Activities of Judith SARGENTINI related to 2011/2056(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on an effective raw materials strategy for Europe
Amendments (12)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Considers that the EU is dependent on imports of raw material resources for its industry, especially for its high technology sector, and that the EU raw material initiative aims at securing access to these resources;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls the obligations regarding policy coherence for development enshrined in Article 208 of the TFEU; asks the Commission to set up an inter- departmental working group to devise a more detailed strategy on raw materials that respects those obligations and that proposes a policy mix tailored to each of the most critical raw materialshow the EU's strategy on access to raw materials will fulfil its obligation in support of Policy Coherence for Development;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Considers that, despite the fact that developing countries, particularly in Africa, are endowed with rich mineral resources, the current trade pattern whereby developing countries export raw materials and buy manufactured products from industrialised countries has locked them in permanent poverty;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Is concerned over the negative effects the expiry of the GSP regulations could haveCommission's new legislative proposal for radical reform of the GSP, which intends to exclude more than half onf developing countries classified as vulnerable by the Commission, as the revamped Raw Materials Initiative does not refer to GSP orfrom this scheme, a large number of which will be ACP countries; considers that the consequences will be extremely negative for countries who are benefiting from GSP+, and does not propose alternative trade incentives for promotion of human rights, environmental standards and domestic reformss the Commission's proposal would also serve as a punishment by taking away this scheme from those countries in case of "serious and systematic unfair trading practices including the supply of raw materials to EU industries";
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Asks the Commission to quickly present a legislative proposal on transparency and accountability in the extractive industries founded on the standards of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and EITI+ + and on Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act dealing with conflict minerals; recalls that this was proposed by the Committee on Development as a parliamentary priority within the framework of the structured dialogue on the Commission Work Plan for 2012; stresses that transparency, corporate social responsibility and a functioning administration benefit both extracting companies and the societies of resource- rich developing countries;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Recognises the legitimate rights of developing countries' governments and parliaments to enact policies and regulate foreign investment in public interest, in consultation with civil society, in a way that foreign investment benefit the local economy, creates domestic added value and foster development; emphasises that the EU Raw Material Strategy should not hinder this right;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Considers that export restriction, which can take different forms such as export taxes or quota, is a development tool for raw materials exporting countries to give incentive for the development of domestic manufacturing or processing industries with a potential of higher value-added exports;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the country-by-country reporting for extractive industries envisaged by the Commission and asks the Commission to present a legislative proposal on the automatic disclosure of transnational corporations' profit and tax payment in each individual developing countries where they operate in order to fight against abuses of tax havens, tax evasion and illicit capital flights;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Calls on the EU to conclude fair and equitable trade with developing countries including technology transfer, which should serve as a model for sustainable trade policy with a set of social and environmental criteria;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for stronger international cooperationansparent, equitable and fair trade and investment international agreement with a particular focus on strategic raw material resources; takes the view that global initiatives in such a sensitive field may serve as confidence- building measures between the EU and emerging economies like China, Brazil and Indiathis field should promote human and sustainable development of resource-rich and importer countries;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the EU to include investors' obligation and duties to respect human rights, environmental and ILO core labour standard while operating in developing countries; considers that EU companies should be legally liable in their home countries for violation of these rights by their subsidiaries abroad and for entities they control;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Points out that artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) can play a vital role in local life, provide employment and support development goals when it is officially recognised, regulated, and supported; regrets the relative lack of knowledge and analytical tools in this area and underscores the need to increase its visibility, facilitate more effective ASM policy design and implementation, and monitor assistance efforts to help prevent poverty traps such as child labour, unsafe working environment, forced labour, often found in artisanal mining, and conflicts associated with small-scale mining activities.