26 Amendments of Ska KELLER related to 2011/0117(COD)
Amendment 7 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) a special arrangement for the least- developed countries and least-developed regions.
Amendment 9 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point e
Article 2 – point e
(e) ‘'EBA beneficiary countries’' means beneficiary countries of the special incentive arrangement for least developed countries and least developed regions as listed in Annex IV;
Amendment 10 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – point e a (new)
Article 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) 'Least-developed region' means a customs union or a free trade area where the majority of the members are least- developed countries and all members have committed to form a customs union among themselves through a legally binding instrument setting out timeframes for implementation.
Amendment 13 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
aa) it has been classified by the World Bank as an upper-middle income country during the three consecutive years immediately preceding the update of the list of beneficiary countries and it is not considered to be vulnerable due to a lack of diversification and insufficient integration within the international trading system, as defined in Annex VII;
Amendment 15 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. Paragraph 1(b) shall not apply to least- developed countries or to least-developed regions.
Amendment 16 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) the removal of a beneficiary country from the list of GSP beneficiary countries, in accordance with paragraph 3 and on the basis of Article 4(1)(a) and (b), shall happen in phases over a period of 10 years.
Amendment 19 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. The requesting country shall submit its request to the Commission in writing. The request shall provide comprehensive information concerning the ratification and effective implementation of the conventions listed in Annex VIII and shall include the binding undertakings referred to in Article 9(1)(c),(d) and (e).
Amendment 20 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Commission's decision on initial eligibility shall be made on the basis of the conclusions and recommendations of the relevant monitoring bodies and any information submitted by third parties, including civil society and trade unions.
Amendment 21 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 7
Article 10 – paragraph 7
7. The Commission shall notify the requesting country of a decision taken in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 5 and publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union announcing and motivating its decision. Where the requesting country is granted the special incentive arrangement, it shall be informed of the date on which that decision enters into force.
Amendment 24 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 4
Article 14 – paragraph 4
4. In drawing its conclusions concerning effective implementation of the conventions referred to in Annex VIII the Commission shall assess the conclusions and recommendations of the relevant monitoring bodies, and any information submitted by third parties, including civil society and trade unions or the European Parliament.
Amendment 25 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 6
Article 15 – paragraph 6
6. The Commission shall seek all information it considers necessary, inter alia, the conclusions and recommendations of the relevant monitoring bodies and any information submitted by third parties, including civil society and trade unions or the European Parliament. In drawing its conclusions, the Commission shall assess all relevant information.
Amendment 26 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 8
Article 15 – paragraph 8
8. Where the Commission considers that the findings do not justify temporary withdrawal, it shall adopt a decision to terminate the temporary withdrawal procedure in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 38(2). The decision shall be fully motivated, based on evidence received, and be published immediately.
Amendment 27 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Article 17 – paragraph 1
1. An eligible country, as listed in Annex I, shall benefit from the tariff preferences provided under the special arrangement for the least-developed countries and least- developed regions, referred to in Article 1(2)(c), if that country is identified by the United Nations as a least-developed country or if that country belongs to a least-developed region.
Amendment 28 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) serious and systematic violation of principles laid down in the conventions listed in Part A of Annex VIII, in accordance with Article 19(2a);
Amendment 29 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point d
Amendment 32 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall accept for review a submission from the European Parliament or other third parties, including trade unions or civil society, with regard to an alleged violation of Article 19(1).
Amendment 33 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – point b
Article 19 – paragraph 4 – point b
(b) set forth the measures that the beneficiary country must undertake to comply with Article 19(1); state that the Commission will monitor and evaluate the situation in the beneficiary country concerned for six months from the date of publication of the notice.
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 – paragraph 9
Article 19 – paragraph 9
9. Where the Commission considers that the findings do not justify temporary withdrawal, it shall decide, in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 38(2), to terminate the temporary withdrawal procedure. The decision shall be fully motivated, based on evidence received, and be published immediately.
Amendment 35 #
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, it shall be empowered, in accordance with Article 36, to adopt delegated acts to amend Annex II, III, IV, whichever is applicable, in order to temporarily withdraw the tariff preferences referred to in Article 1(2). The decision shall be fully motivated, based on evidence received, and be published immediately.
Amendment 36 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Every developing countries in a least- developed region shall be classified as a "beneficiary country" in the meaning of Article 67(a) of Regulation (EEC) No. 2454/93.
Amendment 37 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 33 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 33 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. A least-developed region is considered to be a regional group in the meaning of Article 67(k) of Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93.
Amendment 39 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex VIII – Part B - point 27 a (new)
Annex VIII – Part B - point 27 a (new)
27a. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks;
Amendment 41 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9 - first paragraph
Recital 9 - first paragraph
(9) The general arrangement should be granted to all those developing countries which share a common developing need and are in a similar stage of economic development. These arrangements should provide a real alternative for ACP countries that do not wish to conclude an Economic Partnership Agreement. Countries which are classified by the World Bank as high- income or upper-middle income countries have per capita income levels allowing them to attain higher levels of diversification without the scheme's tariff preferences and include economies which have successfully completed their transition from centralised to market economies. ThosSome countries which are classified by the World Bank as upper-middle income countries however, are still vulnerable due to the lack of diversification and their insufficient integration in the world economy. High- income countries and non-vulnerable upper-middle income countries do not share the same development, trade and financial needs as the remaining developing countries; they are at a different stage of economic development, i.e they are not similarly-situated as the more vulnerable developing countries; and, so as to prevent unjustified discrimination, they need to be treated differently. Furthermore, the use of tariff preferences provided under the scheme by high-income or non- vulnerable upper-middle income countries increases the competitive pressure on exports from poorer, more vulnerable countries and therefore could impose unjustifiable burden on those more vulnerable developing countries. The general arrangement takes account of the fact that the development, financial and trade needs are subject to change and assures that the arrangement remains open if the situation of a country changes.
Amendment 44 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The Commission should monitor the status of ratification of the international conventions and their effective implementation, by examining the conclusions and recommendations of the relevant monitoring bodies established under the respective conventions, and any information submitted by third parties, including civil society and trade unions. Every two years, the Commission should present, to the European Parliament and the Council, a report on the status of ratification of the conventions, the compliance of the beneficiary countries with any reporting obligations under the conventions, and the status of the implementation of the conventions in practice.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) Regional integration is an important instrument for sustainable development. Developing countries and least-developed countries which are building regional economic blocs share common development, trade or financial needs. Therefore developing countries which belong to a least-developed region, meaning a customs union or a free trade area where the majority of the members are least-developed countries and all members have committed to form a customs union among themselves, should also enjoy the same special arrangement as for the least-developed countries.
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The special arrangement for the least- developed countries and least-developed regions should continue to grant duty-free and quota-free access to the European Union market for products originating in the least-developed countries or countries belonging to least-developed regions, as recognised and classified by the United Nations, except for trade in arms. For a country no longer classified by the UN as a least-developed country or a country formerly belonging to a least-developed region, a transitional period should be established, to alleviate any adverse effects caused by the removal of the tariff preferences granted under this arrangement. Tariff preferences provided under the special arrangement for the least- developed countries and least-developed regions should continue to be granted for those countries belonging to a least- developed countriesregion, which benefit from another preferential market access arrangement with the European Union.