La Présidente. – L'ordre du jour appelle le débat sur la question orale à la Commission sur l'évolution récente des négociations sur l'accord de libre-échange entre l'Union européenne et le Conseil de coopération du Golfe, de Helmuth Markov, au nom de la commission du commerce international (O-0032/2008 - B6-0020/2008).

  Androula Vassiliou, Member of the Commission. − Madam President, some may say that negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council have lasted for 17 years. In fact, it is only since 2002 that the substance has been discussed. We the Commission, but also the representatives of the Member States in the Council, hope to finish the negotiations sooner rather than later. We know that the FTA will contribute to the deepening of relations between our regions. The FTA negotiations were conducted at an accelerated pace in 2007, culminating in Commissioner Mandelson’s visit to Doha in December 2007, which gave a significant political push. We have made good progress on all chapters and are closer than ever to an agreement.

There are, however, some outstanding issues which are important to guarantee real preferential access for the EU to the GCC market and no discrimination compared to others. These issues are export duties, some exceptions in the area of energy services, notably by the UAE, and certain horizontal provisions of the agreement, such as competition and intellectual property. A negotiating round was cancelled in January. Since then, there has been no feedback from the GCC side at all. We now hope to be able to have the next round in early May, at the same time as the EU-GCC Joint Committee meeting, which is scheduled for 6 May.

Our objective remains to make progress in the next round and to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible, hopefully in the early months of the French presidency. The Free Trade Agreement aims at creating a preferential relationship between the EU and the GCC, in line with WTO principles and disciplines. It will thus lead to the liberalisation of substantially all trade between parties. It also aims at supporting the Member States of the GCC in their policies of economic diversification through encouraging further economic reforms and offering the potential of bringing increased foreign investments, in addition to the increasing dynamics of inward investments in the region.

The FTA includes significant commitments on trade in services and investments by both sides and mutual access to public procurement markets, also in the energy and transport sectors. It covers ambitious tariff liberalisation schedules, including in the chemicals sector. Last but not least, it covers non-tariff areas, such as technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary standards or intellectual property rights.

This House has expressed concern that the Free Trade Agreement being negotiated with the Gulf Cooperation Council does not contain clauses on human rights and social and environmental standards. Let me, therefore, first of all clarify that the current draft of the EU-GCC Free Trade Agreement does include a number of non-trade clauses – on human rights, migration, counter-terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. These clauses were agreed with the GCC some years ago. However, it emerged at the last round that the GCC side had some outstanding questions on the wording regarding the suspension clause linked to the application of the essential political elements of the agreement. In addition to these clauses, the preamble of the agreement refers to the need to strengthen the process of economic and social development in the GCC countries, while protecting the environment. It also refers to the fact that the parties shall not encourage foreign direct investment by lowering or relaxing their domestic environment or label standards. It also foresees consultations if it appears that an actual or proposed measure is inconsistent with these principles.

The EU-GCC FTA negotiations took into account the results and conclusions of a sustainability impact assessment study which was carried out between 2001 and 2004. This was the case, in particular, in sectors which were identified by the consultants as important for a more sustainable economic development in the GCC, namely services and some industrial sectors. Further to the request of this House, in February we provided the negotiating directives for the EU-GCC FTA, including all its updates according to the agreed procedures and in respect of the confidentiality rules.

Finally, let me just stress that the European Parliament has been regularly updated on the state of play of the EU-GCC FTA negotiations and that the European Commission will continue to keep it updated.

  Tokia Saïfi, au nom du groupe PPE-DE. – Madame la Présidente, la conclusion d'un accord de libre-échange entre la Communauté européenne et le Conseil de coopération du Golfe fait l'objet de négociations depuis 1988, et il semblerait que l'on s'approche d'une conclusion définitive.

Je me félicite de ces dernières avancées car la conclusion d'un accord de libre-échange est primordiale pour intensifier et réguler les relations commerciales entre l'Union européenne et les États du Golfe. Elles ouvriraient ainsi une ère nouvelle et plus dynamique de coopération dans de nombreux domaines stratégiques entre deux régions d'une importance réciproque capitale, mais dont les relations souffrent d'un déficit de substance.

