BETA


2011/0328(NLE) EU/Russia Agreement: preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the EU/Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead INTA SUSTA Gianluca (icon: S&D S&D) VAIDERE Inese (icon: PPE PPE)
Committee Opinion AFET
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 091, TFEU 100-p2, TFEU 207-p4, TFEU 218-p6a

Events

2012/07/27
   Final act published in Official Journal
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and Russia relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2012/434/EU on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

BACKGROUND: upon accession to the WTO, Russia will accede to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thus undertaking comprehensive multilateral commitments relating to trade in services with all WTO Members. These commitments largely replicate or exceed their existing commitments regarding trade in services with the EU, which are defined in the current Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Communities, and their Member States, of the one part, and Russia, of the other part, of 24 July 1994 (PCA).

Nonetheless, there remain certain commitments, notably with regard to international maritime transport services and the temporary movement of natural persons for business purposes, where Russia has undertaken more substantial commitments through the existing PCA as compared to multilateral commitments upon WTO accession.

In order to ensure that the existing market access commitments of the Russian Federation will not be made more restrictive for EU service suppliers than those currently in force, it has been agreed between the Parties that Russia would take an appropriate Most Favoured Nation (MFN) exemption from its GATS schedule and preserve these commitments exclusively with the EU.

In accordance with Council Decision 2012/107/EU, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, was signed on 16 December 2011, subject to its conclusion.

It is now appropriate to approve this Agreement on behalf of the EU.

CONTENT:under this Decision, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is approved on behalf of the Union.

It should be noted that the agreement does not require the EU to undertake any commitments.

Basic principle : this Agreement provides that treatment accorded by the European Union to contractual service suppliers of the Russian Federation shall be no less favorable than that accorded to contractual service suppliers of any third country.

Other provisions :

- The temporary entry and stay of natural persons within the Russian Federation pursuant to the fulfillment of this contract shall be for a period of not more than six successive months in any twelve-month period or for the duration of the contract, whichever period is shorter.

- The natural persons entering Russia must possess: (i) a university degree or a technical qualification demonstrating knowledge of an equivalent level; and (ii) professional qualifications where this is required to exercise an activity in the sector concerned pursuant to the laws, regulations or requirements of Russia.

- The natural person shall not receive remuneration for the provision of services other than the remuneration paid by the contractual service supplier during its stay in Russia.

- The natural persons entering Russia must have been employed by the contractual service supplier for at least the year preceding the date of submission of an application for entry into Russia. In addition, the natural person must possess, at the date of submission of an application for entry into Russia, at least three years professional experience in the sector of activity which is the subject of the contract.

Services concerned : the contract to provide services has to be obtained in one of the following sectors of activity which are included and defined in Russian Federation's GATS schedule of commitments:

Legal services; Accounting and bookkeeping services; Taxation services; Architectural services; Engineering services; Integrated Engineering services; Urban planning and landscape architecture services; Computer and related services; Advertising services; Market research services; Management consulting services; Services related to management consulting; Technical testing and analysis services; Advisory and consulting services incidental to mining; Related scientific and technical consulting services; Translation and Interpretation services; Maintenance and repair of equipment, including transportation equipment; Environmental services.

Quotas : Russia might establish an annual quota of work permits reserved to European Union natural persons gaining access to the Russian services market under the provisions of this Decision . In the first year in which the provisions enter into force, this annual quota shall be no lower than 16000. In the following years, the annual quota shall be no lower than the quota of the preceding year.

It should be noted that this understanding shall not apply to measures affecting natural persons seeking access to the employment market of a Party, nor shall it apply to measures regarding citizenship, residence or employment on a permanent basis.

Provisional application and implementation : in order to ensure these commitments will continue to apply from the time that the Russian Federation accedes to the WTO, the Agreement should be applied provisionally from the date of such accession.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall enter into force on 24.07.2012.

