Activities of Kader ARIF related to 2009/2219(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on human rights and social and environmental standards in international trade agreements PDF (270 KB) DOC (163 KB)
Amendments (25)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
Citation 4
having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and other United Nations instruments in the field of human rights, in particular the Covenants on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) and, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the 1994 United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17
Citation 17
having regard to the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and Global Jobs Pact, adopted by a worldwide consensus on 19 June 2009 at the International Labour Conference, and the 2008 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation,
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
having regard to the conclusion of the negotiations between the EU, Colombia and Peru, and with the countries of Central America, on signature of a Multi- Party Trade Agreement,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26a (new)
Citation 26a (new)
- having regard to the international agreements on the environment, such as the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987), the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes (1999), the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997),
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 26b (new)
Citation 26b (new)
- having regard to Chapter 13 of the free trade agreement between the European Union and South Korea, signed in October 2009,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Aa (new)
Recital Aa (new)
Aa. whereas the social, environmental and human rights clauses incorporated in trade agreements pursue the objective of an economy which is respectful of human needs and of the environment, and of fairer, more socially balanced, more human globalisation which is genuinely conducive to sustainable development,
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas distortions of competition and the risks of environmental and social dumping are becoming more and more frequent, to the detriment in particular of undertakings and workers in Europe who are required to comply with more stringent social, environmental and fiscal standards,
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas reciprocity should once more be the rule in relations between the European Union and non-member Statesthe EU must adopt a differentiated strategy in accordance with its trading partners’ level of development, as regards both its social and environmental demands and trade liberalisation, to create the conditions for just and fair international competition,
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas bilateral fora have become the main platform for pursuing these political objectives, so much sodefending these objectives must be a priority in bilateral negotiations, given that the prospects for establishing multilateral rules governing relations between trade, labour or the environment within the WTO framework are not very promising,
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas there are many reasons for including provisions on human rights and social and environmental standards in international trade agreements, from the wish to establish fair and equitable trade and a level playing field to the more prescriptive approach of upholding the EU’s universal values supported by the EU and pursuing consistent European policies,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas the Lisbon Treaty reaffirms that the European Union’s external action, of which trade is an integral part, should be guided by the same principles as those which inspired its creationconducted in accordance with all the EU’s objectives, including its social, environmental and development aid objectives; whereas the European social model, which combines sustainable economic growth with better working and living conditions, can also serve as a model for other partners; whereas trade agreements must also be compatible with other obligations and international agreements which the parties have entered into, in line with their national laws,
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
Recital I
I. whereas the generalised system of preferencesGSP+ aims to promote respect for international labour standards, human rights, protection of the environment and the principles of good governance through supplementary tariff preferences, and whereas failure to comply with these conditions can lead to the trading arrangement being suspended,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Calls therefore for the European Union’s future trade strategy to preserve European commercial interests and for the EU and its trading partners mutually to respect the application and implementation of clauses on human rights andno longer to envisage trade as an end in itself but as an instrument for the promotion of fair trade and to bring into general practice the effective inclusion and implementation of social and environmental standards with all EU trade partners; considers that the EU should adopt a positive but also a legally binding approach in its negotiations; underlines that including provisions on sustainable development, particularly in bilateral agreements, will benefit all parties;
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1a (new)
Paragraph 1a (new)
1a. Recalls that the common commercial policy is an instrument in the service of the European Union’s overall objectives, that, pursuant to Article 207 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the EU’s common commercial policy must be conducted ‘in the context of the principles and objectives of the Union’s external action’, and that, pursuant to Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union, it must contribute, in particular, ‘to the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter’;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Reaffirms that the objectives of maintaining and preserving an open and non-discriminatory multilateral trade system on the one hand, and protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development on the other hand, should be mutually supportive; underlines that, pursuant to Article 20 of the GATT, the Member States may adopt trade measures to protect the environment, as long as they do not abuse such measures for protectionist purposesse measures are not applied in a manner that constitutes arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Firmly supports the practice of including legally binding human rights clauses in the EU’s international agreements but points out that major challenges persist with regard to monitoring and implementing these clauses; reiterates the fact that these clauses must also be included in all trade and sectoral agreements, with a clear and precise consultation mechanism modelled on Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement; in this respect welcomes the inclusion of such a clause in the free trade agreement with Colombia;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Underlines the fact that the same approach of systematic inclusion should also be applied to the chapters on sustainable development in bilateral agreements; considers nonetheless that the requirement on application of standards could vary between countries, according to their economic situation, and that gradual and flexible application is therefore necessary, with the negotiation taking account of the partner’s capacity;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12a (new)
Paragraph 12a (new)
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12b (new)
Paragraph 12b (new)
12b. Stresses that respect for these standards must be understood to include their ratification, their incorporation into national law and their effective implementation throughout the country’s territory;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Underlines that in the context of free trade agreements, conditional liberalisations including shortening the timetable for abolishing restrictions or access to an additional market couldmust be envisaged, depending on compliance with environmental and social standards;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 – point a
Paragraph 14 – point a
(a) welcomnotes the use of impact studies on sustainable development but considers that they should also be carried out once the agreement is in place, and not only ex- antebefore, during and after the negotiations, to ensure continuing evaluation; also points out the importance of acting in full on their results; also considers that the negotiators should take more account of the priorities and concerns that emerge from these impact studies;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point b
Paragraph 15 – point b
(b) appeals to an independent body to settle disputes relating to social and environmental problems speedily and effectively, such as panels of experts selected by both parties on the basis of their expertise in human rights, labour law and environmental law, and whose recommendations would have to form part of a well-defined process, with implementing provisions,
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 – point c
Paragraph 15 – point c
(c) recourse to a dispute settlement mechanism on an equal footing with the other parts of the agreement, with provision for fines to improve the situation in the sectors concerned, or at least a temporary suspension of certain trade benefits provided for under the agreement, in the event of an aggravated breach of these standards;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Considers that the 27 conventions for which ratification is requested so that they can benefit from GSP+ represent a unique mixture of conventions on human rights, labour law, sustainable development and good governance; underlines that to date, GSP+ has had a positive and visible impact with regard to ratification of these conventions, but less so with regard to their implementation, and therefore hopes to place more emphasis on accompanying measures to improve implementation capacity; also believes that, to ensure the credibility of GSP+, the Commission must systematically launch investigations and where appropriate withdraw preferences if consistent evidence indicates that some countries are not implementing the 27 conventions;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Encourages the Commission, during the process of reviewing the GSP+ system, to adjust the criteria for application of this system to ensure that it really benefits the least developed countries, and to establish points of comparison, mechanisms and transparent criteria for granting and withdrawing preferences under this sysintroduce a simplification of the rules of origin so that countries that benefit from the Everything But Arms initiative and the GSP+ system may derive maximum benefit from the preferences grantemd; calls for full participation by the European Parliament throughout this process, particularly with regard to the Council proposal on the lists of beneficiary countries, the launching of investigations or the temporary suspension of GSP+;