Progress: Awaiting final decision
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | INTA | LAMBSDORFF Alexander Graf ( ALDE) | MATO Gabriel ( PPE), SCHUSTER Joachim ( S&D), CAMPBELL BANNERMAN David ( ECR), KELLER Ska ( Verts/ALE) |
Committee Opinion | DEVE | SILVA PEREIRA Pedro ( S&D) | Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY ( GUE/NGL), Adam SZEJNFELD ( PPE) |
Committee Opinion | ENVI |
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 207-p3, TFEU 207-p4, TFEU 209-p2, TFEU 218-p6a
Legal Basis:
TFEU 207-p3, TFEU 207-p4, TFEU 209-p2, TFEU 218-p6aSubjects
Events
The European Parliament adopted by 417 votes to 216, with 66 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, 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.
Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement given that it has the potential to bring fundamental positive change and contribute to sustainable economic growth and deepened intra-regional trade and integration between the SADC EPA States (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland).
The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF (ADLE, DE) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, 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. The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.
The committee recalled that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which are trade and development partnerships between the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the European Union, are aimed at supporting trade, regional integration and the gradual integration of ACP countries into the world economy, along with fostering their sustainable development.
While insisting on the overall favourable effects of the SADC EPA, Members stated that it is important to strengthen the monitoring provisions in the agreement. They called for the establishment of a sustainable-development dialogue and relevant participative processes for monitoring. Members stressed their regret at the absence of a Joint Parliamentary Committee and a Joint Consultative Committee to improve this type of dialogue.
Overall, Members recommended giving consent to the SADC - EU Economic Partnership Agreement given that it has the potential to bring fundamental positive change and contribute to sustainable economic growth and deepened intra-regional trade and integration.
However, the trade and partnership agreement can only be a small part of a larger strategy . The SADC states should conduct trade and development-friendly domestic policies and pursue structural reforms . The regulatory framework that attracts investment is another element in the equation. These countries should also consider using the potential of the EPA by going beyond trade in goods only and also address services in the future.
According to Members, the EU should provide assistance in terms of capacity building and trade related assistance.
PURPOSE: to conclude the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) 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, South Africa and Swaziland ), of the other part, was initialled on 15 July 2014.
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:
cooperation, trade in goods, trade and sustainable development, customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, dispute settlement, geographical indications and rules of origin.
It also contains important trade provisions offering asymmetric market access to the EPA States , which allows them to shield sensitive sectors from liberalisation.
The Agreement includes institutional provisions and monitoring to ensure the correct application of the Agreement.
For further details on the proposal, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal from 22.1.2016 .
PURPOSE: 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:
Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland currently benefit from preferential market access to the EU under the arrangements laid down in the Market Access Regulation (MAR) ; Lesotho and Mozambique currently benefit from the arrangements under the 'Everything But Arms' initiative, since they are classified among the Least Developed Countries (LDCs); trade between the EU and South Africa is currently governed by the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA).
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:
cooperation, trade in goods, trade and sustainable development, customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, dispute settlement, geographical indications, rules of origin.
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:
establishes a Special Committee on Geographical Indications and Trade in Wines and Spirits with the purpose of monitoring the development of the Protocol on GIs and trade in wines and spirits; establishes a Special Committee on Customs and Trade Facilitation that will monitor the implementation and operation of the chapter on Customs and Trade Facilitation and the Protocol on rules of origin; contains a provision that allows each Party to request consultations regarding any matter under the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter. Dialogue and cooperation may include other relevant authorities and stakeholders.
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.
