases involving products suitable for final consumpform of tariffs in order to comply with the relevant WTO regulations;
Amendment 159 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
Amendment 173 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Underlines that the legal certainty and the legal framework within which TDI investigations are conducted, are fundamental, taking into account that the standard court procedure takes too long to properly address possible flaws in TDI investigations; underlines the need to ensure that interested parties have recourse to expedited judicial review;
Amendment 194 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36 a (new)
Paragraph 36 a (new)
36a. Calls on the Commission to enhance the competitiveness of producer industries in the Union by eliminating all competitive distortions which occur in international trade so as to ensure workable international competition;
Amendment 197 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37 a (new)
Paragraph 37 a (new)
37a. Urges the Commission not to change its administrative practice before a revision of the basic legislation has taken place;
Amendment 202 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38 a (new)
Paragraph 38 a (new)
38a. Urges the Member States to uphold a European common approach and solidarity on this issue which would enable a better use of TDIs in the Community in favour of European industry and its workers when they are confronted with unfair competition;
Amendment 205 #
2007/2198(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to pursue with coherence and determination the objective of modernising TDIs and making them more suitable to face new globalisation challenges while refraining from any protectionist behaviourstrengthening and modernising TDIs; Urges the Commission to consider the outcome of ongoing WTO negotiations and the consensus among Member States before reforming the European regulation on TDIs;