L'accord de libre-échange doit contribuer au démantèlement des obstacles non tarifaires et à la suppression de toutes les subventions publiques et compensations, notamment pour l'accès aux matières premières, et ce en conformité avec les règles actuelles de l'OMC. Les opportunités et les défis de la montée en puissance des fonds souverains devraient faire l'objet d'un travail de fond, d'un dialogue et d'une coopération constructive entre le Parlement européen et les États du Golfe en particulier.

L'objectif est de maintenir un environnement ouvert aux investissements tout en améliorant leur transparence. Il faut ainsi que les gérants de ces fonds puissent multiplier les informations qu'ils fournissent au marché concernant l'origine de leurs ressources, leurs objectifs d'investissement et leurs stratégies. Mais il faut aussi que l'Europe se donne les moyens d'attirer ces fonds vecteurs de croissance, d'innovation et de création d'emploi, en n'oubliant pas la forte concurrence internationale pour drainer des capitaux productifs.

La signature de l'accord de libre-échange encouragera les pays du Golfe à être plus réceptifs aux vues de leurs partenaires européens et permettra ainsi de diversifier et d'accélérer nos échanges et nos convergences.

  Carlos Carnero González, en nombre del Grupo PSE. – Señora Presidenta, me gustaría, en primer lugar, agradecer a la señora Comisaria sus explicaciones e, inmediatamente después, afirmar que, como Grupo Socialista, consideramos que la firma del Acuerdo de Cooperación con el Consejo del Golfo es un objetivo que compartimos.

En efecto, tenemos que conseguirlo lo antes posible. Será en beneficio de Europa, será en beneficio de los países que componen el Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo. Pero también es cierto que el mandato para negociar este acuerdo es un mandato muy antiguo, es un mandato que no contiene las cláusulas necesarias para concentrarse en temas que son clave en el mundo de hoy como, por ejemplo, los derechos humanos, las cuestiones laborales o las medioambientales.

Y, por lo tanto, a mí me alegra oír de la Comisaria que la Comisión va a hacer todo el esfuerzo necesario para incluir esas cuestiones en el Acuerdo. De otra manera, sería absolutamente incomprensible, porque no estamos hablando solamente de comercio o de intercambio económico.

Mire, son países muy importantes ?todos lo sabemos?, tienen una de las mayores riquezas que hoy se pueden evaluar en el planeta, el petróleo, imprescindible para la vida de nuestras sociedades.

Pero en aquellos países no solamente hay petróleo, también vive gente, hombres y mujeres; hombres y mujeres nacidos en esos países y hombres y mujeres que vienen de otros países a trabajar allí, y a mí me da la impresión de que en aquellos países no se respetan los derechos humanos como se deberían respetar, por ejemplo, con respecto a la libertad de expresión o la libertad de asociación. Por ejemplo, con respecto a la no igualdad de la mujer, uno no deja de sentir vergüenza e indignación cuando lee, por ejemplo, noticias como las referidas por Human Rights Watch en el sentido de que las mujeres, en algunos de esos países, necesitan el permiso de un llamado «guardián», que puede ser su padre, su marido o incluso su hijo, para trabajar, viajar, estudiar o incluso tener acceso a los servicios de salud. Eso, sencillamente, es inaceptable, totalmente inaceptable.

Pero, claro, también podemos hablar de la situación de los ?como decía antes? inmigrantes que trabajan en aquellos países, que son una gran fuerza laboral. ¿Se garantizan sus derechos o no? Y, por cierto, ¿cuál es la preocupación medioambiental de países productores de petróleo tan importantes como los del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo? ¿Les interesa el cambio climático o les interesa el precio del crudo?

Esto hay que decirlo con amistad, pero con absoluta claridad. Y, por eso, nosotros estamos contentos de que la resolución que mañana votaremos haya incluido finalmente apartados tan importantes como el 17 y el 19 ?de los que nos sentimos coautores? que, por ejemplo, hacen referencia a los derechos humanos en tanto que asunto de una cláusula que debe ser esencial en el Acuerdo de Libre Comercio que se va a firmar con el Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo o, por ejemplo, a la necesidad de que las partes ratifiquen los convenios de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo.

