{"change_dates":[],"dossier":{"amendments":[{"authors":"Maria Heubuch, Mich\u00e8le Rivasi, Jos\u00e9 Bov\u00e9","changes":{},"committee":["DEVE"],"date":"2016-06-23T00:00:00","id":"PE585.491-1","meps":[124848,96743,96744],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:03:05"},"new":["The Committee on Development calls on","the Committee on International Trade, as","the committee responsible, to recommend","that Parliament decline to give its consent","to the proposal for a Council decision on","the conclusion of the Economic Partnership","Agreement between the European Union","and its Member States, of the one part, and","the SADC EPA States, of the other part."],"old":["The Committee on Development calls on","the Committee on International Trade, as","the committee responsible, to recommend","that Parliament give its consent to the","proposal for a Council decision on the","conclusion of the Economic Partnership","Agreement between the European Union","and its Member States, of the one part, and","the SADC EPA States, of the other part."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.491v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"1","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/DEVE-AM-585491_EN.pdf"},{"authors":"Lola S\u00e1nchez Caldentey, Stelios Kouloglou, Marina Albiol Guzm\u00e1n","changes":{},"committee":["DEVE"],"date":"2016-06-23T00:00:00","id":"PE585.491-2","meps":[125035,130833,125048],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:03:05"},"new":["The Committee on Development calls on","the Committee on International Trade, as","the committee responsible, to recommend","that Parliament decline to give its consent","to the proposal for a Council decision on","the conclusion of the Economic Partnership","Agreement between the European Union","and its Member States, of the one part, and","the SADC EPA States, of the other part."],"old":["The Committee on Development calls on","the Committee on International Trade, as","the committee responsible, to recommend","that Parliament give its consent to the","proposal for a Council decision on the","conclusion of the Economic Partnership","Agreement between the European Union","and its Member States, of the one part, and","the SADC EPA States, of the other part."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.491v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"2","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/DEVE-AM-585491_EN.pdf"},{"authors":"Stelios Kouloglou, Eleonora Forenza","changes":{},"committee":["INTA"],"date":"2016-06-21T00:00:00","id":"PE585.472-1","location":[["Draft legislative resolution","Citation 1"]],"meps":[130833,125193],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:04:59"},"new":["\u2013 having regard to the proposal for a","Council decision (COM(2016)0018) and","accompanying declarations and","statements,"],"old":["\u2013 having regard to the proposal for a","Council decision (COM(2016)0018),"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.472v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"1","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-AM-585472_EN.pdf"},{"authors":"Stelios Kouloglou, Eleonora Forenza","changes":{},"committee":["INTA"],"date":"2016-06-21T00:00:00","id":"PE585.472-2","location":[["Draft legislative resolution","Paragraph 1"]],"meps":[130833,125193],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:04:59"},"new":["1. Declines to give its consent to","conclusion of the agreement;"],"old":["1. Gives its consent to conclusion of","the agreement;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.472v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"2","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-AM-585472_EN.pdf"},{"authors":"Stelios Kouloglou","changes":{},"committee":["INTA"],"date":"2016-06-21T00:00:00","id":"PE585.472-3","location":[["Draft legislative resolution","Paragraph 3 a (new)"]],"meps":[130833],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:04:59"},"new":["3a. Recalls the Statement by the","Commission to achieve the best level of","protection especially for PDO Feta and to","take all measures necessary to protect the","PDO Feta under ongoing or future","negotiations for a fair and legal","framework among partners;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.472v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"3","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-AM-585472_EN.pdf"},{"authors":" Stelios Kouloglou","changes":{},"committee":["INTA"],"date":"2016-06-21T00:00:00","id":"PE585.472-4","location":[[" Draft legislative resolution","Paragraph 4 a (new)"]],"meps":[130833],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:04:59"},"new":["4a. Recalls the Statement by the","Commission to achieve the best level of","protection of Greek PDO and to take all","measures necessary to protect the Greek","PDO under ongoing or future","negotiations for a fair and legal","framework among partners;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.472v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"4","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-AM-585472_EN.pdf"},{"authors":" Stelios