Motion for a resolution - B6-0435/2007Motion for a resolution
B6-0435/2007

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

7.11.2007

to wind up the debate on statements by the Council and Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Cristiana Muscardini
on behalf of the UEN Group
on the European interest: succeeding in the age of globalisation

Procedure : 2007/2637(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B6-0435/2007

B6‑0435/2007

European Parliament resolution on the European interest: succeeding in the age of globalisation

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas an appropriate strategy must be adopted by the EU in order to meet the challenges and avert the risks of globalisation and to confront increased competition from major emerging economies,

B.  whereas consistency between the internal and external aspects of the renewed Lisbon Agenda is indispensable to the success of that initiative,

C.  whereas there is often a public outcry against the disruptive impact that the opening up of trade has on certain regions and economic sectors, while its positive effects on innovation, competitiveness and employment are too often overlooked,

D.  whereas market access is being increasingly hampered by various types of non-tariff barrier,

E.  whereas high tariffs still constitute a significant obstacle to trade, especially in relations with major emerging countries,

F.  whereas the multilateral trading system embodied in the WTO remains the most effective framework for achieving fair and equitable trade on a global basis by developing appropriate rules and ensuring compliance with those rules,

G.  whereas bilateral agreements complementary to multilateral negotiations can be an additional tool for the EU to use to improve its competitive position,

H.  whereas the EU should be prepared to defend itself, whenever necessary, against violations of agreed rules and against unfair trading practices,

1.  Considers that trade policy is a vital component of any strategy the objective of which is to stimulate growth and create jobs by improving Europe's competitiveness;

2.  Believes that, when taking external action, the European Union must encourage reform and international cooperation in the economic sphere so as to create a favourable business environment and promote sustainable development worldwide;

3.  Believes that the benefits of an open trading system outweigh its potentially disruptive impact; considers therefore that the EU should continue to strive to complete the single market, promote free and fair trade and resist protectionism; also believes that its potentially disruptive impact on certain sectors, regions and countries, such as the effects of displacement and relocation, cannot be disregarded;

4.  Considers that the Commission should adopt a strategy to positively influence the process of globalisation and to manage risks;

5.  Recalls that the EU is in most sectors already one of the most open economies in the world and that the EU's performance, in relation to already developed and emerging economies, is negatively affected by a lack of reciprocity in market access conditions, an insufficient degree of compliance with agreed trade rules and the proliferation of unfair trading practices;

6.  Notes that many countries in the world, including some major emerging economies, maintain high tariff and non-trade barriers to EU exports; considers that the lifting or significant reduction of such barriers with due regard to development considerations should be one of the main priorities of EU trade policy;

7.  Considers that the multilateral trading system embodied in the WTO remains by far the most effective framework for achieving free trade on a global basis; considers, however, that the WTO system should be reformed to some extent in order to increase its transparency and effectiveness;

8.  Considers that all new FTAs concluded by the EU should be WTO-compatible, comprehensive and ambitious, lead to real reciprocal market access and, moreover, ensure far-reaching liberalisation of services and investments, going beyond existing multilateral commitments;

9.  Stresses the increasing relevance of regulatory issues in international trade; calls for greater consistency between EU rules and practices and those of our main trading partners; emphasises that this should not produce a downward harmonisation of standards and regulations that would erode citizens' confidence with regard to health, safety and the environment; stresses that, rather, efforts should be increased to ensure that such rules and practices are both recognised and enforced by the EU's major trading partners;

10.  Calls on the Commission to continue its efforts in the fields of research, development and innovation, notes that respect for patents and the defence of IPRs lies at the heart of the EU's external competitiveness, and believes that the EU should adopt a more resolute stance towards third countries in that connection;

11.  Regards the appropriate protection of IPRs by the EU's main trading partners as an indispensable requirement for preserving and improving the EU's external competitiveness;

12.  Insists on the need to particularly focus on non-trade barriers (NTBs), which, as tariffs are progressively reduced or eliminated, tend to become the main obstacle to international trade; draws attention to the great variety, technical complexity and political sensitivity of NTBs, which make them difficult to tackle, and calls on the Commission to devote sufficient resources to that demanding task;

13.  Believes that the pursuit of further trade liberalisation makes it all the more necessary for the EU to preserve its ability to protect itself against unfair trading practices; regards Trade Defence Instruments, therefore, as an indispensable component of the EU's strategy for external competitiveness;

14.  Notes that the globalisation of the economy creates new opportunities for the EU economies that are bound to play a more important role in the decades to come and gain additional benefits by exploiting economies of scale, capacity, urbanisation, networks and a positive reputation;

15.  Stresses that the EU can only achieve its Lisbon objectives internally by being active and united on the global stage; welcomes therefore the intention to develop a coherent external dimension of the Lisbon Strategy; considers that a comprehensive external policy approach focusing on regulatory cooperation, convergence of standards and equivalence of rules must promote both fair competition and trade; warns in this context however against underestimating the importance of further improvements in internal cooperation and reform processes;

16.  Emphasises the emerging importance of the EU as a global player and one of the major beneficiaries of the open world economy, as the world's largest exporter and importer of goods, the world's largest exporter of services and the second largest destination and origin of Foreign Direct Investment; considers that, as such, it has a strong responsibility to tackle global issues and adopt common external economic policy tools to adequately manage the external impact of the EU single market;

17.  Considers that global consolidation of industries and acquisitions of EU companies by third-country investors and vice versa lower the effective cost of capital; calls for measures to be taken to combat protectionism both inside and outside the European Union; points out, however, that without appropriate coordination in creating the EU supervisory framework and vigorous enforcement of EU competition rules, the advantages of the single market and the benefits of scale which are gained due to EU participation in a global market as a single entity could potentially be diminished;

18.  Advocates the independence of the ECB in setting monetary policy and in managing volatility of global financial markets; emphasises that the appreciation of the euro exchange rate is the result of mounting imbalances in third countries and sluggish demand in the EU, which raises competitive pressure on EU companies, and identifies the need for an EU response through sound economic policies, international agreements and cooperation;

19.  Is of the opinion that surges in demand for natural resources, basic products and services driven by the growth of developing economies may exert inflationary pressure on the EU Member States' economies which until now was offset by their contribution to the increase in global supply; considers that anti-inflationary economic policy tools with strategies of technological growth and a framework for possible macroeconomic adjustment and improved coordination should be prepared by the EU Member States to address this problem;

20.  Is of the opinion that financial market transparency, effective competition rules and appropriate regulation and supervision will continue to be crucial, bearing in mind the globalisation of financial markets and the need to ensure consumer rights; calls therefore on the Commission to elaborate the financial market issues into respective Europe-wide initiatives in the framework of the Community Lisbon Programme;

21.  Stresses that the slowdown in productivity growth is a matter for concern for economic policy and differs throughout the EU, although there is an overall common pattern indicating weaknesses in markets, distribution and financial services;

22.  Points out that the structural rigidities prevent efficient use of new technologies and accessibility of networks in industries which are lagging behind; believes that economic policy guidelines should include supply-side actions defined to create a favourable environment for cross-border operations by business and to speed up the appearance of a single financial market;

23.  Believes that improvements in the operation of markets, distribution and financial services could be achieved by broadening coordination of economic reforms in different Member States, in particular within the euro area, and modernisation of the economy by increasing efforts to invest in technology; supports an integrated economic governance approach based on the added value of integration;

24.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission.