BETA


2016/0005(NLE) EU/SADC EPA States Economic Partnership Agreement

Progress: Awaiting final decision

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead INTA LAMBSDORFF Alexander Graf (icon: ALDE ALDE) MATO Gabriel (icon: PPE PPE), SCHUSTER Joachim (icon: S&D S&D), CAMPBELL BANNERMAN David (icon: ECR ECR), FORENZA Eleonora (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL), KELLER Ska (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Committee Opinion DEVE SILVA PEREIRA Pedro (icon: S&D S&D) Lola SÁNCHEZ CALDENTEY (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL), Adam SZEJNFELD (icon: PPE PPE)
Committee Opinion ENVI
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 207-p3, TFEU 207-p4, TFEU 209-p2, TFEU 218-p6a

Events

2016/09/14
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2016/09/14
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
Details

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).

Documents
2016/09/13
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2016/07/19
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Details

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.

Documents
2016/07/14
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
2016/07/12
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2016/07/07
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
2016/06/22
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2016/06/20
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

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 .

Documents
2016/05/31
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2016/05/23
   CSL - Document attached to the procedure
Documents
2016/04/28
   EP - Committee Opinion
2016/02/15
   EP - Responsible Committee
2016/01/22
   EC - Document attached to the procedure
2016/01/22
   EC - Initial legislative proposal published
Details

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

Activities

Votes

A8-0242/2016 - Alexander Graf Lambsdorff - Approbation #

2016/09/14 Outcome: +: 417, -: 216, 0: 66
PL DE RO GB BG CZ PT SK HU FI HR DK LT NL BE LV SI MT SE EE LU IE CY AT EL FR ES IT
Total
49
90
31
68
17
21
21
12
16
12
9
11
8
24
21
8
8
6
19
6
6
10
5
15
20
67
50
68
icon: PPE PPE
201

Finland PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Belgium PPE

4

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

3

Cyprus PPE

Abstain (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
178

Bulgaria S&D

Abstain (1)

4

Czechia S&D

Against (1)

4

Slovakia S&D

Against (1)

4
4

Finland S&D

2

Croatia S&D

2

Denmark S&D

2

Netherlands S&D

For (1)

Against (2)

3

Belgium S&D

Abstain (1)

4

Latvia S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

For (1)

1

Malta S&D

3

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1

Ireland S&D

For (1)

1

Cyprus S&D

2
icon: ECR ECR
69

Romania ECR

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

2

Czechia ECR

2
2

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

2

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Greece ECR

Against (1)

1

Italy ECR

1
icon: ALDE ALDE
63

Romania ALDE

3

United Kingdom ALDE

1

Croatia ALDE

For (1)

1

Denmark ALDE

2
2

Latvia ALDE

1

Slovenia ALDE

For (1)

1

Estonia ALDE

3

Luxembourg ALDE

For (1)

1

Ireland ALDE

For (1)

1

Austria ALDE

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
13

Poland NI

Abstain (1)

1

Germany NI

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

2

United Kingdom NI

For (1)

1

Hungary NI

2

France NI

3
icon: EFDD EFDD
42

Poland EFDD

1

Germany EFDD

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia EFDD

For (1)

1

Sweden EFDD

2

France EFDD

1
icon: ENF ENF
36

Poland ENF

Abstain (1)

1

Germany ENF

Against (1)

1

Romania ENF

Abstain (1)

1

United Kingdom ENF

Against (1)

1

Netherlands ENF

3

Belgium ENF

Against (1)

1

Austria ENF

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
45

United Kingdom Verts/ALE

6

Finland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Croatia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Estonia Verts/ALE

Abstain (1)

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
51

United Kingdom GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

Against (1)

1

Netherlands GUE/NGL

3
4

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2

Italy GUE/NGL

3
AmendmentsDossier
9 2016/0005(NLE)
2016/06/21 INTA 7 amendments...
source: 585.472
2016/06/23 DEVE 2 amendments...
source: 585.491

