BETA


2020/0089(NLE) EU/China Agreement: cooperation on and protection of geographical indications

Progress: Procedure completed

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead INTA WINKLER Iuliu (icon: EPP EPP) HANSEN Christophe (icon: EPP EPP), RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO Inma (icon: S&D S&D), VEDRENNE Marie-Pierre (icon: Renew Renew), BÜTIKOFER Reinhard (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), KRAH Maximilian (icon: ID ID), FRAGKOS Emmanouil (icon: ECR ECR), SCHOLZ Helmut (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion PECH MELO Nuno (icon: EPP EPP) Fredrick FEDERLEY (icon: RE RE), Ruža TOMAŠIĆ (icon: ECR ECR), Francisco GUERREIRO (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), Ivo HRISTOV (icon: S&D S&D)
Committee Opinion AGRI
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 207-p3, TFEU 207-p4, TFEU 218-p6a, TFEU 218-p7

Events

2020/12/04
   Final act published in Official Journal
2020/11/23
   EP/CSL - Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
2020/11/11
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 645 votes to 22, with 18 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and the government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.

The agreement allows the protection of famous and valuable EU GIs in the Chinese market against imitation and usurpation. Under the deal, in a first phase, direct protection through the agreement of a list of 100 EU GIs and 100 Chinese GIs will be ensured as from the entry into force of the agreement.

In a second phase, within four years, an additional 175 GI names both from the EU and China will be protected under the Agreement. These names will have to follow the same registration procedure as the 100 names already covered by the agreement.

The agreement foresees the possibility to extend the scope after its entry into force to other product classes currently not covered under EU legislation, and in particular handicrafts.

The listed GIs will benefit from a very high level of protection going beyond the one offered under TRIPS, both for foodstuffs but also for wines and spirits.

Documents
2020/10/29
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2020/10/29
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2020/10/27
   EP - Vote in committee
2020/10/13
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2020/09/17
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2020/09/16
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.

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 10 September 2010, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations with China with a view to reaching a broad and ambitious agreement on cooperation on geographical indications and their protection.

The conclusion of the Agreement is part of the EU’s overall strategy to promote the EU’s policy on geographical indications. The initiative aims to provide a high level of protection, at least at the level provided for in Article 23 of the TRIPS+ Agreement, for a range of EU GIs to be protected in the People's Republic of China and Chinese GIs to be protected in the EU. This initiative shall give a competitive advantage to producers of GI products.

CONTENT: the Council's draft aims to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the EU and China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.

The Agreement establishes the conditions for a high level of protection on the Chinese market for the proposed geographical indications.

In line with the objectives set out in the negotiating directives, the Commission secured:

- a TRIPs-plus level of protection to EU geographical indications following the entry into force of the Agreement which provides protection against translation, transcription or transliteration, and against the use of the said geographical indications accompanied by expressions such as ‘kind’, ‘type’, ‘style’, ‘imitation’ or the like in respect of a non-originating product;

- the protection of 175 additional geographical indications within four years of entry into force and a mechanism to add more geographical indications thereafter;

- the coexistence of geographical indications with legitimate earlier trademarks of which the vast majority belong to the legitimate owners of Europe.

The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee to amend the Annexes to the Agreement. The Council shall authorise the Commission to approve, on behalf of the Union, in the Joint Committee, modifications to Annexes I and III to VI to the Agreement.