Kouloglou","changes":{},"committee":["INTA"],"date":"2016-06-21T00:00:00","id":"PE585.472-5","location":[[" Draft legislative resolution","Paragraph 5 a (new)"]],"meps":[130833],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:04:59"},"new":["5a. Deplores the fact that the Chapter","on Development is non-binding. Stresses","the need to have a legally binding","\u201cDevelopment Chapter\u201d;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.472v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"5","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-AM-585472_EN.pdf"},{"authors":" Stelios Kouloglou","changes":{},"committee":["INTA"],"date":"2016-06-21T00:00:00","id":"PE585.472-6","location":[[" Draft legislative resolution","Paragraph 6 a (new)"]],"meps":[130833],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:04:59"},"new":["6a. Recalls the Statement by the","Commission, and especially its","commitment therein to start the process of","revision of Protocol 3 on Geographical","Indications, within five (5) years from the","entry into force of the Agreement, with a","view to achieve for all EU GI\u2019s therein,","including Feta, the same level of","protection;"],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.472v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"6","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-AM-585472_EN.pdf"},{"authors":"Stelios Kouloglou","changes":{},"committee":["INTA"],"date":"2016-06-21T00:00:00","id":"PE585.472-7","location":[["Draft legislative resolution","Paragraph 7 a (new)"]],"meps":[130833],"meta":{"created":"2019-07-03T06:05:00"},"new":["7a. Recalls the Statement by the","Commission, and especially its","commitment therein to ensure the strict","implementation of the GI protection","foreseen in Protocol 3 and to analyse the","outcome of the Agreement particularly","with regard to the level of GI protection."],"orig_lang":"en","peid":"PE585.472v01-00","reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","seq":"7","src":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-AM-585472_EN.pdf"}],"changes":{"2016-02-03T01:41:28":[{"data":[{"body":"EC","commission":[],"date":"2016-01-22T00:00:00","docs":[{"celexid":"CELEX:52016PC0018:EN","title":"COM(2016)0018","type":"Legislative proposal published","url":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2016/0018/COM_COM(2016)0018(ANN)_EN.pdf"}],"type":"Legislative proposal published"}],"path":["activities"],"type":"added"},{"data":[],"path":["other"],"type":"added"},{"data":[{"body":"EP","committee":"AGRI","committee_full":"Agriculture and Rural Development","responsible":false},{"body":"EP","committee":"DEVE","committee_full":"Development","responsible":false},{"body":"EP","committee":"ENVI","committee_full":"Environment, Public Health and Food Safety","responsible":false},{"body":"EP","committee":"INTA","committee_full":"International Trade","responsible":true}],"path":["committees"],"type":"added"},{"data":{},"path":["links"],"type":"added"},{"data":{"geographical_area":["Namibia","Mozambique","Botswana","Swaziland","Lesotho","South Africa"],"legal_basis":["Treaty on the Functioning of the EU TFEU 207-p3","Treaty on the Functioning of the EU TFEU 207-p4","Treaty on the Functioning of the EU TFEU 209-p2","Treaty on the Functioning of the EU TFEU 218-p6a"],"reference":"2016/0005(NLE)","stage_reached":"Preparatory phase in Parliament","subject":["6.20.03 Bilateral economic and trade agreements and relations","6.40.06 Relations with ACP countries, conventions and generalities"],"subtype":"Consent by Parliament","title":"EU/SADC EPA States Economic Partnership Agreement","type":"NLE - Non-legislative enactments"},"path":["procedure"],"type":"added"}],"2016-02-20T04:02:02":[{"data":"2016-02-15T00:00:00","path":["committees",3,"date"],"type":"added"},{"data":[{"group":"ALDE","mepref":"4f1ad22db819f2759500000d","name":"LAMBSDORFF Alexander Graf"}],"path":["committees",3,"rapporteur"],"type":"added"}],"2016-02-23T03:08:54":[{"data":["
PURPOSE: to conclude the Economic Partnership\nAgreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the\none part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
\nROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the\nact only if Parliament has given its consent to the\nact.
\nBACKGROUND: on 12 June 2002, the Council authorised\nthe Commission to open negotiations for Economic Partnership\nAgreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of\nStates.
\nThe negotiations have been concluded and the Economic\nPartnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member\nStates, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States (comprising\nBotswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland (BLMNS) and\nSouth Africa).
\nThe negotiations were completed at the level of the\nChief Negotiators on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria. The Agreement was\ninitialled on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria.