Aun así, nosotros hemos presentado otras enmiendas que esperamos que los grupos puedan apoyar, reforzando esas cuestiones. Pero, atención, no mandemos un mensaje equivocado a países amigos, los derechos humanos se defienden se tenga petróleo o no.

  Ramona Nicole Mănescu, în numele grupului ALDE. – Discuţia privind evoluţia negocierilor acordului de liber schimb între Comunitatea Europeană şi Consiliul de Cooperare din Golf mi-a atras atenţia având în vedere şi vizita pe care am efectuat-o de curând în această regiune, împreună cu Delegaţia Parlamentului European pentru relaţiile cu statele din Golf.

Printre subiectele abordate în cadrul reuniunilor interparlamentare s-a numărat şi negocierea acestui acord.

Reprezentanţii GCC au afirmat că europenii fac presiuni pentru un acces nelimitat la nenumăratele oportunităţi de investiţii, în timp ce interesul GCC stă nu atât în dobândirea de capital, cât în nevoia de tehnologie şi know-how managerial.

Pe de o parte, negocierile începute trebuiau finalizate încă din 2006, dar iată că astăzi ele continuă, iar motivele sunt imputabile ambelor părţi.

Uniunea consideră că membrii GCC au o lipsă de coordonare şi o lipsă a reformei, iar aceştia din urmă se plâng de o listă interminabilă de condiţii pe care statele din Golf trebuie să îndeplinească.

Unele dintre cele mai importante au fost amintite de Comisarul pentru comerţ, Peter Mandelson: accesul pe piaţă, marcarea originii produselor, autorizaţiile guvernamentale, măsuri pentru protejarea investiţiei, precum şi criterii de garantare a acestora în cadrul GCC.

De aceea, consider că, prin încheierea acordului de liber schimb, ambele părţi s-ar angaja oficial într-o cooperare economică cu câştiguri reciproce importante: dezvoltarea cooperării în sectorul energetic, dezvoltarea economică şi tehnologică a zonei şi, implicit, un impact sporit în protecţia mediului, crearea unei pieţe comune şi creşterea nivelului investiţiilor europene sunt o parte dintre acestea.

Pe de altă parte însă, o dezbatere sensibilă în zonă ţinteşte problema respectării drepturilor omului. Uniunea are un rol foarte important în economia internaţională, dar, în acelaşi timp, este şi unul dintre principalii promotori ai respectării drepturilor fundamentale ale omului.

Din discuţiile pe care le-am avut cu reprezentanţii celor mai active ONG-uri din regiune, a reieşit foarte clar oportunitatea oferită de negocierile din cadrul acordului de liber schimb de a pune presiune asupra statelor din Golf pentru acordarea cât mai multor libertăţi civile şi politice cetăţenilor acestor ţări.

De aceea, atunci când se negociază chestiuni economice, trebuie acordată implicit o atenţie sporită şi legislaţiei privind respectarea drepturilor muncitorilor imigranţi, a femeilor.

  Caroline Lucas, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, my group strongly supports calling on the Commission to supply Parliament with more information about these FTA negotiations and in particular to transmit the actual negotiating mandate and an updated sustainability impact assessment.

We also support the emphasis on the need for a strong chapter within the FTA on sustainable development, given the poor record of the Gulf States with regard to social and environmental standards. That is what makes us concerned about suggestions from the Trade DG that since the FTA negotiations with the Gulf States started a long time ago, when sustainable development issues were apparently less relevant, it is somehow now too late to burden the negotiations with new issues like human rights clauses.

I think we need to say that this is politically unacceptable and we hope that the Trade DG will keep in mind that Parliament will need to give its assent to any final results of the negotiations.

But beyond our concern about the social and environmental standards of trade within the Gulf region, we need to ask more carefully what kind of trade an FTA with the Gulf aims to liberalise. We know of course that the EU interest is about unlimited access to energy resources, about doing away with any barriers to trade like export taxes or quantitative restrictions. Of course we know the EU is trying to out-compete other industrialised and emerging economies to get the best access conditions, that the EU sees rising energy prices and wants to sell more to the region in order to redress its trade balance. Of course, this is completely inconsistent with the EU’s stated goals with regard to its policy on climate change.