Documents
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T8-0342/2016
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A8-0242/2016
- Committee opinion: PE580.693
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE585.472
- Legislative proposal published: 10107/2016
- Committee draft report: PE583.875
- Document attached to the procedure: 05730/2016
- Document attached to the procedure: COM(2016)0008
- Document attached to the procedure: EUR-Lex
- Preparatory document: COM(2016)0018
- Preparatory document: EUR-Lex
- Document attached to the procedure: COM(2016)0008 EUR-Lex
- Document attached to the procedure: 05730/2016
- Committee draft report: PE583.875
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE585.472
- Committee opinion: PE580.693
Activities
- Tim AKER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Jean ARTHUIS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Marie-Christine ARNAUTU
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Jonathan ARNOTT
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Zigmantas BALČYTIS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Beatriz BECERRA BASTERRECHEA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Hugues BAYET
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Xabier BENITO ZILUAGA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- José BLANCO LÓPEZ
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Marie-Christine BOUTONNET
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Steeve BRIOIS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- James CARVER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Nicola CAPUTO
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- Alberto CIRIO
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- Jane COLLINS
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- Therese COMODINI CACHIA
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- Pál CSÁKY
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- Javier COUSO PERMUY
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- Edward CZESAK
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- Daniel DALTON
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- Michel DANTIN
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- William (The Earl of) DARTMOUTH
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- Rachida DATI
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- Marielle DE SARNEZ
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- Mireille D'ORNANO
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- Norbert ERDŐS
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- Georgios EPITIDEIOS
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- Edouard FERRAND
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- Lorenzo FONTANA
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- Eugen FREUND
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- Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ
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- Ildikó GÁLL-PELCZ
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- Francisco de Paula GAMBUS MILLET
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- Elisabetta GARDINI
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- Elena GENTILE
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- Arne GERICKE
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- Michela GIUFFRIDA
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- Beata GOSIEWSKA
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- Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS
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- Takis HADJIGEORGIOU
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- Anna HEDH
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- Brian HAYES
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- Marian HARKIN
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- Mike HOOKEM
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- Cătălin Sorin IVAN
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- Diane JAMES
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- Petr JEŽEK
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- Marc JOULAUD
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- Karin KADENBACH
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- Ivan JAKOVČIĆ
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- Barbara KAPPEL
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- Béla KOVÁCS
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- Patrick LE HYARIC
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- Giovanni LA VIA
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- Marine LE PEN
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- Olle LUDVIGSSON
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- Paloma LÓPEZ BERMEJO
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- Monica MACOVEI
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- Vladimír MAŇKA
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- Ivana MALETIĆ
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- Andrejs MAMIKINS
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- Dominique MARTIN
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- Notis MARIAS
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- Miroslav MIKOLÁŠIK
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- Sorin MOISĂ
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- Bernard MONOT
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- Marlene MIZZI
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- Sophie MONTEL
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- József NAGY
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- Momchil NEKOV
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- Jens NILSSON
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- Liadh NÍ RIADA
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- Franz OBERMAYR
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- Margot PARKER
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- Marijana PETIR
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- Andrej PLENKOVIĆ
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- Miroslav POCHE
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- Salvatore Domenico POGLIESE
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- Franck PROUST
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- Julia REID
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- Sofia RIBEIRO
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- Liliana RODRIGUES
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- Virginie ROZIÈRE
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- Fernando RUAS
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- Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY
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- Jordi Vicent SEBASTIA TALAVERA
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- Ricardo SERRÃO SANTOS
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- Maria Lidia SENRA RODRÍGUEZ
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- Siôn SIMON
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- Monika SMOLKOVÁ
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- Beatrix von STORCH
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- Eleftherios SYNADINOS
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- Adam SZEJNFELD
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- Tibor SZANYI
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- Dubravka ŠUICA
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- Hannu TAKKULA
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- Claudia ȚAPARDEL
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- Isabelle THOMAS
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- Pavel TELIČKA
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- Mylène TROSZCZYNSKI
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- Kazimierz Michał UJAZDOWSKI
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- Ramon TREMOSA i BALCELLS
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- Marita ULVSKOG
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- Miguel VIEGAS
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- Sotirios ZARIANOPOULOS
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- Jana ŽITŇANSKÁ
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Votes
A8-0242/2016 - Alexander Graf Lambsdorff - Approbation #
Amendments | Dossier |
9 |
2016/0005(NLE)
2016/06/21
INTA
7 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft legislative resolution Citation 1 – having regard to the proposal for a Council decision (COM(2016)0018) and accompanying declarations and statements,
Amendment 2 #
Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 3 #
Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 3 a (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;
Amendment 4 #
Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 4 a (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;
Amendment 5 #
Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 5 a (new) 5a. Deplores the fact that the Chapter on Development is non-binding. Stresses the need to have a legally binding “Development Chapter”;
Amendment 6 #
Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 6 a (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’s therein, including Feta, the same level of protection;
Amendment 7 #
Draft legislative resolution Paragraph 7 a (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.
source: 585.472
2016/06/23
DEVE
2 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
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.
Amendment 2 #
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.
source: 585.491
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PURPOSE: 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. New
PURPOSE: 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. |
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2016-04-28T00:00:00
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2016-02-23T00:00:00
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2016-02-15T00:00:00
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