\nIt should be noted that:
\nThe SADC EPA will provide a uniform access regime for\nthe BLMNS countries. For South Africa, the SADC EPA will replace\nthe relevant provisions of Titles II and III of the TDCA, dealing\nrespectively with trade and trade related issues.
\nIt is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on\nbehalf of the European Union.
\nCONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is called\nupon to adopt a Decision to approve, on behalf of the European\nUnion and its Member States, the Economic Partnership Agreement\nbetween the European Union and its Member States, of the one part,\nand the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
\nScope and purpose of the Agreement: the Agreement contains provisions on:
\nThe Agreement also contains rendez-vous clauses on\ntrade in services and investment, competition policy, intellectual\nproperty rights, and public procurement.
\nTrade provisions:\nthe SADC EPA is a development-oriented trade\nagreement. It offers asymmetric market access to the SADC\nEPA States, which allows them to shield sensitive sectors from\nliberalisation; it provides a large number of safeguards and a\nclause for infant industry protection; it contains provisions on\nthe rules of origin that facilitate exports; and it eliminates\nthe use of export subsidies in trade between the\nParties.
\nThe EPA guarantees duty-free, quota-free access to the\nEU market for Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and\nSwaziland, with the exception of arms and ammunition.
\nSouth Africa will benefit from new market access\nadditional to the TDCA, that currently governs its trade relations\nwith the EU. The EU will obtain meaningful new market access\ninto the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and will have\nthe security of a bilateral agreement with Mozambique, one of the\nLDCs in the region.
\nThe EPA is designed to be compatible with the\noperation of SACU, in particular by fully harmonising SACU's\nimport trade regime. SACU presents a single external schedule\nof tariffs and quota arrangements applied to imports from the\nEU.
\nThe SADC EPA also contains a chapter on Trade and\nSustainable Development that links the trade agreement to EU\nobjectives in the field of labour, environment, and climate\nchange.
\nInstitutional provisions and\nmonitoring: the Parties undertake to\ncontinuously monitor the operation and impact of this\nAgreement.
\nThe institutional provisions establish a Joint\nCouncil at Ministerial level to be responsible for the\noperation and implementation of the Agreement and to monitor the\nfulfilment of its objectives. The Joint Council shall be assisted\nby a Trade and Development Committee.
\nFurthermore, the\nAgreement:
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal is without\nbudgetary implications on Union expenditure but will have a\nbudgetary impact on the revenue side. Thus, foregone duty is\nestimated to amount to EUR 33.3 million upon full implementation of\nthe Agreement after ten years. This estimate is based on the\naverage volume of imports over the period 2012-2014. With the\nexception of a number of products imported from South Africa,\nimports from the SADC EPA Group already enter the European Union\nduty free.
\nPURPOSE: to conclude the Economic Partnership\nAgreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the\none part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
\nROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the\nact only if Parliament has given its consent to the\nact.
\nBACKGROUND: on 12 June 2002, the Council authorised\nthe Commission to open negotiations for Economic Partnership\nAgreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of\nStates.
\nThe negotiations have been concluded and the Economic\nPartnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member\nStates, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States (comprising\nBotswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland (BLMNS) and\nSouth Africa).
\nThe negotiations were completed at the level of the\nChief Negotiators on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria. The Agreement was\ninitialled on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria.
\nIt should be noted that:
\nThe SADC EPA will provide a uniform access regime for\nthe BLMNS countries. For South Africa, the SADC EPA will replace\nthe relevant provisions of Titles II and III of the TDCA, dealing\nrespectively with trade and trade related issues.
\nIt is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on\nbehalf of the European Union.
\nCONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is called\nupon to adopt a Decision to approve, on behalf of the European\nUnion and its Member States, the Economic Partnership Agreement\nbetween the European Union and its Member States, of the one part,\nand the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
\nScope and purpose of the Agreement: the Agreement contains provisions on:
\nThe Agreement also contains rendez-vous clauses on\ntrade in services and investment, competition policy, intellectual\nproperty rights, and public procurement.
\nTrade provisions:\nthe SADC EPA is a development-oriented trade\nagreement. It offers asymmetric market access to the SADC\nEPA States, which allows them to shield sensitive sectors from\nliberalisation; it provides a large number of safeguards and a\nclause for infant industry protection; it contains provisions on\nthe rules of origin that facilitate exports; and it eliminates\nthe use of export subsidies in trade between the\nParties.
