14 Amendments of Jan ZAHRADIL related to 2021/0297(COD)
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) By providing preferential access to the Union market, the scheme should assist developing countries in their efforts to wealth creation and reduceing poverty and achieve and promote good governance and sustainable development by helping them to generate additional revenue through international trade, which can then be re- invested for the benefit of their own development and, in addition, to diversify their production and exports and thus upgrading their economies. The scheme's tariff preferences should focus on those developing countries that have greatercountries most in development, trade and financial needs.
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 a (new)
Recital 7 a (new)
(7 a) The GSP scheme should be based on engaging with partner countries in a continuous and cooperative manner to help them develop and enforce international social, human and environmental standards.
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7 b (new)
Recital 7 b (new)
(7 b) The GSP scheme brings also important benefits to Union businesses importing from GSP countries, particularly those with GSP+ and EBA status, as reduction of duties leads to a reduction of costs.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) Countries graduating from the Least-Developed Countries (LDC) category established by the UN should be incentivised to continue on the path of sustainable development. For this purpose, the economic vulnerability criteria to qualify for the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance should be eased compared to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012, to facilitate access by a larger number of countries graduating from the least developed country categoryevaluating, however, capacity of these countries to fulfill necessary conditions i.e. ratify and implement relevant international conventions.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) Common Customs Tariff duties on non-sensitive products should continue to be suspended, while duties on sensitive products should enjoy a tariff reduction, in order to ensure a satisfactory utilisation rate and maximize the development effect of the mechanism while at the same time taking account of the situation of the corresponding Union industries.
Amendment 177 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) The reasons for temporary withdrawal of the arrangements under the scheme should include serious and systematic violations of the principles laid down in international conventions concerning core human rights (including certain principles of international humanitarian law enshrined in those conventions), labour rights, climate and environmental protection, and good governance,so as to promote the objectives of those conventions. Tariff preferences under the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance should be temporarily withdrawn if the beneficiary country does not respect its binding undertaking to maintain the ratification and effective implementation of those conventions or to comply with the reporting requirements imposed by the respective conventions, or if the beneficiary country does not cooperate with the Union's monitoring procedures as set out in this Regulation. The temporary withdrawal should continue until the reasons justifying it no longer apply. The temporary withdrawal could have long term consequences for GSP economies as well as Union businesses investing in these countries. It could have severe impacts on workers and the most vulnerable and those suffering of violations. The temporary withdrawal should be used as a last resort provided all other avenues have been explored; it should follow alerts, cooperation and assistance to allow for engagement to effectively address these failings. In situations characterised by an exceptional gravity of the violations, the Commission should have the power to respond rapidly by adopting measures within a shorter timeline. Under the Union’s zero tolerance approach for child labour the reasons for temporary withdrawal should include exports of goods made by internationally prohibited child labour, as well as forced labour including slavery and prison labour, as identified in the relevant Conventions in Annex VI.
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) Orderly international migration can bring important benefits to the countries of origin and destination of migrants and contribute to their sustainable development needs. Increasing coherence between trade, development and migration policies is key to ensure that the benefits of migration accrue mutually to both the origin and destination countries. In this respect, it is essential for both origin and destination countries to address common challenges, such as, stepping up cooperation on readmission of own nationals and their sustainable reintegration in the country of origin, in particular in order to avoid a constant drain in active population in the countries of origin, with the ensuing long- term consequences on development, and to ensure that migrants are treated with dignity. Tariff preferences under the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance should be reviewed if the country of origin does not cooperate in a satisfactory manner on the readmission of its own nationals. If the review deems it necessary, these tariff preferences could be temporarily withdrawn until the country of origin cooperates in a satisfactory manner on the readmission of its own nationals.
Amendment 248 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) it cooperates in a satisfactory manner with the Union and its Member States on the readmission of its own nationals and gives a binding undertaking to maintain ratification of the relevant conventions and to ensure the effective implementation thereof, accompanied by a plan of action for the effective implementation of the relevant conventions;
Amendment 257 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 1
Article 13 – paragraph 1
1. As of the date of the granting of the tariff preferences provided under the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance, the Commission shall, with regard to each of the GSP+ beneficiary countries, keep under constant review and monitor in an open and transparent manner the status of ratification of the relevant conventions and their effective implementation, as well as the cooperation of the GSP+ beneficiary country with the relevant monitoring bodies. In doing so, the Commission shall examine all relevant information, in particular the conclusions and recommendations of the relevant monitoring bodies.
Amendment 263 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 13 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Commission shall support the necessary capacity-building measures and provide specific technical assistance, expertise and advice in order to help beneficiary countries to comply with international commitments.
Amendment 328 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. The temporary withdrawal shall be used as a last resort option when all other means to remedy serious violations fail;
Amendment 337 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 3
Article 19 – paragraph 3
3. Where the Commission, acting upon a complaint or on its own initiative and after duly taking into account the socio-economic effect for a beneficiary country, considers that there are sufficient grounds justifying temporary withdrawal of the tariff preferences provided under any preferential arrangement referred to in Article 1(2) on the basis of the reasons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article it shall adopt an implementing act to initiate the procedure for temporary withdrawal in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2). The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of the adoption of that implementing act.
Amendment 354 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 10
Article 19 – paragraph 10
10. Where the Commission considers that the findings justify temporary withdrawal for the reasons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, it is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 36, to amend Annex I and Annex II, in order to temporarily withdraw the tariff preferences provided under the preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2). In adopting the delegated act the Commission mayshall, where appropriate, consider the socio-economic effect of the temporary withdrawal of tariff preferences in the beneficiary country.
Amendment 362 #
16. Where the Commission considers that there is sufficient evidence to justify temporary withdrawal for the reason set out in paragraph 1, point (a) and the exceptional gravity of the violations calls for a rapid response in view of the specific circumstances in the beneficiary country, it shall initiate the procedure for temporary withdrawal in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (15). However, the period referred to in paragraph 4, point (b) is reduced to 2 months and the deadline referred to in paragraph 8 is reduced to 5 months.