Activities of Jörg LEICHTFRIED related to 2014/2252(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on Annual reports 2012-2013 on subsidiarity and proportionality
Amendments (8)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Notes the importance of the common commercial policy and EU economic relations with third countries and regional organisations for EU growth and jobs; is therefore of the view that the principle of proportionality and, where applicable, subsidiarity should be duly respected also in these policy areas, particularly when trade agreements are requirdetermined to be of a mixed nature;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Emphasises the need to determine howclarify in relation to the principle of subsidiarity should apply when trade policies include provisions on investments different fromthe division of competence when trade policies impact on different investments other thean foreign direct ones covered by the EU's exclusive competence under the common commercial policy as stated in the Treaty; notes namely the most recent controversies regarding, namely portfolio investments, as controversies persist in current Free Trade Agreements, like the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and the UN Convention on Transparency in Treaty- based Investor-State Arbitration; calls for respect for the proportionality principle to be enforced when bilateral safeguard clauses are negotiated and applied;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Recalls that Article 3 of the TFEU designates the common commercial policy as an integral area of exclusive Union competence which shall be based on uniform principles; notes that the principle of subsidiarity accordingly does not apply for the common commercial policy;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on Member States to unblock the UNCITRAL Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration in order for the Commission to sign the convention on behalf of the whole Union; deplores the current situation where some EU Member States are party to the convention while others are not; considers that this example clearly demonstrates the need for clarity on all sides on the scope of the Union's exclusive competence on foreign direct investment;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Recalls that different policies carried out by Member States as regards investment protection have led to the current situation where EU countries are party to some 1,400 bilateral investment treaties with, at times, different provisions which could lead to distortions within the single market and unequal treatment of EU investors abroad;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. With respect to EU financial assistance to other countries, namely macro-financial assistance, calls for a more in-depth ex- ante impact assessment regarding the proportionality of the proposed measures in order for the assistance to be efficient and genuinely helpful to our partners in need; insists on the necessity of establishing greater conditionality for disbursement of the assistance and proper control of the use of the funds, including measures in relation to the prevention of, and fight against, fraud and corruption, audits by the Court of Auditors and checks conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office, and ensuring that the Union is entitled to full repayment of the loan where it has been established that the receiving country has engaged in fraud , corruption or other illegal activity detrimental to the Union's financial interests in the management of the Union's macro-financial assistance, and substantial scrutiny by Parliament;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Points out the utmost importance of proper consultation, dialogue and involvement of citizens (starting at grass- roots level), businesses (namely SMEs) and civil society in the EU decision- making process for trade policy; stresses in this regard the fundamental importance of transparency in which trade negotiations are to be carried out.
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes the referral of the EU- Singapore Free Trade Agreement to the Court of Justice for an opinion on the potential mixed character of the agreement and hopes that this opinion will be a way of progressing towards greater clarity regarding which features of EU trade negotiations touch on Member States' responsibility.