Activities of Robert STURDY related to 2010/2233(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on Relations of the European Union with the Gulf Cooperation Council
Amendments (7)
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is firmly of the opinion that an EU-GCC FTA would be substantially advantageous to both parties; believes that an FTA with the EU would benefit the internal integration of the GCC and that, following the establishment of the GCC Customs Union, it may also provide a greater impetus to important projects such as the GCC common market, and the completion of a GCC Monetary Union with a single currency; considers that the GCC could benefit from lessons learned in the EU process of a Single Market formation and adoption of a single currency to prevent similar weaknesses in its own economic integration;
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recalls that, following the Lisbon Treaty, international trade policy is one of the EU's foreign policy tools and that as such the Union is obliged to considertakes into account respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights, together with social and environmental dimensions, in all its international agreements;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Believes that a concluded FTA would greatly enhance the current relations between the EU Member States and the GCC countries, particularly the recent Joint Action Programme, by providing increased capacity and institutional framework building; regrets that the diplomatic presence of the EU in the GCC countries remains minimal and hopes that under the new EEAS the EU will increase its diplomatic presence in the region, in cluding a Union Delegation in each one of the six GCC countriesose cooperation with national diplomatic services of EU Member States present in the GCC countries to make the most of their aggregated expertise of the region; believes that a more significant diplomatic presence would also greatly increase the chances of a speedy conclusion of the FTA and its subsequent implementation;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Proposes the establishment of a regular Heads of State and Government summit between the EU and the GCC; stresses that this summit could enhance the political, financial, economic, commercial and cultural ties between the EU and GCC immensely ; strongly encourages both the EU and the GCC top political decision- makers to move towards this summit, regardlesseet on a regular basis in order to jointly define and promote common interests, thus enhancing the likelihood of the FTA conclusion and signature. in the nearest possible future;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Suggests the use of the euro and other national currencies of EU Member States in all types of trade between the EU and the GCC;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Notes that all six GCC countries currently benefit from preferential access to the EU market under the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP); is of the opinion that, given the level of economic progress in the region, the FTA would be a better tool to spread commercial benefits throughout the region; considers therefore that as part of the next review of the GSP, preferential access to the EU market for GCC countries should be reassessed;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Reaffirms that the primary objective of the EU in its relations with the GCC should be to conclude the FTA; but, until this happens, and following what some of the GCC major trade partners have already done, encourages the HR/VP and the Commissioner for Trade to assess alternative approaches to future commercial relations with the GCC countries, in the form of bilateral agreements between the EU and those of the Gulf States that already feel prepared to engage in a further commitments with the EU in view of a comprehensive FTA.