2012/07/24
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
2012/07/24
   EP - End of procedure in Parliament
2012/07/24
   CSL - Council Meeting
2012/07/04
   EP - Text adopted by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2012/07/04
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2012/07/04
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement Russia relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement on trade in services which will grant new opportunities to EU maritime transport agencies seeking to set up in Russia. It also gives preferential access for people working for European service companies who need to work in Russia in order to start a business there. It foresees a minimum quota of 16 000 work permits per year for this.

Documents
2012/06/01
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The Committee on International Trade unanimously adopted the report drafted by Gianluca SUSTA (S&D, IT) in which it recommends the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Members accept the need for the EU to conclude a bilateral agreement with Russia in order to secure additional bilateral trade concessions over and above those available under the multilateral regime, thus preserving the current commitments on access to the Russian market for EU providers in two service sectors, namely maritime trade and the temporary movement of natural persons for business purposes).

Documents
2012/05/30
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
2012/04/02
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2012/03/08
   PT_PARLIAMENT - Contribution
Documents
2012/01/25
   EP - Responsible Committee
2012/01/17
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
2011/12/09
   CSL - Document attached to the procedure
Documents
2011/12/09
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and Russia relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: u pon accession to the WTO, Russia will accede to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thus undertaking comprehensive multilateral commitments relating to trade in services with all WTO Members. These commitments largely replicate or exceed their existing commitments regarding trade in services with the EU, which are defined in the current Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Communities, and their Member States, of the one part, and Russia, of the other part, of 24 July 1994 (PCA). Nonetheless, there remain certain commitments, notably with regard to international maritime transport services and the temporary movement of natural persons for business purposes, where Russia has undertaken more substantial commitments through the existing PCA as compared to multilateral commitments upon WTO accession.

In order to ensure that the existing market access commitments of the Russian Federation will not be made more restrictive for EU service suppliers than those currently in force, it has been agreed between the Parties that Russia would take an appropriate Most Favoured Nation (MFN) exemption from its GATS schedule and preserve these commitments exclusively with the EU.

The preservation of these commitments would take the form of a bilateral agreement, negotiated between the EU and Russia through an exchange of letters with Russia. The Agreement does not require the EU to undertake any commitments. In order to ensure these commitments will continue to apply from the time that the Russian Federation accedes to the WTO, the Agreement should be applied provisionally from the date of such accession.

It is now appropriate to approve this Agreement on behalf of the EU.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out.

LEGAL BASE: Articles 91 and 100(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: with this Decision, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and Russia relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

It should be noted that t he agreement does not require the EU to undertake any commitments.

Basic principle : this Agreement provides that treatment accorded by the European Union to contractual service suppliers of the Russian Federation shall be no less favorable than that accorded to contractual service suppliers of any third country.

Main provisions : Russia shall allow the supply of services into its territory by contractual service suppliers of the European Union through presence of natural persons subject to the following conditions:

The temporary entry and stay of natural persons within Russia pursuant to the fulfilment of this contract shall be for a period of not more than six successive months in any twelve month period or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less. The natural persons entering Russia must possess (i) a university degree or a technical qualification demonstrating knowledge of an equivalent level and (ii) professional qualifications where this is required to exercise an activity in the sector concerned pursuant to the law, regulations or requirements of the Russian Federation. The natural person shall not receive remuneration for the provision of services other than the remuneration paid by the contractual service supplier during its stay in Russia. The natural persons entering Russia must have been employed by the contractual service supplier for at least the year preceding the date of submission of an application for entry into the Russian Federation. In addition, the natural person must possess, at the date of submission of an application for entry into the Russian Federation, at least three years professional experience in the sector of activity which is the subject of the contract.

The contract to provide services has to be obtained in one of the following sectors of activity which are included and defined in Russia’s GATS schedule of commitments:

Legal services Accounting and bookkeeping services Taxation services Architectural services Engineering services Integrated Engineering services Urban planning and landscape architecture services Computer and related services Advertising services Market research services Management consulting services Services related to management consulting Technical testing and analysis services Advisory and consulting services incidental to mining Related scientific and technical consulting services Translation and Interpretation services Maintenance and repair of equipment, including transportation equipment Environmental services

Quotas : Russia might establish an annual quota of work permits reserved to European Union natural persons gaining access to the Russian services market under the provisions of this Decision . In the first year in which the provisions enter into force, this annual quota shall be no lower than 16000. In the following years, the annual quota shall be no lower than the quota of the preceding year.