History

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

activities
  • date: 2016-01-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2016/0018/COM_COM(2016)0018(ANN)_EN.pdf title: COM(2016)0018 type: Initial legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52016PC0018:EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/trade_en title: Trade Commissioner: MALMSTRÖM Cecilia type: Initial legislative proposal published
  • date: 2016-06-20T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=10107%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC type: Legislative proposal published title: 10107/2016 body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/trade_en title: Trade Commissioner: MALMSTRÖM Cecilia type: Legislative proposal published
  • date: 2016-07-07T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: DEVE date: 2016-04-28T00:00:00 committee_full: Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: SILVA PEREIRA Pedro body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: MATO Gabriel group: S&D name: SCHUSTER Joachim group: ECR name: CAMPBELL BANNERMAN David group: GUE/NGL name: FORENZA Eleonora group: Verts/ALE name: KELLER Ska responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2016-02-15T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: ALDE name: LAMBSDORFF Alexander Graf
  • date: 2016-07-14T00:00:00 body: EP type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: DEVE date: 2016-04-28T00:00:00 committee_full: Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: SILVA PEREIRA Pedro body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: MATO Gabriel group: S&D name: SCHUSTER Joachim group: ECR name: CAMPBELL BANNERMAN David group: GUE/NGL name: FORENZA Eleonora group: Verts/ALE name: KELLER Ska responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2016-02-15T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: ALDE name: LAMBSDORFF Alexander Graf
  • body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2016-0242&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A8-0242/2016 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: False committee: DEVE date: 2016-04-28T00:00:00 committee_full: Development rapporteur: group: S&D name: SILVA PEREIRA Pedro body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI body: EP shadows: group: EPP name: MATO Gabriel group: S&D name: SCHUSTER Joachim group: ECR name: CAMPBELL BANNERMAN David group: GUE/NGL name: FORENZA Eleonora group: Verts/ALE name: KELLER Ska responsible: True committee: INTA date: 2016-02-15T00:00:00 committee_full: International Trade rapporteur: group: ALDE name: LAMBSDORFF Alexander Graf date: 2016-07-19T00:00:00
  • date: 2016-09-13T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160913&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2016-09-14T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=27529&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=P8-TA-2016-0342 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T8-0342/2016 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
commission
  • body: EC dg: Trade commissioner: MALMSTRÖM Cecilia
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
date
2016-02-15T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: LAMBSDORFF Alexander Graf group: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe abbr: ALDE
shadows
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
False
committee
DEVE
date
2016-04-28T00:00:00
committee_full
Development
rapporteur
group: S&D name: SILVA PEREIRA Pedro
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Development
committee
DEVE
date
2016-04-28T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: SILVA PEREIRA Pedro group: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
committee
ENVI
opinion
False
committees/2
body
EP
shadows
responsible
True
committee
INTA
date
2016-02-15T00:00:00
committee_full
International Trade
rapporteur
group: ALDE name: LAMBSDORFF Alexander Graf
docs
  • date: 2016-01-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2016/0008/COM_COM(2016)0008(ANN)_EN.pdf title: COM(2016)0008 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2016&nu_doc=0008 title: EUR-Lex type: Document attached to the procedure body: EC
  • date: 2016-05-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=5730%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 05730/2016 type: Document attached to the procedure body: CSL
  • date: 2016-05-31T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE583.875 title: PE583.875 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2016-06-22T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE585.472 title: PE585.472 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2016-07-12T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE580.693&secondRef=02 title: PE580.693 committee: DEVE type: Committee opinion body: EP
events
  • date: 2016-01-22T00:00:00 type: Initial legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2016/0018/COM_COM(2016)0018(ANN)_EN.pdf title: COM(2016)0018 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2016&nu_doc=0018 title: EUR-Lex summary: 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.
  • date: 2016-06-20T00:00:00 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=10107%2F16&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 10107/2016 summary: 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 .
  • date: 2016-07-07T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2016-07-14T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2016-07-19T00:00:00 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=A8-2016-0242&language=EN title: A8-0242/2016 summary: 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.
  • date: 2016-09-13T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20160913&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2016-09-14T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=27529&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2016-09-14T00:00:00 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=P8-TA-2016-0342 title: T8-0342/2016 summary: 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).
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  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/trade_en title: Trade commissioner: MALMSTRÖM Cecilia
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  • 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).

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  • 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.

activities/4/docs
  • url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2016-0242&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A8-0242/2016
activities/1/docs/0/text
  • 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.

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  • body: EP responsible: False committee_full: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee: ENVI
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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:

  • 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.

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:

  • 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.

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activities/0/docs/0/text
  • 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.

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