But let us just imagine a different scenario: that the EU would not seek to balance its trade relations through all-out liberalisation but would use the incentive of trade imbalance to foster the development and application of renewable energy; that the EU would not participate in the international race to secure access to oil but would insist on multilateral agreements giving all countries a fair share of diminishing global resources.

In comparison to this kind of ambitious scenario that we would like to see, the insistence of Parliament on a strong chapter in the FTA on sustainable development is absolutely the minimum we need in terms of deciding whether or not this House can give its assent to the upcoming agreement.

  Avril Doyle (PPE-DE). – Madam President, the importance of concluding a properly functioning free trade agreement cannot be overstated. EU exports to the GCC member states have been increasing since the 1980s. The GCC is currently the EU’s sixth largest export market and the EU is the GCC’s first trading partner. In 2005, EU exports to the GCC were around EUR 50 billion, whereas EU exports from the GCC amounted to around EUR 37 billion.

The Commission expects the trade volume to double soon after the agreement is signed. Furthermore, for the first time, as I understand, the proposed agreement foresees clauses on human rights, non-proliferation and counter-terrorism, and this is certainly to be welcomed.

Unfortunately, there has been a long delay in reaching an agreement and, when Mr Mandelson visited the region in February 2007, you said, Commissioner, that he gave the free trade agreement a push, if I quote you correctly.

I understand, however, that he went on the record, when he was there, to blame Gulf Arab protectionism as a cause of delaying the signing of the free trade agreement. Does the Commission still believe this to be the case and is this the sort of language to foster international agreements?

Despite setbacks with reaching a trade agreement, GCC member states are engaging in a positive way with the Commission on the harmonisation of airport security regulations. Passengers currently purchasing duty-free products and transferring either within the Gulf or in the European Union could potentially have their goods confiscated because of present airport liquid security restrictions.

But, thankfully, a number of Gulf Cooperation states have engaged with the Commission by applying for security recognition under Regulation (EC) No 915/2007. This, I understand, will allow passengers to transfer from third countries with their duty-free purchases, provided that the country has been recognised as secure. Through this application, they have successfully established technical and practical cooperation with the EU, and the Commission should be commended for taking action in this area.

Such an example of practical cooperation is encouraging for any broader free trade agreement that may come into force later. However, I would like to see such cooperation and agreements speeded up and extended.

An FTA should also be a way to promote scientific cooperation with the Gulf States and thereby support sustainable development in that region. At the moment, there is very little scientific cooperation between Europe and the Gulf States, even though the potential could be great.

Cooperation in science is particularly important when it comes to climate change and energy policy. The European Union currently imports about 50% of its energy needs, of which approximately 20% are sourced in the Gulf.

An FTA needs to be strengthened in the areas of combating climate change and I therefore welcome the Commission’s planned feasibility study in this area.

  David Martin (PSE). – Madam President, let me begin with the positive. Firstly, let me put on record my thanks to Mr O’Sullivan, the Director-General for Trade, who responded quickly and positively to our request for the negotiating mandates. We received them within a week or so of him coming to the committee and being asked to provide us with those mandates.

I also welcome the significant progress that is being made in these negotiations and acknowledge, as others already have as well, that this should open up the Gulf States to EU trade and should be good for EU business.

I also accept wholeheartedly that any FTA we negotiate is going to be an improvement on the 1989 Cooperation Agreement, and as you yourself, Commissioner, reminded us and Ms Doyle has just repeated, I welcome the fact that the FTA does contain a number of non-trade clauses on subjects such as human rights, migration, counter-terrorism and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

But I do regret that the social, environmental and labour clauses that we are negotiating with the Gulf States are significantly weaker than those that we are negotiating in our modern round of free trade agreements. We would not accept the standards that we appear to be prepared to accept for the Gulf States for Korea or for the ASEAN negotiations, for example.