Documents
2020/07/23
   PT_PARLIAMENT - Contribution
Documents
2020/07/23
   PT_PARLIAMENT - Contribution
Documents
2020/07/13
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2020/07/10
   EP - MELO Nuno (EPP) appointed as rapporteur in PECH
2020/07/09
   CSL - Document attached to the procedure
Documents
2020/06/11
   EP - WINKLER Iuliu (EPP) appointed as rapporteur in INTA
2020/05/27
   EC - Document attached to the procedure
2020/05/27
   EC - Preparatory document
2020/05/27
   EP - Preparatory document

Documents

Votes

A9-0199/2020 - Iuliu Winkler - Procédure d'approbation #

2020/11/11 Outcome: +: 645, -: 22, 0: 18
DE IT ES PL FR RO NL HU SE CZ PT AT BE BG EL SK FI DK IE HR LT SI LV CY MT EE LU
Total
91
75
58
51
78
31
29
21
20
21
20
18
20
16
20
14
14
14
12
12
11
8
7
6
6
6
6
icon: PPE PPE
180

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Latvia PPE

2
2

Malta PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2
icon: S&D S&D
139

Belgium S&D

Abstain (1)

3

Greece S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Cyprus S&D

2

Estonia S&D

2

Luxembourg S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
95

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Hungary Renew

2

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

2

Finland Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

2

Slovenia Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Luxembourg Renew

2
icon: ID ID
72

Netherlands ID

Against (1)

1

Czechia ID

2
3

Belgium ID

2

Finland ID

2

Denmark ID

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
61

Germany ECR

For (1)

1

Romania ECR

1

Netherlands ECR

4

Bulgaria ECR

2

Greece ECR

1

Croatia ECR

For (1)

1

Lithuania ECR

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1
icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL
39

Netherlands GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Sweden GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Czechia GUE/NGL

1

Belgium GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Finland GUE/NGL

For (1)

1

Denmark GUE/NGL

1

Cyprus GUE/NGL

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
69

Spain Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Denmark Verts/ALE

2

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Latvia Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
30

Germany NI

2

Netherlands NI

1

Hungary NI

1

Slovakia NI

2

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Malta NI

For (1)

1
AmendmentsDossier
80 2020/0089(NLE)
2020/09/15 INTA 80 amendments...
source: 657.313

History

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

docs/6
date
2020-07-23T00:00:00
docs
url: https://connectfolx.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2020)0213 title: COM(2020)0213
type
Contribution
body
PT_PARLIAMENT
docs/6
date
2020-07-24T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2020)0213 title: COM(2020)0213
type
Contribution
body
PT_PARLIAMENT
docs/7
date
2020-07-23T00:00:00
docs
url: https://connectfolx.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2020)0214 title: COM(2020)0214
type
Contribution
body
PT_PARLIAMENT
docs/7
date
2020-07-24T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2020)0214 title: COM(2020)0214
type
Contribution
body
PT_PARLIAMENT
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
associated
False
rapporteur
name: WINKLER Iuliu date: 2020-06-11T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
associated
False
rapporteur
name: WINKLER Iuliu date: 2020-06-11T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
shadows
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
associated
False
rapporteur
name: MELO Nuno date: 2020-07-10T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
associated
False
rapporteur
name: MELO Nuno date: 2020-07-10T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE654.105
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/INTA-PR-654105_EN.html
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PECH-AD-657257_EN.html
events/2/type
Old
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/3/type
Old
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
New
Vote in committee
events/5/type
Old
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
New
Decision by Parliament
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
associated
False
rapporteur
name: WINKLER Iuliu date: 2020-06-11T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
associated
False
rapporteur
name: WINKLER Iuliu date: 2020-06-11T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
shadows
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
associated
False
rapporteur
name: MELO Nuno date: 2020-07-10T00:00:00 group: ??? abbr: Unknown Group
committees/2
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
committee_full
Fisheries
committee
PECH
associated
False
rapporteur
name: MELO Nuno date: 2020-07-10T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
events/7
date
2020-12-04T00:00:00
type
Final act published in Official Journal
docs
procedure/final
title
Decision 2020/1832
url
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=32020D1832
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
New
Procedure completed
commission
  • body: EC dg: Agriculture and Rural Development commissioner: WOJCIECHOWSKI Janusz
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
associated
False
rapporteur
name: WINKLER Iuliu date: 2020-06-11T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
associated
False
rapporteur
name: WINKLER Iuliu date: 2020-06-11T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
shadows
committees/2/rapporteur/0/mepref
96978
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257&secondRef=02
docs/6
date
2020-11-11T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0297_EN.html title: T9-0297/2020
type
Text adopted by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/5/summary
  • The European Parliament adopted by 645 votes to 22, with 18 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the agreement between the European Union and the government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the agreement.
  • The agreement allows the protection of famous and valuable EU GIs in the Chinese market against imitation and usurpation. Under the deal, in a first phase, direct protection through the agreement of a list of 100 EU GIs and 100 Chinese GIs will be ensured as from the entry into force of the agreement.
  • In a second phase, within four years, an additional 175 GI names both from the EU and China will be protected under the Agreement. These names will have to follow the same registration procedure as the 100 names already covered by the agreement.
  • The agreement foresees the possibility to extend the scope after its entry into force to other product classes currently not covered under EU legislation, and in particular handicrafts.
  • The listed GIs will benefit from a very high level of protection going beyond the one offered under TRIPS, both for foodstuffs but also for wines and spirits.
events/6
date
2020-11-23T00:00:00
type
Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
body
EP/CSL
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting final decision
New
Procedure completed, awaiting publication in Official Journal
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257
docs/6
date
2020-11-11T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0297_EN.html title: T9-0297/2020
type
Text adopted by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/5
date
2020-11-11T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0297_EN.html title: T9-0297/2020
forecasts
  • date: 2020-11-11T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting Parliament's vote
New
Awaiting final decision
forecasts/0
date
2020-11-11T00:00:00
title
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
forecasts/0
date
2020-11-12T00:00:00
title
Debate in plenary scheduled
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257&secondRef=02
forecasts/0
date
2020-11-12T00:00:00
title
Debate in plenary scheduled
forecasts/0
date
2020-11-11T00:00:00
title
Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257&secondRef=02
docs/5
date
2020-10-29T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2020-0199_EN.html title: A9-0199/2020
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/3
date
2020-10-27T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/4
date
2020-10-29T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2020-0199_EN.html title: A9-0199/2020
procedure/Modified legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Awaiting Parliament's vote
docs/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257
procedure/subtype
Old
  • Consent by Parliament
  • See also 2020/0089M(NLE)
New
Consent by Parliament
