MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
23 September 2003
pursuant to Rule 37(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Seán Ó Neachtain
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the outcome of the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference (Cancun 10-14 September 2003)
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B5-0399/2003
B5‑0405/2003
European Parliament resolution on the outcome of the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference (Cancun 10-14 September 2003)
The European Parliament,
A. whereas the failure of the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun (Mexico) is a serious setback for the WTO and all the parties involved,
B. whereas this failure is due in part to inappropriate WTO rules and working methods,
C. whereas it is now essential to hold constructive discussions with a view to deciding on the best way to give new impetus to the Doha Development Round,
D. whereas the work of the European Union’s Cancun delegation – which showed a clear desire to make the round a success by its active participation, willingness to adjust its proposals, openness and transparency – cannot be faulted,
E. whereas the Singapore summit issues continue to be very important in terms of appropriate regulation of world trade, fighting corruption and hence of reducing poverty in the developing countries,
F. whereas the European Union played a very constructive role in relation to the Singapore summit issues, demonstrating a willingness to make an effort with regard to the timetable, their extent and their content,
G. whereas the European Union took account of the initiative of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Benin on cotton, and indicated its willingness to eliminate the most anti-competitive measures in this sector,
1. Regrets that the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun was a failure;
2. Takes the view that the failure to reach agreement in Cancun represents a serious setback for the WTO;
3. Reaffirms its conviction that a multilateral world trade system based on common rules is the only way to guarantee free trade that is fair to all countries, developed or otherwise;
4. Reaffirms its conviction that the Doha Development Round, if it were to reach a successful conclusion, would bring advantages for all the WTO members, and that it could, in particular, bring the least developed countries out of poverty, disease and corruption;
5. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take all possible initiatives – including bilateral contacts with regional groupings such as the ACP, the Group of 21 and the African Union – likely to ensure that the Doha Development Round timetable is reinstated;
6. Calls on the Commission to make a statement as a matter of urgency on the need to extend the ‘peace clause’ and to avoid the creation of a situation which would make it more difficult to relaunch the round;
7. Wonders about the advisability of continuing to negotiate towards a complete package of measures, given that the developing countries would then have no way of disputing the terms of the agreement other than rendering the whole negotiation null and void;
8. Calls on the Commission, in consultation with the European Parliament, to come back with concrete proposals which would allow the establishment of a more effective system of rules and procedures within the WTO and to be sure that this new system is accepted by all the Organisation’s members before a new round is launched;
9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Member State parliaments and the WTO Director-General.