The Commission has already told us – and we could have anticipated this – that this is because we are negotiating on the basis of an old negotiating mandate, a mandate that has not been updated since 2001. What I have not heard from anyone on the Commission, be it the Commissioner responsible, be it the DG for Trade or the Commissioner here this evening, is why we are still negotiating on the basis of an old mandate. It is difficult not to be suspicious that the Commission felt it was going to be too difficult to negotiate modern sustainability, development clauses and labour clauses with the Gulf States. Similarly, why has the sustainability impact assessment not been updated since 2004? Again, I have yet to hear convincing reasons for this.

I must say that I am particularly concerned – Mr Carnero has mentioned the situation of women, and that is a concern that I share – but I am particularly concerned about the rights of migrant workers in the Gulf States. Of course, these people make up the majority of the workforce in the Gulf States, and I do not see how in any sense they are protected by this free trade agreement. What will the Commission do to ensure that ILO core standards are respected by the Gulf States in respect of migrant workers?

Finally, Commissioner, your colleague Ms Ferrero-Waldner met the Bahrain Human Rights Society last week and raised with her a number of concerns over human rights and migrant workers. She is quoted in the Gulf Daily News as giving her full support to human rights clauses in any free trade agreement. How will the Commission plan to implement that promise?

  Kader Arif (PSE). – Madame la Présidente, l'Union européenne négocie depuis maintenant presque vingt ans, cela a été rappelé, la conclusion d'un accord de libre-échange avec le Conseil de coopération du Golfe.

Depuis lors, le mandat de négociation de la Commission n'a été que très légèrement modifié sans qu'on puisse parler de véritable actualisation. Il en résulte une situation pour le moins étonnante, où l'Union ne négocie pas avec les pays du Golfe sur la base des mêmes critères qu'avec ses autres partenaires commerciaux, comme la Corée ou les pays membres de l'ANASE. En particulier, le mandat de négociation ne prévoit l'inclusion dans le futur accord ni de clause sur les normes sociales, ni de chapitre ambitieux sur le développement durable. La question du respect des droits de l'homme est, quant à elle, à peine évoquée. Parce que ces éléments doivent faire partie des priorités de l'action européenne, ils devraient non seulement être pleinement intégrés au futur accord de libre-échange, mais également faire l'objet de clauses suspensives en cas de non–respect des engagements pris. Il est en effet de la responsabilité de l'Union d'assurer la promotion et le respect des principes démocratiques des droits de l'homme, des conventions de l'Organisation internationale du travail et des normes environnementales dans l'ensemble des accords commerciaux qu'elle négocie.

Dans le cas des pays du Golfe, une attention particulière – David Martin vient de le rappeler – doit être portée aux conditions de vie et aux droits des travailleurs migrants, présents en très grand nombre dans la région pour soutenir une croissance rapide, mais travaillant souvent dans des conditions indignes et inacceptables.

Plus généralement, au-delà des échanges économiques qui doivent être développés dans le cadre de relations commerciales harmonieuses, l'Europe et ses pays doivent renforcer leur dialogue politique et social. Ainsi, il nous faut mettre en œuvre un accord de libre-échange qui, non seulement, n'ait pas d'impact négatif sur les populations de cette région, mais, au contraire, consolide leurs droits politiques, économiques et sociaux. C'est pourquoi il est, par exemple, indispensable qu'au cours de négociations sur les services, soit respectée la nécessité de garantir un service public universel, accessible et durable, à des prix raisonnables et répondant à des normes de haute qualité pour tous.

  Paul Rübig (PPE-DE). – Frau Präsidentin, sehr geehrte Frau Kommissarin, meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren! Für uns alle ist es sehr wichtig, die Verbesserung der Beziehungen zu den Golfstaaten in den Mittelpunkt zu stellen. Europa und die Golfstaaten haben sehr viel Interesse – einerseits an Lieferungen an Europa, den kaufkräftigsten Markt dieser Welt, und andererseits bekommen wir dort Ressourcen, die einzigartig sind. Aus dieser Sicht ist es notwendig, im globalen Zusammenhang die Beziehungen entsprechend zu intensivieren.