It should be noted that this understanding shall not apply to measures affecting natural persons seeking access to the employment market of a Party, nor shall it apply to measures regarding citizenship, residence or employment on a permanent basis.

Provisional application and implementation : in order to ensure these commitments will continue to apply from the time that the Russian Federation accedes to the WTO, the Agreement should be applied provisionally from the date of such accession.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the proposal has no implication for the EU budget.

Documents
2011/11/10
   EC - Initial legislative proposal
2011/11/10
   EC - Initial legislative proposal published

Documents

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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type
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body
EP
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committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
rapporteur
name: SUSTA Gianluca date: 2012-01-25T00:00:00 group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
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committees/0
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committee
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rapporteur
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shadows
name: VAIDERE Inese group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
docs/0/type
Old
Initial legislative proposal
New
Preparatory document
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-285
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2012-0285_EN.html
events/0
date
2011-11-10T00:00:00
type
Preparatory document
body
EP
docs
events/0
date
2011-11-10T00:00:00
type
Initial legislative proposal published
body
EC
docs
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-176&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-7-2012-0176_EN.html
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
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New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-7-2012-0284_EN.html
procedure/Modified legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure EP 150
New
Rules of Procedure EP 159
activities
  • date: 2011-11-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2011/0724/COM_COM(2011)0724_EN.pdf title: COM(2011)0724 type: Initial legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52011PC0724:EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade Commissioner: DE GUCHT Karel type: Initial legislative proposal published
  • date: 2011-12-09T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=16815%2F11&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC type: Legislative proposal published title: 16815/2011 body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade Commissioner: DE GUCHT Karel type: Legislative proposal published
  • date: 2012-01-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: VAIDERE Inese responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2012-01-25T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: S&D name: SUSTA Gianluca
  • date: 2012-05-30T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: VAIDERE Inese responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2012-01-25T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: S&D name: SUSTA Gianluca
  • body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-176&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A7-0176/2012 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: VAIDERE Inese responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2012-01-25T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: S&D name: SUSTA Gianluca date: 2012-06-01T00:00:00
  • date: 2012-07-04T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21654&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-285 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0285/2012 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: General Affairs meeting_id: 3184
  • date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00 body: EP type: End of procedure in Parliament
  • date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00 body: EP/CSL type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
  • date: 2012-07-27T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32012D0434 title: Decision 2012/434 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2012:200:TOC title: OJ L 200 27.07.2012, p. 0001
commission
  • body: EC dg: Trade commissioner: DE GUCHT Karel
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
date
2012-01-25T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: SUSTA Gianluca group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
shadows
name: VAIDERE Inese group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) abbr: PPE
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Foreign Affairs
committee
AFET
opinion
False
committees/1
body
EP
shadows
group: PPE name: VAIDERE Inese
responsible
True
committee
INTA
date
2012-01-25T00:00:00
committee_full
International Trade
rapporteur
group: S&D name: SUSTA Gianluca
council
  • body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: General Affairs meeting_id: 3184 url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=SMPL&ROWSPP=25&RESULTSET=1&NRROWS=500&DOC_LANCD=EN&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC&CONTENTS=3184*&MEET_DATE=24/07/2012 date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00
docs
  • date: 2011-11-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2011/0724/COM_COM(2011)0724_EN.pdf title: COM(2011)0724 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2011&nu_doc=724 title: EUR-Lex type: Initial legislative proposal body: EC
  • date: 2011-12-09T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=16816%2F11&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 16816/2011 type: Document attached to the procedure body: CSL
  • date: 2012-04-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE485.846 title: PE485.846 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2012-07-04T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-285 title: T7-0285/2012 type: Text adopted by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-03-08T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2011)0724 title: COM(2011)0724 type: Contribution body: PT_PARLIAMENT