\nThe EPA guarantees duty-free, quota-free access to the\nEU market for Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and\nSwaziland, with the exception of arms and ammunition.
\nSouth Africa will benefit from new market access\nadditional to the TDCA, that currently governs its trade relations\nwith the EU. The EU will obtain meaningful new market access\ninto the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and will have\nthe security of a bilateral agreement with Mozambique, one of the\nLDCs in the region.
\nThe EPA is designed to be compatible with the\noperation of SACU, in particular by fully harmonising SACU's\nimport trade regime. SACU presents a single external schedule\nof tariffs and quota arrangements applied to imports from the\nEU.
\nThe SADC EPA also contains a chapter on Trade and\nSustainable Development that links the trade agreement to EU\nobjectives in the field of labour, environment, and climate\nchange.
\nInstitutional provisions and\nmonitoring: the Parties undertake to\ncontinuously monitor the operation and impact of this\nAgreement.
\nThe institutional provisions establish a Joint\nCouncil at Ministerial level to be responsible for the\noperation and implementation of the Agreement and to monitor the\nfulfilment of its objectives. The Joint Council shall be assisted\nby a Trade and Development Committee.
\nFurthermore, the\nAgreement:
\nBUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal is without\nbudgetary implications on Union expenditure but will have a\nbudgetary impact on the revenue side. Thus, foregone duty is\nestimated to amount to EUR 33.3 million upon full implementation of\nthe Agreement after ten years. This estimate is based on the\naverage volume of imports over the period 2012-2014. With the\nexception of a number of products imported from South Africa,\nimports from the SADC EPA Group already enter the European Union\nduty free.
\nPURPOSE: to conclude the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
BACKGROUND: on 12 June 2002, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.
The negotiations have been concluded and the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States (comprising Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland (BLMNS) and South Africa).
The negotiations were completed at the level of the Chief Negotiators on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria. The Agreement was initialled on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria.
It should be noted that:
The SADC EPA will provide a uniform access regime for the BLMNS countries. For South Africa, the SADC EPA will replace the relevant provisions of Titles II and III of the TDCA, dealing respectively with trade and trade related issues.
It is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on behalf of the European Union.
CONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is called upon to adopt a Decision to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
Scope and purpose of the Agreement: the Agreement contains provisions on:
The Agreement also contains rendez-vous clauses on trade in services and investment, competition policy, intellectual property rights, and public procurement.
Trade provisions: the SADC EPA is a development-oriented trade agreement. It offers asymmetric market access to the SADC EPA States, which allows them to shield sensitive sectors from liberalisation; it provides a large number of safeguards and a clause for infant industry protection; it contains provisions on the rules of origin that facilitate exports; and it eliminates the use of export subsidies in trade between the Parties.
The EPA guarantees duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market for Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Swaziland, with the exception of arms and ammunition.
South Africa will benefit from new market access additional to the TDCA, that currently governs its trade relations with the EU. The EU will obtain meaningful new market access into the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and will have the security of a bilateral agreement with Mozambique, one of the LDCs in the region.
The EPA is designed to be compatible with the operation of SACU, in particular by fully harmonising SACU's import trade regime. SACU presents a single external schedule of tariffs and quota arrangements applied to imports from the EU.
The SADC EPA also contains a chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development that links the trade agreement to EU objectives in the field of labour, environment, and climate change.
Institutional provisions and monitoring: the Parties undertake to continuously monitor the operation and impact of this Agreement.
The institutional provisions establish a Joint Council at Ministerial level to be responsible for the operation and implementation of the Agreement and to monitor the fulfilment of its objectives. The Joint Council shall be assisted by a Trade and Development Committee.
Furthermore, the Agreement:
BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal is without budgetary implications on Union expenditure but will have a budgetary impact on the revenue side. Thus, foregone duty is estimated to amount to EUR 33.3 million upon full implementation of the Agreement after ten years. This estimate is based on the average volume of imports over the period 2012-2014. With the exception of a number of products imported from South Africa, imports from the SADC EPA Group already enter the European Union duty free. \n\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t
PURPOSE: to conclude the Economic Partnership\nAgreement (EPA) between the European Union and its Member States,\nof the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other\npart.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
\nROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the\nact only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
\nBACKGROUND: on 12 June 2002, the Council authorised\nthe Commission to open negotiations for Economic Partnership\nAgreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of\nStates.
\nThe negotiations have been concluded and the Economic\nPartnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member\nStates, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States (comprising\nBotswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland\n), of the other part, was initialled on 15 July 2014.
\nIt is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on\nbehalf of the European Union.
\nCONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is called\nupon to adopt a Decision to approve, on behalf of the European\nUnion and its Member States, the Economic Partnership Agreement\nbetween the European Union and its Member States, of the one part,\nand the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
\nScope and purpose of the Agreement: the Agreement contains provisions on:
\nIt also contains important trade provisions offering\nasymmetric market access to the EPA States, which allows\nthem to shield sensitive sectors from liberalisation.
\nThe Agreement includes institutional provisions and\nmonitoring to ensure the correct application of the\nAgreement.
\nFor further details on the proposal, please refer\nto the summary of the Commissions initial legislative\nproposal from 22.1.2016.
\nThe Committee on International Trade adopted the\nreport by Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF (ADLE, DE) on the draft Council\ndecision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the\nEconomic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its\nMember States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the\nother part.
\n The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its\nconsent to the conclusion of the Agreement.
The committee recalled that the Economic Partnership\nAgreements (EPAs), which are trade and development partnerships\nbetween the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the\nEuropean Union, are aimed at supporting trade, regional integration\nand the gradual integration of ACP countries into the world\neconomy, along with fostering their sustainable\ndevelopment.
\nWhile insisting on the overall favourable effects of\nthe SADC EPA, Members stated that it is important to strengthen the\nmonitoring provisions in the agreement. They called for the\nestablishment of a sustainable-development dialogue and relevant\nparticipative processes for monitoring. Members stressed their\nregret at the absence of a Joint Parliamentary Committee and a\nJoint Consultative Committee to improve this type of\ndialogue.
\nOverall, Members recommended giving consent to the\nSADC - EU Economic Partnership Agreement given that it has the\npotential to bring fundamental positive change and contribute to\nsustainable economic growth and deepened intra-regional trade and\nintegration.
\nHowever, the trade and partnership agreement can only\nbe a small part of a larger strategy. The SADC states should\nconduct trade and development-friendly domestic policies and pursue\nstructural reforms. The regulatory framework that attracts\ninvestment is another element in the equation. These countries\nshould also consider using the potential of the EPA by going beyond\ntrade in goods only and also address services in the\nfuture.
\nAccording to Members, the EU should provide assistance\nin terms of capacity building and trade related\nassistance.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 417 votes to 216,\nwith 66 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council\ndecision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the\nEconomic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its\nMember States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the\nother part.
\nParliament gave its consent to the conclusion\nof the Agreement given that it has the potential to bring\nfundamental positive change and contribute to sustainable economic\ngrowth and deepened intra-regional trade and integration between\nthe SADC EPA States (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South\nAfrica and Swaziland).
\nPURPOSE: to conclude the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
BACKGROUND: on 12 June 2002, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.
The negotiations have been concluded and the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States (comprising Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland (BLMNS) and South Africa).
The negotiations were completed at the level of the Chief Negotiators on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria. The Agreement was initialled on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria.
It should be noted that:
The SADC EPA will provide a uniform access regime for the BLMNS countries. For South Africa, the SADC EPA will replace the relevant provisions of Titles II and III of the TDCA, dealing respectively with trade and trade related issues.
It is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on behalf of the European Union.
CONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is called upon to adopt a Decision to approve, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
Scope and purpose of the Agreement: the Agreement contains provisions on:
The Agreement also contains rendez-vous clauses on trade in services and investment, competition policy, intellectual property rights, and public procurement.
Trade provisions: the SADC EPA is a development-oriented trade agreement. It offers asymmetric market access to the SADC EPA States, which allows them to shield sensitive sectors from liberalisation; it provides a large number of safeguards and a clause for infant industry protection; it contains provisions on the rules of origin that facilitate exports; and it eliminates the use of export subsidies in trade between the Parties.
The EPA guarantees duty-free, quota-free access to the EU market for Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Swaziland, with the exception of arms and ammunition.
South Africa will benefit from new market access additional to the TDCA, that currently governs its trade relations with the EU. The EU will obtain meaningful new market access into the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and will have the security of a bilateral agreement with Mozambique, one of the LDCs in the region.
The EPA is designed to be compatible with the operation of SACU, in particular by fully harmonising SACU's import trade regime. SACU presents a single external schedule of tariffs and quota arrangements applied to imports from the EU.
The SADC EPA also contains a chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development that links the trade agreement to EU objectives in the field of labour, environment, and climate change.
Institutional provisions and monitoring: the Parties undertake to continuously monitor the operation and impact of this Agreement.
The institutional provisions establish a Joint Council at Ministerial level to be responsible for the operation and implementation of the Agreement and to monitor the fulfilment of its objectives. The Joint Council shall be assisted by a Trade and Development Committee.
Furthermore, the Agreement:
BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal is without budgetary implications on Union expenditure but will have a budgetary impact on the revenue side. Thus, foregone duty is estimated to amount to EUR 33.3 million upon full implementation of the Agreement after ten years. This estimate is based on the average volume of imports over the period 2012-2014. With the exception of a number of products imported from South Africa, imports from the SADC EPA Group already enter the European Union duty free. \n\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t
PURPOSE: to conclude the Economic Partnership\nAgreement (EPA) between the European Union and its Member States,\nof the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the other\npart.
\nPROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
\nROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the\nact only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.
\nBACKGROUND: on 12 June 2002, the Council authorised\nthe Commission to open negotiations for Economic Partnership\nAgreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of\nStates.
\nThe negotiations have been concluded and the Economic\nPartnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member\nStates, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States (comprising\nBotswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland\n), of the other part, was initialled on 15 July 2014.
\nIt is now necessary to conclude this Agreement on\nbehalf of the European Union.
\nCONTENT: with this proposal, the Council is called\nupon to adopt a Decision to approve, on behalf of the European\nUnion and its Member States, the Economic Partnership Agreement\nbetween the European Union and its Member States, of the one part,\nand the SADC EPA States, of the other part.
\nScope and purpose of the Agreement: the Agreement contains provisions on:
\nIt also contains important trade provisions offering\nasymmetric market access to the EPA States, which allows\nthem to shield sensitive sectors from liberalisation.
\nThe Agreement includes institutional provisions and\nmonitoring to ensure the correct application of the\nAgreement.
\nFor further details on the proposal, please refer\nto the summary of the Commissions initial legislative\nproposal from 22.1.2016.
\nThe Committee on International Trade adopted the\nreport by Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF (ADLE, DE) on the draft Council\ndecision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the\nEconomic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its\nMember States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the\nother part.
\n The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its\nconsent to the conclusion of the Agreement.
The committee recalled that the Economic Partnership\nAgreements (EPAs), which are trade and development partnerships\nbetween the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the\nEuropean Union, are aimed at supporting trade, regional integration\nand the gradual integration of ACP countries into the world\neconomy, along with fostering their sustainable\ndevelopment.
\nWhile insisting on the overall favourable effects of\nthe SADC EPA, Members stated that it is important to strengthen the\nmonitoring provisions in the agreement. They called for the\nestablishment of a sustainable-development dialogue and relevant\nparticipative processes for monitoring. Members stressed their\nregret at the absence of a Joint Parliamentary Committee and a\nJoint Consultative Committee to improve this type of\ndialogue.
\nOverall, Members recommended giving consent to the\nSADC - EU Economic Partnership Agreement given that it has the\npotential to bring fundamental positive change and contribute to\nsustainable economic growth and deepened intra-regional trade and\nintegration.
\nHowever, the trade and partnership agreement can only\nbe a small part of a larger strategy. The SADC states should\nconduct trade and development-friendly domestic policies and pursue\nstructural reforms. The regulatory framework that attracts\ninvestment is another element in the equation. These countries\nshould also consider using the potential of the EPA by going beyond\ntrade in goods only and also address services in the\nfuture.
\nAccording to Members, the EU should provide assistance\nin terms of capacity building and trade related\nassistance.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 417 votes to 216,\nwith 66 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council\ndecision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the\nEconomic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its\nMember States, of the one part, and the SADC EPA States, of the\nother part.
\nParliament gave its consent to the conclusion\nof the Agreement given that it has the potential to bring\nfundamental positive change and contribute to sustainable economic\ngrowth and deepened intra-regional trade and integration between\nthe SADC EPA States (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South\nAfrica and Swaziland).
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