EP:n päätöslauselmat

The European Parliament adopted by 468 votes to 118, with 39 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea.

Members welcomed the fact that the FTA has led to significant growth in bilateral trade.

Parliament noted that Korea's progress on the objectives in the trade and sustainable development chapter is not satisfactory and that there are still cases of violation of freedom of association and interference in negotiations.

The Commission is called upon to take up formal consultations with the Korean Government towards ensuring the ratification by Korea of the fundamental International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.

Parliament noted a number of pending issues.

Members supported deepening trade and investment relations between the EU and Korea, in particular the Agreement's Investment Chapter and called on the parties to build on a new investment court system proposed by the Commission.

The European Parliament adopted by 614 votes to 43, with 11 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and South Korea, on the other part, with the exception of matters related to readmission.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement.

The European Parliament adopted by 465 votes to 128, with 19 abstentions, a legislative resolution in which it gives its consent to the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Korea, of the other part.

The European Parliament adopted by 495 votes to 16 with 75 abstentions a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council implementing the bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

It adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments are the result of a compromise agreement between Parliament and Council and replace the amendments adopted on 7 September 2010.

The main amendments to the Commission's proposal include provisions on types of safeguard measures, monitoring based on evolution of statistics, surveillance and safeguard measures and procedural rules.

In a joint declaration, the Commission and the Parliament agree on the importance of cooperation in monitoring the implementation of the EU-Korea FTA and the Safeguard Regulation. For this, they establish rules to be followed where the Parliament adopts a recommendation to initiate a safeguard investigation.

The European Parliament adopted by 50 votes to 4 with 4 abstentions a resolution on the death penalty being declared legal in South Korea.

The resolution was tabled by the S&D, GUE/NGL, Greens/ALE, ALDE, and EPP groups.

It notes that on 25 February 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Korea ruled by a 5-4 majority that capital punishment is constitutional, but the judges also underlined that the issue should be debated in the National Assembly rather than in the course of constitutional proceedings. Parliament reiterates its general opposition to the death penalty and expresses its support for movements fighting for the abolition of the death penalty.

It encourages the Republic of Korea to institute a legal moratorium on all executions until Parliament has passed a law abolishing the death penalty.

Lastly, Parliament calls on the Government of the Republic of Korea to support the UN resolution on the abolition of the death penalty.