events
  • date: 2011-11-10T00:00:00 type: Initial legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2011/0724/COM_COM(2011)0724_EN.pdf title: COM(2011)0724 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2011&nu_doc=724 title: EUR-Lex
  • date: 2011-12-09T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=16815%2F11&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 16815/2011 summary: PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and Russia relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. BACKGROUND: u pon accession to the WTO, Russia will accede to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thus undertaking comprehensive multilateral commitments relating to trade in services with all WTO Members. These commitments largely replicate or exceed their existing commitments regarding trade in services with the EU, which are defined in the current Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Communities, and their Member States, of the one part, and Russia, of the other part, of 24 July 1994 (PCA). Nonetheless, there remain certain commitments, notably with regard to international maritime transport services and the temporary movement of natural persons for business purposes, where Russia has undertaken more substantial commitments through the existing PCA as compared to multilateral commitments upon WTO accession. In order to ensure that the existing market access commitments of the Russian Federation will not be made more restrictive for EU service suppliers than those currently in force, it has been agreed between the Parties that Russia would take an appropriate Most Favoured Nation (MFN) exemption from its GATS schedule and preserve these commitments exclusively with the EU. The preservation of these commitments would take the form of a bilateral agreement, negotiated between the EU and Russia through an exchange of letters with Russia. The Agreement does not require the EU to undertake any commitments. In order to ensure these commitments will continue to apply from the time that the Russian Federation accedes to the WTO, the Agreement should be applied provisionally from the date of such accession. It is now appropriate to approve this Agreement on behalf of the EU. IMPACT ASSESSMENT: no impact assessment was carried out. LEGAL BASE: Articles 91 and 100(2) and the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(6)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). CONTENT: with this Decision, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and Russia relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is hereby approved on behalf of the Union. It should be noted that t he agreement does not require the EU to undertake any commitments. Basic principle : this Agreement provides that treatment accorded by the European Union to contractual service suppliers of the Russian Federation shall be no less favorable than that accorded to contractual service suppliers of any third country. Main provisions : Russia shall allow the supply of services into its territory by contractual service suppliers of the European Union through presence of natural persons subject to the following conditions: The temporary entry and stay of natural persons within Russia pursuant to the fulfilment of this contract shall be for a period of not more than six successive months in any twelve month period or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less. The natural persons entering Russia must possess (i) a university degree or a technical qualification demonstrating knowledge of an equivalent level and (ii) professional qualifications where this is required to exercise an activity in the sector concerned pursuant to the law, regulations or requirements of the Russian Federation. The natural person shall not receive remuneration for the provision of services other than the remuneration paid by the contractual service supplier during its stay in Russia. The natural persons entering Russia must have been employed by the contractual service supplier for at least the year preceding the date of submission of an application for entry into the Russian Federation. In addition, the natural person must possess, at the date of submission of an application for entry into the Russian Federation, at least three years professional experience in the sector of activity which is the subject of the contract. The contract to provide services has to be obtained in one of the following sectors of activity which are included and defined in Russia’s GATS schedule of commitments: Legal services Accounting and bookkeeping services Taxation services Architectural services Engineering services Integrated Engineering services Urban planning and landscape architecture services Computer and related services Advertising services Market research services Management consulting services Services related to management consulting Technical testing and analysis services Advisory and consulting services incidental to mining Related scientific and technical consulting services Translation and Interpretation services Maintenance and repair of equipment, including transportation equipment Environmental services Quotas : Russia might establish an annual quota of work permits reserved to European Union natural persons gaining access to the Russian services market under the provisions of this Decision . In the first year in which the provisions enter into force, this annual quota shall be no lower than 16000. In the following years, the annual quota shall be no lower than the quota of the preceding year. It should be noted that this understanding shall not apply to measures affecting natural persons seeking access to the employment market of a Party, nor shall it apply to measures regarding citizenship, residence or employment on a permanent basis. Provisional application and implementation : in order to ensure these commitments will continue to apply from the time that the Russian Federation accedes to the WTO, the Agreement should be applied provisionally from the date of such accession. BUDGETARY IMPLICATION: the proposal has no implication for the EU budget.
  • date: 2012-01-17T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-05-30T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2012-06-01T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-176&language=EN title: A7-0176/2012 summary: The Committee on International Trade unanimously adopted the report drafted by Gianluca SUSTA (S&D, IT) in which it recommends the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Members accept the need for the EU to conclude a bilateral agreement with Russia in order to secure additional bilateral trade concessions over and above those available under the multilateral regime, thus preserving the current commitments on access to the Russian market for EU providers in two service sectors, namely maritime trade and the temporary movement of natural persons for business purposes).
  • date: 2012-07-04T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21654&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2012-07-04T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-284 title: T7-0284/2012 summary: The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Agreement Russia relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement on trade in services which will grant new opportunities to EU maritime transport agencies seeking to set up in Russia. It also gives preferential access for people working for European service companies who need to work in Russia in order to start a business there. It foresees a minimum quota of 16 000 work permits per year for this.
  • date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00 type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament body: EP/CSL
  • date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00 type: End of procedure in Parliament body: EP
  • date: 2012-07-27T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal summary: PURPOSE: to conclude an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and Russia relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2012/434/EU on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. BACKGROUND: upon accession to the WTO, Russia will accede to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), thus undertaking comprehensive multilateral commitments relating to trade in services with all WTO Members. These commitments largely replicate or exceed their existing commitments regarding trade in services with the EU, which are defined in the current Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the European Communities, and their Member States, of the one part, and Russia, of the other part, of 24 July 1994 (PCA). Nonetheless, there remain certain commitments, notably with regard to international maritime transport services and the temporary movement of natural persons for business purposes, where Russia has undertaken more substantial commitments through the existing PCA as compared to multilateral commitments upon WTO accession. In order to ensure that the existing market access commitments of the Russian Federation will not be made more restrictive for EU service suppliers than those currently in force, it has been agreed between the Parties that Russia would take an appropriate Most Favoured Nation (MFN) exemption from its GATS schedule and preserve these commitments exclusively with the EU. In accordance with Council Decision 2012/107/EU, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, was signed on 16 December 2011, subject to its conclusion. It is now appropriate to approve this Agreement on behalf of the EU. CONTENT:under this Decision, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Government of the Russian Federation relating to the preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the current EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is approved on behalf of the Union. It should be noted that the agreement does not require the EU to undertake any commitments. Basic principle : this Agreement provides that treatment accorded by the European Union to contractual service suppliers of the Russian Federation shall be no less favorable than that accorded to contractual service suppliers of any third country. Other provisions : - The temporary entry and stay of natural persons within the Russian Federation pursuant to the fulfillment of this contract shall be for a period of not more than six successive months in any twelve-month period or for the duration of the contract, whichever period is shorter. - The natural persons entering Russia must possess: (i) a university degree or a technical qualification demonstrating knowledge of an equivalent level; and (ii) professional qualifications where this is required to exercise an activity in the sector concerned pursuant to the laws, regulations or requirements of Russia. - The natural person shall not receive remuneration for the provision of services other than the remuneration paid by the contractual service supplier during its stay in Russia. - The natural persons entering Russia must have been employed by the contractual service supplier for at least the year preceding the date of submission of an application for entry into Russia. In addition, the natural person must possess, at the date of submission of an application for entry into Russia, at least three years professional experience in the sector of activity which is the subject of the contract. Services concerned : the contract to provide services has to be obtained in one of the following sectors of activity which are included and defined in Russian Federation's GATS schedule of commitments: Legal services; Accounting and bookkeeping services; Taxation services; Architectural services; Engineering services; Integrated Engineering services; Urban planning and landscape architecture services; Computer and related services; Advertising services; Market research services; Management consulting services; Services related to management consulting; Technical testing and analysis services; Advisory and consulting services incidental to mining; Related scientific