procedure/subtype
Old
Consent by Parliament
New
  • Consent by Parliament
  • See also 2020/0089M(NLE)
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
committee
AGRI
associated
False
opinion
False
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
committee_full
Agriculture and Rural Development
committee
AGRI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: LINS Norbert date: 2020-09-02T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
docs/4
date
2020-10-13T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE657.257&secondRef=02 title: PE657.257
committee
PECH
type
Committee opinion
body
EP
docs/4
date
2020-09-16T00:00:00
docs
url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=8359%2F20&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 08359/2020
type
Legislative proposal
body
CSL
events/1/summary
  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • 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 10 September 2010, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations with China with a view to reaching a broad and ambitious agreement on cooperation on geographical indications and their protection.
  • The conclusion of the Agreement is part of the EU’s overall strategy to promote the EU’s policy on geographical indications. The initiative aims to provide a high level of protection, at least at the level provided for in Article 23 of the TRIPS+ Agreement, for a range of EU GIs to be protected in the People's Republic of China and Chinese GIs to be protected in the EU. This initiative shall give a competitive advantage to producers of GI products.
  • CONTENT: the Council's draft aims to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the EU and China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • The Agreement establishes the conditions for a high level of protection on the Chinese market for the proposed geographical indications.
  • In line with the objectives set out in the negotiating directives, the Commission secured:
  • - a TRIPs-plus level of protection to EU geographical indications following the entry into force of the Agreement which provides protection against translation, transcription or transliteration, and against the use of the said geographical indications accompanied by expressions such as ‘kind’, ‘type’, ‘style’, ‘imitation’ or the like in respect of a non-originating product;
  • - the protection of 175 additional geographical indications within four years of entry into force and a mechanism to add more geographical indications thereafter;
  • - the coexistence of geographical indications with legitimate earlier trademarks of which the vast majority belong to the legitimate owners of Europe.
  • The Agreement establishes a Joint Committee to amend the Annexes to the Agreement. The Council shall authorise the Commission to approve, on behalf of the Union, in the Joint Committee, modifications to Annexes I and III to VI to the Agreement.
committees/1/rapporteur
  • name: LINS Norbert date: 2020-09-02T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
docs/2
date
2020-07-09T00:00:00
docs
url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=8361%2F20&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 08361/2020
type
Document attached to the procedure
body
CSL
docs/4
date
2020-09-16T00:00:00
docs
url: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/content/out?lang=EN&typ=SET&i=ADV&RESULTSET=1&DOC_ID=8359%2F20&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 08359/2020
type
Legislative proposal
body
CSL
events/1
date
2020-09-16T00:00:00
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=8359%2F20&DOC_LANCD=EN&ROWSPP=25&NRROWS=500&ORDERBY=DOC_DATE+DESC title: 08359/2020
events/2
date
2020-09-17T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
  • INTA/9/03097
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Awaiting committee decision
docs/1/summary
  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • 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: China is EU's second-biggest trading partner and the EU is China's biggest trading partner. China and Europe trade on average over EUR 1 billion a day. Agri-food trade is an important component of this relation and its balance between the EU and China is clearly positive for the EU.
  • On 10 September 2010, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations on an Agreement with China with a view to obtaining the highest possible level of protection for geographical indications falling within its scope and to providing instruments to counter deceptive practices and wrongful uses of these indications.
  • On the basis of these directives, the Commission has negotiated with the People’s Republic of China an ambitious and comprehensive agreement on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • The development of China's middle class, which is expected to reach 500 million people in the next three years, stimulates demand for quality products and thus for those with a European geographical indication. The Agreement shall therefore benefit European producers and should be a boost to rural areas where these products are made.
  • CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • The proposed Agreement aims to achieve the highest possible level of protection for geographical indications and to provide instruments to counter deceptive practices and wrongful uses of these indications.
  • In accordance with the negotiating directives, the Commission has obtained:
  • - a TRIPS+ level of protection on the Chinese market for EU geographical indications following the entry into force of the Agreement;
  • - the protection of an additional 175 GIs within four years of entry into force and a mechanism to add more GIs at a later stage;
  • - the coexistence of GIs with legitimate earlier trademarks, the vast majority of which belong to their legitimate owners in Europe.
  • The Agreement includes institutional provisions for the establishment of a Joint Committee to monitor the implementation of the Agreement and to intensify cooperation and dialogue in the field of geographical indications. The Council shall authorise the Commission to approve, on the Union’s behalf, the position to be adopted in the Joint Committee on proposed modifications to Annexes I and III to VI of the Agreement.
