Ceist pharlaiminteach - O-000061/2016Ceist pharlaiminteach
O-000061/2016
Parlaimint na hEorpa

Regarding leaked consolidated chapter TTIP

4.4.2016

Ceist le haghaidh freagra ó bhéal O-000061/2016
ar an gCoimisiún
Rule 128
Anne-Marie Mineur, Rina Ronja Kari, Helmut Scholz, Dennis de Jong, Josu Juaristi Abaunz, Martina Anderson, Liadh Ní Riada, Matt Carthy, Lynn Boylan, Anja Hazekamp, Stefan Eck, Eleonora Forenza, Stelios Kouloglou, Kostas Chrysogonos, Kostadinka Kuneva, Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Sofia Sakorafa, Paloma López Bermejo, Marina Albiol Guzmán, Javier Couso Permuy, Malin Björk, Neoklis Sylikiotis, Merja Kyllönen, , thar ceann an Ghrúpa GUE/NGL

The Commission has been negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the United States (US) since 2013. During this process no scrutiny is foreseen in the negotiation process for the European Parliament. In March 2016 a consolidated text was leaked on the chapter on regulatory cooperation, which directly concerns the European Parliament. The leak was covered by several European newspapers[1]. The European Parliament asks for right of scrutiny in this matter, as it affects the legislative process of the Union.

1. The leaked text on a consolidated chapter on regulatory cooperation shows that the regulatory authorities of the other Party can "provide [...] opportunities for cooperation and information exchange, at the earliest possible stage [...]". Hence, the regulatory authorities of the US can "dismiss" regulatory objectives "which are likely to have a significant impact on trade or investment", even before the Commission has send its communication to the European Parliament and the Council. How will the Commission ensure the European Parliament’s role within the EU’s law-making procedure and its democratic scrutiny over EU regulatory processes as laid down in the treaties?

2. As foreseen in the consolidated text 'regulatory impact assessments' are agreed upon to ensure that any regulatory act is necessary. The formulation of these necessity tests consider that any act must "relate to internationally agreed regulatory standards", "take account of the regulatory approaches of the other Party" and assess how the acts "have an impact on international trade or investment". Is the Commission aware that this mechanism gives unpreceded influence of non-elected government officials of both Parties over regulatory acts that can be considered a barrier to trade or investment, including acts for protection of environmental and social standards?

3. Does the Commission share the opinion that the necessity tests referred to in question 2 might endanger the right to regulate of lawmakers on all levels of government?

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