Wir haben in der WTO die Frage „Everything But Arms“ – das sollte der Standard sein. Wir sollten hier so schnell wie möglich eine vernünftige Regelung erhalten, weil das im beiderseitigen Interesse liegt. Auch im Forschungsaustausch und im Austausch von Wissen und Know-how sollten wir uns mehr bemühen und auch versuchen, im Bildungssektor engere Beziehungen zu pflegen. Außerdem wäre es wichtig, die Energiecharta gemeinsam abzuschließen.

  Androula Vassiliou, Member of the Commission. − Madam President, I thank the honourable Members for their comments with respect to the EU-GCC FTA negotiations. I would like to stress that the Commission will continue to update the Parliament on the state of play of these negotiations.

I was particularly struck by the honourable Members’ interest in the inclusion of a political clause in the negotiated agreement and I would like to assure you that these concerns are indeed addressed in the negotiations. I can also confirm something that was said, that this point was addressed during Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner’s visit to the Gulf region last week. In fact, Gulf countries expressed their determination to conclude the free trade agreement and recognise the importance of further flexibility on the issue.

  La Présidente. – Madame Doyle, vous aviez une motion d'ordre.

  Avril Doyle (PPE-DE). – Madam President, I will leave it now, but, as we did not use the five-minute catch-the-eye, it has been practice in other debates that, even if a Member has contributed, you can have a quick question that has arisen, so we can use all the catch-the-eye, or at least another minute, if it was there.

I will leave it now on this occasion, but it was only on that basis, as there was only one catch-the-eye tonight. I had a supplementary question for the Commissioner, but I will leave it.

  La Présidente. – Madame Doyle, vous aviez la possibilité de le faire. La seule chose, c'est que vous ne l'avez pas demandé.

  Avril Doyle (PPE-DE). – Madam President, really I just wanted to press home the point to the Commissioner that, given the prevarication and the delay and the cancellation of last January’s negotiations and the little contact since and the years this has been going on – with one or two meetings a year – are we convinced that there is any real will on the side of the GCC to have an FTA?

You have sort of just answered that, but is there a real will to have an FTA with the EU? Is that not a fair question, given the time we have been negotiating?

  Androula Vassiliou, Member of the Commission. − I would like to simply say that we hope that there is. As you know, the meeting that was scheduled for last January did not take place, but we hope that in the forthcoming meeting in May we shall have substantial negotiations. Let us hope.

  La Présidente. – J'ai reçu, conformément à l'article 108, paragraphe 5 du règlement, une proposition de résolution(1).

Le débat est clos.

Le vote aura lieu demain à 12 heures.

Déclarations écrites (article 142)

  Roberta Alma Anastase (PPE-DE), în scris. – În calitate de membru al Delegaţiei Parlamentului European pentru relaţiile cu statele din Golful Persic, doresc să subliniez importanţa semnării Acordului de liber-schimb dintre Uniunea Europeană şi Consiliul de Cooperare din Golf în viitorul cât mai apropiat. Încheierea acordului în 2008 ar constitui o premisă esenţială pentru intensificarea relaţiilor economice dintre cele două regiuni, iar necesitatea de a asigura securitatea energetică a Uniunii Europene reflectă nivelul înalt de importanţă şi urgenţă a acestei tematici.

Ţinând cont de focalizarea schimburilor comerciale din prezent pe domeniul energetic, este primordial ca viitorul acord să abordeze într-un mod clar şi aprofundat cooperarea din această sferă şi consolidarea acesteia. Aceasta ar multiplica şi facilita realizarea în practică a proiectelor comune din domeniul energetic, inclusiv cu statele membre ale UE din regiunea Mării Negre, care ar beneficia de oportunităţi noi de dezvoltare şi cooperare.

Este în consecinţă prioritar să fie stabilit un calendar bine definit pentru finalizarea negocierilor curente, precum şi articularea scopului major de beneficii reciproce, ce ar duce nu numai la aprofundarea relaţiilor economice dintre UE şi Statele din Golf, dar şi la consolidarea stabilităţii şi dezvoltare susţinută în general.