docs/1/summary
  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • 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: China is EU's second-biggest trading partner and the EU is China's biggest trading partner. China and Europe trade on average over EUR 1 billion a day. Agri-food trade is an important component of this relation and its balance between the EU and China is clearly positive for the EU.
  • On 10 September 2010, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations on an Agreement with China with a view to obtaining the highest possible level of protection for geographical indications falling within its scope and to providing instruments to counter deceptive practices and wrongful uses of these indications.
  • On the basis of these directives, the Commission has negotiated with the People’s Republic of China an ambitious and comprehensive agreement on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • The development of China's middle class, which is expected to reach 500 million people in the next three years, stimulates demand for quality products and thus for those with a European geographical indication. The Agreement shall therefore benefit European producers and should be a boost to rural areas where these products are made.
  • CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • The proposed Agreement aims to achieve the highest possible level of protection for geographical indications and to provide instruments to counter deceptive practices and wrongful uses of these indications.
  • In accordance with the negotiating directives, the Commission has obtained:
  • - a TRIPS+ level of protection on the Chinese market for EU geographical indications following the entry into force of the Agreement;
  • - the protection of an additional 175 GIs within four years of entry into force and a mechanism to add more GIs at a later stage;
  • - the coexistence of GIs with legitimate earlier trademarks, the vast majority of which belong to their legitimate owners in Europe.
  • The Agreement includes institutional provisions for the establishment of a Joint Committee to monitor the implementation of the Agreement and to intensify cooperation and dialogue in the field of geographical indications. The Council shall authorise the Commission to approve, on the Union’s behalf, the position to be adopted in the Joint Committee on proposed modifications to Annexes I and III to VI of the Agreement.
docs/3
date
2020-07-24T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2020)0213 title: COM(2020)0213
type
Contribution
body
PT_PARLIAMENT
docs/4
date
2020-07-24T00:00:00
docs
url: http://www.connefof.europarl.europa.eu/connefof/app/exp/COM(2020)0214 title: COM(2020)0214
type
Contribution
body
PT_PARLIAMENT
docs/1
date
2020-05-27T00:00:00
docs
type
Preparatory document
body
EC
events/0
date
2020-05-27T00:00:00
type
Preparatory document
body
EP
docs
events/0
date
2020-05-27T00:00:00
type
Legislative proposal published
body
EC
docs
summary
procedure/legal_basis/2
Treaty on the Functioning of the EU TFEU 218-p6a
docs/1
date
2020-07-13T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE654.105 title: PE654.105
type
Committee draft report
body
EP
forecasts
  • date: 2020-11-11T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date, 1st reading/single reading
committees/2/rapporteur
  • name: MELO Nuno date: 2020-07-10T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
associated
False
rapporteur
name: WINKLER Iuliu date: 2020-06-11T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
shadows
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
committee_full
International Trade
committee
INTA
associated
False
docs/0
date
2020-05-27T00:00:00
docs
type
Legislative proposal
body
EC
events/0/summary
  • PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • 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: China is EU's second-biggest trading partner and the EU is China's biggest trading partner. China and Europe trade on average over EUR 1 billion a day. Agri-food trade is an important component of this relation and its balance between the EU and China is clearly positive for the EU.
  • On 10 September 2010, the Council authorised the opening of negotiations on an Agreement with China with a view to obtaining the highest possible level of protection for geographical indications falling within its scope and to providing instruments to counter deceptive practices and wrongful uses of these indications.
  • On the basis of these directives, the Commission has negotiated with the People’s Republic of China an ambitious and comprehensive agreement on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • The development of China's middle class, which is expected to reach 500 million people in the next three years, stimulates demand for quality products and thus for those with a European geographical indication. The Agreement shall therefore benefit European producers and should be a boost to rural areas where these products are made.
  • CONTENT: the Commission proposes that the Council decide to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation on, and protection of, geographical indications.
  • The proposed Agreement aims to achieve the highest possible level of protection for geographical indications and to provide instruments to counter deceptive practices and wrongful uses of these indications.
  • In accordance with the negotiating directives, the Commission has obtained:
  • - a TRIPS+ level of protection on the Chinese market for EU geographical indications following the entry into force of the Agreement;
  • - the protection of an additional 175 GIs within four years of entry into force and a mechanism to add more GIs at a later stage;
  • - the coexistence of GIs with legitimate earlier trademarks, the vast majority of which belong to their legitimate owners in Europe.
  • The Agreement includes institutional provisions for the establishment of a Joint Committee to monitor the implementation of the Agreement and to intensify cooperation and dialogue in the field of geographical indications. The Council shall authorise the Commission to approve, on the Union’s behalf, the position to be adopted in the Joint Committee on proposed modifications to Annexes I and III to VI of the Agreement.