and technical consulting services; Translation and Interpretation services; Maintenance and repair of equipment, including transportation equipment; Environmental services. Quotas : Russia might establish an annual quota of work permits reserved to European Union natural persons gaining access to the Russian services market under the provisions of this Decision . In the first year in which the provisions enter into force, this annual quota shall be no lower than 16000. In the following years, the annual quota shall be no lower than the quota of the preceding year. It should be noted that this understanding shall not apply to measures affecting natural persons seeking access to the employment market of a Party, nor shall it apply to measures regarding citizenship, residence or employment on a permanent basis. Provisional application and implementation : in order to ensure these commitments will continue to apply from the time that the Russian Federation accedes to the WTO, the Agreement should be applied provisionally from the date of such accession. ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall enter into force on 24.07.2012. docs: title: Decision 2012/434 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32012D0434 title: OJ L 200 27.07.2012, p. 0001 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2012:200:TOC
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade commissioner: DE GUCHT Karel
procedure/Modified legal basis
Old
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
New
Rules of Procedure EP 150
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
INTA/7/08000
New
  • INTA/7/08000
procedure/final/url
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http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32012D0434
New
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32012D0434
procedure/instrument
Old
Decision
New
  • Decision
  • See also 1994/0151(AVC)
procedure/subject
Old
  • 3.40.18 Services sector
  • 6.20.01 Agreements and relations in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
  • 6.20.03 Bilateral economic and trade agreements and relations
  • 6.40.04.02 Relations with Russian Federation
New
3.40.18
Services sector
6.20.01
Agreements and relations in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
6.20.03
Bilateral economic and trade agreements and relations
6.40.04.02
Relations with Russian Federation
procedure/summary
  • See also
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52011PC0724:EN
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52011PC0724:EN
activities/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2011/0724/COM_COM(2011)0724_EN.pdf
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2011/0724/COM_COM(2011)0724_EN.pdf
links/European Commission/title
Old
PreLex
New
EUR-Lex
activities
  • date: 2011-11-10T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/registre/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2011/0724/COM_COM(2011)0724_EN.pdf title: COM(2011)0724 type: Initial legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52011PC0724:EN body: EC type: Initial legislative proposal published commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade Commissioner: DE GUCHT Karel
  • date: 2011-12-09T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=16815%2F11&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC type: Legislative proposal published title: 16815/2011 body: EC type: Legislative proposal published commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade Commissioner: DE GUCHT Karel
  • date: 2012-01-17T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: VAIDERE Inese responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2012-01-25T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: S&D name: SUSTA Gianluca
  • date: 2012-05-30T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: VAIDERE Inese responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2012-01-25T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: S&D name: SUSTA Gianluca
  • body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A7-2012-176&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A7-0176/2012 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: VAIDERE Inese responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2012-01-25T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: S&D name: SUSTA Gianluca date: 2012-06-01T00:00:00
  • date: 2012-07-04T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=21654&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P7-TA-2012-285 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T7-0285/2012 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00 body: CSL type: Council Meeting council: General Affairs meeting_id: 3184
  • date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00 body: EP type: End of procedure in Parliament
  • date: 2012-07-24T00:00:00 body: EP/CSL type: Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
  • date: 2012-07-27T00:00:00 type: Final act published in Official Journal docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32012D0434 title: Decision 2012/434 url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2012:200:TOC title: OJ L 200 27.07.2012, p. 0001
committees
  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Foreign Affairs committee: AFET
  • body: EP shadows: group: PPE name: VAIDERE Inese responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2012-01-25T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: S&D name: SUSTA Gianluca
links
National parliaments
European Commission
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/ title: Trade commissioner: DE GUCHT Karel
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
INTA/7/08000
geographical_area
Russian Federation
reference
2011/0328(NLE)
subtype
Consent by Parliament
legal_basis
stage_reached
Procedure completed
summary
See also
instrument
Decision
Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament EP 150
title
EU/Russia Agreement: preservation of commitments on trade in services contained in the EU/Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
type
NLE - Non-legislative enactments
final
subject