Progress: Procedure completed
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | INTA | BOURGEOIS Geert ( ECR) | WINKLER Iuliu ( EPP), LANGE Bernd ( S&D), KARLSBRO Karin ( Renew), BRICMONT Saskia ( Verts/ALE), LANCINI Danilo Oscar ( ID), MAUREL Emmanuel ( GUE/NGL) |
Former Responsible Committee | INTA | ||
Committee Opinion | AFET | WISELER-LIMA Isabel ( EPP) | Heidi HAUTALA ( Verts/ALE), Lars Patrick BERG ( ID) |
Committee Opinion | PECH | BARTOLO Pietro ( S&D) | Maite PAGAZAURTUNDÚA ( RE), Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK ( PPE), Grace O'SULLIVAN ( Verts/ALE) |
Committee Opinion | DEVE | TOBÉ Tomas ( EPP) | |
Former Committee Opinion | DEVE | Patrizia TOIA ( S&D), Stéphane BIJOUX ( RE) |
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 105-p2
Legal Basis:
RoP 105-p2Events
The European Parliament adopted by 416 votes to 187, with 44 abstentions, a non-legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Members stressed that the EU-Vietnam FTA is the most modern, comprehensive and ambitious agreement ever concluded between the EU and a developing country and should serve as a reference point for the EU's relations with developing countries and in particular with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. They stressed the economic and strategic importance of this agreement, given that the Union and Vietnam share common goals, as well as the significance of the agreement in terms of competitiveness of EU businesses in the region.
While recalling its commitment to multilateralism, Parliament stated that the agreement sends a strong signal in favour of a free, fair and reciprocal trade system in times of growing protectionist tendencies. The agreement should help the Union to strengthen its presence in the ASEAN region and enable the Union to promote its standards and values in the region.
Trade
Parliament believes that the FTA could help to close the EU's trade deficit with Vietnam, by exploiting the ASEAN country's growth potential in the coming years.
The agreement shall eliminate more than 99% of customs duties. Vietnam shall liberalise 65% of import duties on EU exports upon entry into force of the agreement, with the remaining tariffs to be phased out over a ten-year period. The EU shall liberalise 71% of its imports and 99% shall be duty-free after a period of seven years.
Access to public procurement
The FTA has a degree of transparency and procedural fairness comparable to other free trade agreements that the EU has signed with developed and more advanced developing countries. The FTA must not restrict domestic procurement flexibility with regard to requirements concerning, for example, the environment and working and employment conditions.
Rules of origin
Members welcome the fact that the provisions on rules of origin included in the FTA follow the EU approach, and that their main features are identical to those laid down in the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). The Commission is called on to monitor the proper and faithful implementation of these rules, with special attention to national content, and to step up action against any kind of manipulation and abuse, such as repackaging products coming from third countries.
Geographical Indications
Around 169 EU geographical indications shall benefit from recognition and protection on the Vietnamese market at a comparable level to that of EU legislation. Parliament suggested extending this list and called on the Commission to constantly monitor the flow of imports of those sensitive products and make a full utilisation of the provisions of the safeguard clause regulation whenever the legal and economic requirements are met, in order to avoid any possible negative impact on the EU agri-sectors as a direct consequence of the implementation of the FTA. It also welcomed the detailed chapter on the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) which will establish a single and transparent procedure for the approval of EU food exports to Vietnam in order to accelerate the approval of EU export applications and avoid discriminatory treatment.
Services
Parliament pointed out that Vietnam already goes beyond its WTO commitments, providing for substantially better access in a number of business sub-sectors and offers new market access to sectors such as packaging services, fair trade and exhibition services or rental/leasing. Vietnam opened cross-border higher education services for the first time.
In addition, early ratification of the FTA shall help Vietnam to improve the protection of intellectual property rights and ensure the highest possible production standards and quality for consumers. The EU shall have the right to apply its own standards to all goods and services sold in the EU and the EU's high standards must never be seen as barriers to trade.
Parliament, however, regretted that the agreement does not include a provision on cross-border data transfers, arguing that a provision on compliance with EU data protection and privacy law should be included in a future revision of the agreement.
Sustainable development
Members stated that the enforceability of the trade and sustainable development chapter could be significantly improved, firstly by examining various enforcement methods, including a sanction-based mechanism as a last resort and, secondly, by reforming the Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) system, as Parliament has repeatedly called for. They called for the establishment of a Joint Committee of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the European Parliament in order to improve coordination and implementation of the Agreement as a whole.
Parliament called on the Vietnamese authorities to present an ambitious roadmap for the eradication of child labour by 2025 and to work further towards a progressive agenda on workers' rights through concrete measures.
Combating illegal and unreported fishing (IUU)
While noting the yellow card that Vietnam has already received and the measures already taken to improve the situation, Parliament called for further action to be taken and for continuous monitoring of Vietnam's efforts to ensure that the country continues to make progress in the fight against IUU fishing and to guarantee the full traceability of fisheries products. It called on the Commission to include safeguard measures for fisheries products in future agreements, such as the possibility of suspending preferential tariffs, until the yellow card for IUU fishing has been lifted.
Lastly, Parliament welcomed the commitment to effectively implement multilateral environmental agreements, such as the Paris agreement on climate change, and to act in favour of the conservation and sustainable management of wildlife, biodiversity and forests.
Documents
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2020)136
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament: T9-0027/2020
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A9-0017/2020
- Committee report tabled for plenary: A9-0017/2020
- Committee opinion: PE641.414
- Committee opinion: PE641.153
- Committee opinion: PE641.208
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE643.175
- Committee draft report: PE642.858
- Committee draft report: PE642.858
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE643.175
- Committee opinion: PE641.153
- Committee opinion: PE641.208
- Committee opinion: PE641.414
- Committee report tabled for plenary, single reading: A9-0017/2020
- Commission response to text adopted in plenary: SP(2020)136
Activities
- Stanislav POLČÁK
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Caroline ROOSE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Mick WALLACE
Plenary Speeches (1)
Votes
A9-0017/2020 - Geert Bourgeois - Am 14 #
A9-0017/2020 - Geert Bourgeois - Am 15 #
A9-0017/2020 - Geert Bourgeois - Am 16 #
A9-0017/2020 - Geert Bourgeois - Am 1rev 2 #
A9-0017/2020 - Geert Bourgeois - Résolution #
Amendments | Dossier |
387 |
2018/0356M(NLE)
2019/01/10
DEVE
12 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 (new) -1. Recalls that the EU and its Member States are among the top donors in Vietnam and the largest grant donor;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Recalls its concern at the
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4 a. Recalls the importance to adapt trade policies to support national efforts to combat climate change in order to comply with the Paris Agreement; stresses in this context to the need to make EU- Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) consistent with EU-FLEGT agreement with Vietnam, notably by including in its trade and sustainable development (TSD) chapters binding and enforceable provisions to halt illegal logging, deforestation, forest degradation and land grabbing; stresses the importance of effective monitoring of these provisions and sanctions mechanisms that allow individuals and communities, outside or within the EU, to seek redress; in particular, underlines that this mechanism must give special consideration to the rights of indigenous peoples, forest-dependent communities, and the rights granted under ILO Convention C169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples where applicable;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4 b. Recalls equally that the success of the entire FLEGT initiative depends i.e. on tackling fraud and corruption which can be found at all stages of the timber trade, from the harvesting of timber, its transportation, processing, manufacturing, exporting, importing and selling; to this effect, stresses the need to address more effectively corruption linked to illegal logging through specific illegal logging-related anti-corruption provisions that are enforceable and effectively implemented; recalls the importance of adequate access to justice, legal remedies and effective protection for whistleblowers in natural resources exporting countries in order to ensure the efficiency of any legislation or initiative; calls on the EU and its Member States to strengthen forest diplomacy in its external climate policy on this line;
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 a (new) -1 a. Stresses that open trade is a driver of prosperity by deepening economic ties; takes the view that the FTA and IPA will benefit Vietnam, as trade and investment fuel continued economic growth, bringing the country closer to its target of becoming an advanced industrialised economy;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 b (new) -1 b. Reminds that the EU’s trade policy promotes its values and respect for human rights; stresses that opening up of the economic space should go hand in hand with improvements of the political life and the human rights situation in Vietnam;
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Recalls its concern
source: 632.812
2019/10/07
DEVE
36 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 a (new) -1a. Notes that Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union stipulates that the actions of the Union on the international scene shall be guided by the principles of democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, the principles of equality and solidarity, and respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Stresses the need to respect the principle of policies aligned with development cooperation objectives in accordance with Article 208 TFEU;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Urges the Commission to
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 2. Urges the Commission to earmark specific funding for civil society organisations, such as the domestic advisory groups (DAGs), in order to fulfil the key objectives of the TSD chapter, which include an increased monitoring of commitments, the development of action plans for areas where concerns have been identified, and the triggering of dispute settlement processes in the event that action plans have not been respected; regrets that the mandate of the DAGs is limited to monitoring the TSD Chapter only; regrets that the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment is not prominently mentioned in the FTA;
Amendment 13 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Stresses that, in the event of ratification of the agreement, it is essential to ensure full implementation and enforcement by Viet Nam of international law on intellectual property and trademark law and of the safeguards associated with protected geographical indications; is concerned at the insufficient protection afforded to certain protected geographical indications, which is in certain cases limited by transitional periods, for example ten years in the case of champagne;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 2 a (new) 2a. Deplores the fact that no human rights impact assessment was ever carried out prior to the launching of negotiations in spite of serious concerns regarding the protection of human rights in Vietnam, notably following the decision of the European Ombudsman of 26 February 2016, which concluded that the refusal of the European Commission to carry out a prior human rights impact assessment of the EU/Vietnam Free Trade Agreement is unjustified and constitutes a case of maladministration;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Congratulates, as a first step, Viet Nam on ratifying six of the ILO’s eight fundamental conventions, namely No 29 on forced labour, Nos 100 and 111 on non-discrimination, Nos 138 and 182 on child labour and, most recently, No 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining; urges the Vietnamese Government to quickly ratify outstanding convention No 105 on forced labour and No 87 on the freedom of association, and highlights the crucial importance of ensuring that all of these conventions are fully implemented
Amendment 17 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Congratulates Viet Nam on ratifying six of the ILO’s eight fundamental conventions, namely No 29 on forced labour, Nos 100 and 111 on non- discrimination, Nos 138 and 182 on child labour and, most recently, No 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining; urges the Vietnamese Government to quickly ratify outstanding convention No 105 on forced labour and No 87 on the freedom of association, and highlights the crucial importance of ensuring that all of these conventions are
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3. Congratulates Viet Nam on ratifying six of the ILO’s eight fundamental conventions, namely No 29 on forced labour, Nos 100 and 111 on non- discrimination, Nos 138 and 182 on child labour and, most recently, No 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining; urges the Vietnamese Government to quickly ratify outstanding convention No 105 on forced labour and No
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 3.
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 b (new) -1b. Recalls the European Parliament’s previous resolutions on the situation in Viet Nam, in particular the Resolutions of 14 December 2017 on freedom of expression in Viet Nam, of 9 June 2016 on Viet Nam, of 15 November 2018 on Viet Nam, in particular the situation of political prisoners;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Is concerned that, according to the International Labour Organisation, ‘many children are at risk of labour and sexual exploitation’ in Viet Nam, and that ‘recent reports indicate a rise in internal migration and the number of unregistered families and children found in urban centres’, making children and families particularly vulnerable to the abovementioned types of exploitation;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Highlights that according to Article 4.1(b) of Regulation 978/2012 (GSP Regulation), after FTA’s conclusion and entry into force the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will lose the status of an eligible country to benefit from tariff preferences provided under the general GSP arrangement, expresses hope that FTA will contribute to greater growth, development, and employment in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam than under the GSP arrangement;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes Viet Nam’s commitment to revise and quickly ratify its Labour Code, which shall allow effectively the formation of independent trade unions; highlight
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes Viet Nam’s commitment to revise and quickly ratify its Labour Code, in order to promote decent work for all, highlighting the importance of
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 4. Welcomes Viet Nam’s commitment to revise and quickly ratify its Labour Code, highlighting the importance of the promotion and practical enforcement of gender equality and female empowerment; reiterates that gender inequality should no longer be seen as a purely social issue, but as an economic one that presents a key challenge to attaining inclusive and sustainable growth; encourages the Vietnamese authorities to cut working time in the private sector from 48 hours per week to 40 hours per week; calls on the Commission to monitor developments closely and to keep Parliament regularly updated on the situation.
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Points out that arbitrary expropriation are common phenomena in Vietnam where the land belongs to the State; expresses its concern that the new export opportunities offered by the EU - Vietnam agreement for the European agri-food industry may exacerbate land conflict, while undermining family farming;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Underlines the need for corrective measures in response to any infringements of human rights or commitments entered into under the Paris Agreement; points out that the chapter on sustainable development needs to be closely and rigorously monitored and enforcement thereof treated as a priority;
Amendment 28 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 a (new) 4a. Recalls that ILO conventions no 87 and 98 are crucial with a view to the constitution of Domestic Advisory Groups under the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement; Emphasises the importance of full involvement of CSOs and NGOs in implementing and monitoring the provisions of the FTA; notes that the DAG must be genuinely representative of civil society, including participants representing organisations advocating the advancement of human rights, labour rights and environmental protection;
Amendment 29 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Recalls the importance to adapt trade policies to support national efforts to combat climate change in order to comply with the Paris Agreement; stresses in this context the need to make EU- Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) consistent with EU-FLEGT agreement with Vietnam, notably by including in its trade and sustainable development (TSD) chapters binding and enforceable provisions to halt illegal logging, deforestation, forest degradation and land grabbing; stresses the importance of effective monitoring of these provisions and sanctions mechanisms that allow individuals and communities, outside or within the EU, to seek redress; in particular, underlines that this mechanism must give special consideration to the rights of indigenous peoples, forest-dependent communities, and the rights granted under ILO Convention C169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples where applicable;
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion Paragraph -1 c (new) -1c. Urges the EU and Vietnam to make full use of the provisions in the FTA in order to contribute to the strengthening of human rights in Vietnam; reiterates the importance of the well-developed bilateral EU and Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue, notably under the institutional framework and procedures under the FTA and Investment Protection Agreement (IPA); recalls the Union’s commitment, under its Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, to systematically include human rights in its impact assessments as and when they are carried out, including for trade agreements that have a significant economic, social and environmental impacts;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Notes that Viet Nam is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, in particular extreme weather events such as storms and floods; urges the Government of Viet Nam to introduce effective adaptation measures and to ensure the effective implementation of legislation relating to environmental and biodiversity protection.
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 b (new) 4b. Points out that full implementation of the above ILO conventions would also require a revision of social legislation, the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure currently in force in Viet Nam;
Amendment 32 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Expresses its concern about the impact of the new stringent provisions on Intellectual Property Rights on Vietnamese access to medicine; calls for the removal of such restrictions to protect the right of access to generic medicines and to healthcare.
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 c (new) 4c. Welcomes the legal link between the EVFTA/IPA and the EU-Viet Nam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA); in the framework of the PCA asks the Commission to actively promote projects in the field of tackling child and forced labour for women in order to improve the working conditions of these groups; urges the Commission to use all available tools in the Agreements, including suspension when needed, to protect and promote fundamental freedoms;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 d (new) 4d. Recalls that the E.C. issued a “yellow card” to Vietnam in October 2017, in view of his failure to tackle effectively illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; urges the Vietnamese government to comply effectively with EU recommendations prior to the ratification of EVFTA.
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 4 d (new) 4d. Underlines that addressing the abovementioned concerns is a key prerequisite to consider recommending that Parliament gives its consent to the proposal for Conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (INTA/8/14829); asks the Commission to fully engage into close monitoring of all developments in the areas of concern and to propose a suspension, if deemed necessary, at any stage;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 5 (new) 5. Notes the persistence in Vietnam of cases of human and social rights violations, and that more efforts are needed in this regard by the Vietnamese authorities. Call the Vietnamese government for a moratorium on the death penalty, with a view to its full abolition.
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the inclusion of a comprehensive and binding chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) with explicit references to Multilateral Environmental Agreements, the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; is nevertheless concerned about allegations of possible infringements by Viet Nam of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the lack of convincing results in combating illegal fishing, Viet Nam having been ‘pre-identified’ in 2017 as a non-cooperating country in the area of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and the absence of any progress noted by the European Commission in this area in 2018; accordingly warns against the risks of deforestation and illegal fishing;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the inclusion of a comprehensive and binding chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) with explicit references to Multilateral Environmental Agreements, the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; deplores, however, that the chapter on sustainable development is explicitly excluded from the state to state dispute settlement mechanism which provides for a suspension of trade preferences; underlines the importance of mandatory and enforceable provisions in the chapter on trade and sustainable development to contribute effectively to the strengthening of labour rights and environmental standards, including corporate responsibility;
Amendment 6 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Points out that, under Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Union ‘shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals’ in the implementation of its policies; stresses that certain livestock and fishery products, in particular chicken meat, on which duties should be reduced to 0% after a transitional period of ten years, are covered by the free trade agreement and should be subject to phytosanitary and animal welfare standards at least equivalent to those of the European Union; considers that, in the event of ratification of the agreement, the European Union should, in particular, implement the animal welfare provisions thereof whenever necessary and that animal welfare requirements must also extend to aquaculture products; calls on the Commission to monitor closely the question of animal welfare in the context of the agreement and to keep Parliament regularly updated;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion Paragraph 1 a (new) 1a. Recalls that EU-Vietnam relationship is grounded in the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which covers non-economic areas, including political dialogue, human rights, education, science and technology, justice asylum and migration;
source: 641.386
2019/11/13
INTA
214 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 5 a (new) – having regard to the Framework Participation Agreement, signed on 17 October 2019, which will facilitate Vietnam's participation in European Union-led civilian and military crisis management operations and show strong commitment from both sides to a rules- based multilateral approach to international peace and security
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 d (new) – having regard to the Council Conclusions on Business and Human Rights of 20 June 2016,
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses the improved access under this agreement to Vietnamese public procurement in line with the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), as Vietnam is not yet a member of the GPA; underlines that the government procurement chapter of the EVFTA achieves a degree of transparency and procedural fairness comparable to other FTAs that the EU has signed with developed and more advanced developing countries; underlines that the agreement must not restrict the political room for manoeuvre in procurements when it comes to setting requirements on what is to be procured and demands on e.g. environment, labour and employment conditions;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6. Stresses the improved access under this agreement to Vietnamese public procurement in line with the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), as Vietnam is not yet a member of the GPA; underlines that the government procurement chapter of the EVFTA achieves a degree of transparency and procedural fairness comparable to other FTAs that the EU has signed with developed and more advanced developing countries; underlines that the agreement must not restrict the ability of the parties to implement their domestic procurement rules, in particular with respect to labour and employment conditions;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 6.
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Welcomes that the provisions on the rules of origin included in the EVFTA follows the EU approach, and their main features are identical to those laid down in the EU's GSP as well as in the EU's trade agreement with Singapore; calls on the Commission to monitor the proper and faithful implementation of these rules, with special attention to national content and to step up against any kind of manipulation and abuse, like repackaging the products proceeding from third countries.
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the fact that around 169 EU geographical indications will benefit from recognition and protection on the Vietnamese market at a comparable level to that of EU legislation, in view of the fact that Vietnam is an important export market in Asia for EU food and drink exports; underlines the potential for growth and significant benefits that are hereby made available to European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, considering this sector of the economy of vital interest for European prosperity and innovation;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 7.
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Stresses that some EU agri- sectors, rice among others, could be negatively affected by the provisions of the FTA; in that respect calls on the Commission to constantly monitor the flow of imports of those sensitive products and make a full utilization of the provisions of the safeguard clause regulation whenever the legal and economic requirements are met, in order to avoid any possible negative impact on the EU agri-sectors as a direct consequence of the enter into force of the FTA;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Expresses its deep concern about the provisions in the Agreement on the rules of origins, which can lead to the legalization of smuggling of certain goods to Europe, for instance steel or aluminium, through Vietnam from neighbouring China; calls for a special EP-DG Trade working group to study carefully all these provisions and to amend them in a more strict redaction if necessary;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Welcomes the fact that the Agreement includes a chapter on customs and trade facilitation; considers that continued cooperation on trade facilitation will be necessary to reap the full benefits of the Agreement; however notes the absence of a dedicated SME chapter; considers that in a potential revision of the Agreement the Commission should explore the possibility to introduce one;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 e (new) – having regard to the Council Conclusions on the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019 of 20 July 2015,
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Welcomes the strong SPS chapter which will set up a single and transparent procedure for the approval of EU exports of food products into Vietnam in order to accelerate the approval of EU export applications and avoid discriminatory treatment; commends Vietnam's commitment to applying the same import requirements to like products coming from all EU member states;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 7 b (new) 7b. Emphasises the importance of SMEs to contribute to jobs, competitiveness and growth; stresses therefore the importance to facilitate implementation of the Agreement for these companies; especially since SMEs need clear rules in trade that do not bring unnecessary regulatory burdens; stresses therefore the importance of consulting SMEs during the implementation period;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Recalls that, in terms of services, Vietnam goes beyond its WTO commitments, provides for substantially better access in a number of business subsectors and offers new market access to sectors such as packaging services, trade fair and exhibition services or rental/leasing; underlines that Vietnam has opened up cross-border higher education
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 8. Recalls that, in terms of services, Vietnam goes beyond its WTO commitments, provides for substantially better access in a number of business subsectors and offers new market access to sectors such as packaging services, trade fair and exhibition services or rental/leasing; underlines that Vietnam has opened up cross-border higher education services for the first time; takes note that the Vietnamese financial sector will also be liberalized, giving EU banks new opportunities to speculate and inflate the global financial bubble;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 8 a (new) 8a. Notes with concern a number of major shortcomings in respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of association; is deeply concerned by the numerous systematic infringements of fundamental rights;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9. Recalls that the EVFTA will help Vietnam go further in improving IPR protection, to the benefit of IPR owners and consumers, as Vietnam will accede to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties, which set standards to prevent unauthorised online access to or use of creative work, protect the rights of owners, and address the challenges that new technologies and methods of communication pose to IPR; stresses the strategic importance of standard setting capacity in a region that is witnessing tendencies of decoupling on the normative and standardization fronts; reiterates that a lack of strong regulatory frameworks could trigger a race to the bottom and a negative competition on important legal provisions; highlights that a swift ratification of the EVFTA can guarantee the highest standards of production and best quality for consumers;
Amendment 116 #
9. Recalls that the EVFTA will help Vietnam go further in improving IPR protection, to the benefit of IPR owners and consumers, as Vietnam will accede to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties, which set standards to prevent unauthorised online access to or use of creative work, protect the rights of owners, and address the challenges that new technologies and methods of communication pose to IPR; is concerned however that the IPR provisions contained in the agreement in relation to pharmaceutical products, such as regulatory data protection and the extension of patent protection up to two years in certain cases may hamper the development and availability of generic drugs, which currently represent half of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical market;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Welcomes the provisions for cooperation on animal welfare, including technical assistance and capacity building for the development of high animal welfare standards, and encourages the Parties to make full use of these; urges the Parties to develop an action plan for the cooperation on animal welfare as soon as possible, including a programme of training, capacity building and assistance in the framework of the Agreement to safeguard animal welfare at the time of killing and better protect animals on farm and during transport in Vietnam;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Notes that the agreement does not contain a specific SMEs chapter, different provisions on SMEs are however included in various parts of the agreement, stresses that implementation phase will be crucial for introducing concrete measures to boost utilisation rate of SMEs on both sides;
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 f (new) – having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 12 December 2018 on the annual report on human rights and democracy in the world 2017 and the European Union’s policy on the matter that “recalls the EU’s commitment to placing human rights and democracy at the centre of its relations with third countries
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Calls on the EU and Vietnam to set up a clear action plan to help SMEs make use of the opportunities offered by the agreement, starting by increasing transparency and disseminating all the relevant information;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Underlines that the agreement safeguards the EU’s right to apply its own standards to all goods and services sold in the EU
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Underlines that the agreement safeguards the EU’s right to apply its own standards to all goods and services sold in the EU and upholds the EU’s precautionary principle; underlines that the EU’s high standards, including in national laws, regulations and collective agreements, should never be seen as trade barriers;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Underlines that the agreement s
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 10. Underlines that the agreement fully safeguards the EU’s right to apply its own standards to all goods and services sold in the EU and upholds the EU’s precautionary principle;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Regrets that the Agreement does not include a provision on cross-border data transfers; considers that in a future revision of the Agreement, such a provision that respects EU law on data protection and on the protection of privacy should be included and stresses that any future outcome must be subject to the consent of Parliament; notes in this regard that the General Data Protection Regulation is fully compatible with the general exceptions under the GATS;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Regrets that there is no dedicated chapter on SMEs in the agreement; recalls that it is crucial that SMEs benefit from the advantages and measures put in place with the agreement; calls on the Commission to ensure that adequate support and information be provided to SMEs in order for them to have the opportunity to benefit fully from this agreement;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines that the EVFTA includes a
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines that the EVFTA includes a
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines that the EVFTA includes a robust, comprehensive and
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 h (new) – having regard to the European Parliament resolution on the annual report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter 2015,
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines that the EVFTA includes a robust, comprehensive and binding chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) dealing with labour and environmental matters; stresses that the TSD chapter is designed to contribute to broader EU policy objectives, notably on inclusive growth, the fight against climate change and more generally in upholding EU values; emphasises that it is also an instrument for development and social progress in Vietnam to support Vietnam in its efforts to improve labour rights and to enhance protection at work and protection of the environment; stresses the importance of a swift establishment of broad and as independent as possible domestic advisory groups, which will play a crucial contribution in monitoring efforts meant to guarantee an effective implementation of the EVFTA;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines that the EVFTA includes a robust, comprehensive and binding chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) dealing with labour and environmental matters; stresses that the TSD chapter is designed to contribute to broader EU policy objectives, notably on inclusive growth, the fight against climate change and more generally in upholding EU values; emphasises that it is also an instrument for development and social progress in Vietnam to support Vietnam in
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines that the EVFTA, contrary to official communications issued by the EU Commission, does not includes a
Amendment 133 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 11. Underlines that the EVFTA includes a
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Points out that a new Vietnamese Cyber Security Law, that entered into force at the beginning of 2019, has attracted a lot of criticism, as an intensified crackdown on human rights activists in the country has been documented, linked to the provisions of this new law which gives the authorities licence to censor content, control information and silence online dissidents; notes with regret that the legislation also raises concerns for EU economic interests, including forced data localisation provisions which are at odds with the EU's liberalisation agenda in this respect; calls on Vietnam to revise this law in line with international standards and welcomes the European Union's assistance in this respect;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Points out that, in the event of non-compliance with the binding clauses of the chapter on Trade and Sustainable Development, the agreement only provides for appropriate measures to be taken and not suspension of the agreement itself; calls, therefore, on the Commission to provide more clarification and to ensure suspension of the agreement in the event of serious infringements of human rights and environmental clauses;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Welcomes the commitments made by Vietnam in the TSD chapter of the Agreement but calls for additional efforts in order to demonstrate effective progress and the full implementation of commitments therein, inter alia, by giving evidence of tangible action aiming at eradicating persecution of community leaders, including human rights defenders, environmental activists and workers' rights activists;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Regrets that the efforts to improve the enforceability of the TSD chapter, as repeatedly called for by the European Parliament and also mentioned in the mission letter for the new EU Trade Commissioner, are not yet reflected in this agreement. Calls on the Joint Committee to immediately begin work on strengthening the enforcement of TSD provisions.
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 a (new) 11a. Deplores that a sanction-based mechanism to effectively enforce sustainable development related provisions has not been included in the TSD chapter;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11b. Recalls that Article 8 in the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union states that “in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women”; welcomes that both Vietnam and the EU have signed the WTO Buenos Aires Declaration on Women and Trade and calls on the Parties to put in value and practice the responsibilities undertaken therein, by strengthening and improving the commitments on gender and trade in this agreement; recalls the Commission´s engagement to include Gender Chapters in future EU trade agreements; is aware that this commitment was taken after the Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam was concluded, notwithstanding, calls on the EU and Vietnam to commit themselves to evaluate its implementation on the basis of gender disaggregated data and to include a specific Chapter on Gender and Trade in its future review;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 i (new) – having regard to the statement of 17 May 2019 on behalf of the EU Ambassador to Vietnam on the recent convictions of Ms Vu Thi Dung and Ms Nguyen Thi Ngoc Suong,
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11b. Notes with concern that the Vietnamese penal code still allows for serious human rights violations, which have intensified since the entry into force of the PCA; calls on a Vietnam to revise the penal code in line with international standards and welcomes the European Union's assistance in this respects; regrets that the Commission has failed to undertake a comprehensive human rights impact assessment of the FTA; calls on the Commission to carry out such an assessment;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 11 b (new) 11b. Calls for the establishment of a Joint Committee of the Vietnamese National Assembly and the European Parliament to improve coordination and review of the measures of the TSD chapter and the implementation of the agreement as a whole, welcomes the favourable position of the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam towards this call for action and calls for a Memorandum of Understanding between both parliaments to be negotiated rapidly.
Amendment 142 #
11c. Calls the EU and Vietnam to cooperate to develop an action plan, accompanied by available EU programmes, to fight child labour, including the necessary due diligence framework for enterprises;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Welcomes the concrete steps taken by the Vietnamese Government so far, including amending labour legislation and the legal framework on the minimum age at work, aimed at abolishing child labour and making commitments on non- discrimination and gender equality at work, but insists that all these improvements must entry into force before any step forward to the ratification of the Agreement by Parliament;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Welcomes the concrete steps taken
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Welcomes the concrete steps taken by the Vietnamese Government so far, including amending labour legislation and the legal framework on the minimum age at work, aimed at abolishing child labour and making commitments on non- discrimination and gender equality at work; expects this new legislation to be fully enforced by Vietnamese authorities;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 12. Welcomes the concrete steps taken by the Vietnamese Government so far, including amending labour legislation and the legal framework on the minimum age at work
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Requests that the Vietnamese Government will present an ambitious yet credible roadmap work plan to eradicate child labour by 2025 and eliminate forced labour, modern slavery and human trafficking by 2030 and is looking forward to its assessment by the International Labour Organization in due time before the ratification of the agreement;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Acknowledges the significant decrease of the child labour in Vietnam in recent years and welcomes the commitment to child labour eradication by the Vietnamese government; reminds that Vietnam was the first country in Asia and second in the world to ratify the United Nations’ International Convention on the Rights of the Child;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Stresses that a number of major challenges remain, especially in the area of human rights and freedom of expression;
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution Citation 17 j (new) – having regard to the European Court of Justice 2/15 Opinion on EU- Singapore FTA stating that trade and sustainable development chapters have a direct and immediate effect on trade and that a breach on sustainable development provisions authorises the other Party to terminate or suspend the liberalisation provided for on other provisions of the FTA,
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses, however, that despite this progress, important challenges remain and urges the Vietnamese authorities to signal their willingness to continue to engage on a progressive workers rights agenda through concrete measures, such as the adoption of the reformed labour code and implementing measures that would incorporate the principles of ILO Convention 105 (abolition of forced labour) and 87 (freedom of association); stresses that specific criteria included in implementing legislation, such as thresholds and registration formalities, should not result in effectively precluding independent organisations from competing with state-run organisations; welcomes in this regard the ratification of fundamental ILO Convention 98 (collective bargaining) on 14 June 2019 and the commitment by the Vietnamese Government to ratify two remaining fundamental Conventions, namely 105 (abolition of forced labour) in 2020 and 87 (freedom of association) in 2023, following the imminent adoption of the new Labour Code; calls on the Vietnamese authorities to provide a credible roadmap for the ratification of the missing ILO core Conventions ahead of the vote on consent by the European Parliament;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses, however, that despite this progress, important challenges remain; welcomes in this regard the ratification of fundamental ILO Convention 98 (collective bargaining) on 14 June 2019 and the commitment by the Vietnamese Government to ratify two remaining fundamental Conventions, namely 105 (abolition of forced labour) in 2020 and 87 (freedom of association) in 2023
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses, however, that despite this progress, important challenges remain; welcomes in this regard the ratification of fundamental ILO Convention 98 (collective bargaining) on 14 June 2019 and the commitment by the Vietnamese Government to ratify two remaining fundamental Conventions, namely 105 (abolition of forced labour) in 2020 and 87 (freedom of association) in 2023, following the imminent adoption of the new Labour Code; recalls the significance of such commitments that portray truly positive trends in developing country, while stressing the vital role of effective implementation of the provisions on human rights and environmental protection;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses, however, that despite this progress, important challenges remain; welcomes in this regard the ratification of fundamental ILO Convention 98 (collective bargaining) on 14 June 2019 and the commitment by the Vietnamese
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses, however, that despite this progress, important challenges remain; welcomes in this regard the ratification of fundamental ILO Convention 98 (collective bargaining) on 14 June 2019 and the commitment by the Vietnamese Government to ratify two remaining fundamental Conventions, namely 105 (abolition of forced labour) in 2020 and 87 (freedom of association) in 2023, following the imminent adoption of the new Labour Code; expects the Vietnamese government to continuously inform the EU on the progress on ratification of these outstanding conventions;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses, however, that despite this progress, important challenges remain; welcomes in this regard the ratification of fundamental ILO Convention 98 (collective bargaining) on 14 June 2019 and the commitment by the Vietnamese Government to ratify two remaining fundamental Conventions, namely 105 (abolition of forced labour) in 2020 and 87 (freedom of association) in 2023, following the imminent adoption of the new Labour Code; stresses that the EVFTA requires the parties not just to ratify but also to effectively implement the core ILO conventions.
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 13. Stresses, however, that despite this progress, important challenges remain; welcomes in this regard the ratification of fundamental ILO Convention 98 (collective bargaining) on 14 June 2019
Amendment 157 #
Motion for a resolution Paragraph 13 a (new) 13a. Notes that the country’s rapid economic development, with the expansion of the industry and services sectors, is causing increased environmental damage, which is having a serious impact on agricultural and marine biodiversity, while unregulated intensive agriculture is causing deforestation and soil deterioration, threatening biodiversity and water quality and undermining sustainable development goals; notes that Vietnam should apply a strict protection and conservation plan for the environment and marine ecosystem;
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