MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
8.11.2006
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl, Ria Oomen-Ruijten and Maria Martens
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences
B6‑0579/2006
European Parliament resolution on the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005[1] of 27 June 2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences,
– having regard to Commission Decision 2005/924/EC[2] on the list of the beneficiary countries which qualify for the special incentive arrangements for sustainable development and good governance provided for by Article 26(e) of Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences,
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the special incentive arrangements provided for in Commission Decision 2005/924/EC for sustainable development and good governance involve granting preferential access to European markets for goods originating in developing countries implementing certain international standards in human and labour rights, environmental protection, the fight against drugs and good governance,
B. whereas the Commission, in its decision of 21 December 2005, granted special incentive arrangements to Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Sri Lanka, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, El Salvador and Venezuela,
C. whereas the new GSP+ scheme should act as an incentive for beneficiary countries to attain development objectives, including the setting up of appropriate institutions to comply fully with the rights enshrined in the ILO conventions,
D. whereas the implementation of the UN/ILO conventions should be assessed on the basis of the conclusions of the ILO and other relevant monitoring bodies in accordance with a regular procedure, with due regard for the opinion of the European Parliament and the beneficiary countries,
E. whereas, under Article 16 of the GSP Regulation, safeguard clauses and temporary withdrawals can be applied to countries that commit serious and systematic violations of the principles laid down in the international conventions listed in Annex III of Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005,
F. whereas safeguard clauses and temporary withdrawals must be applied as a last resort and with due respect for the principle of proportionality,
1. Notes the decision by the Commission to grant preferences to the countries listed in Commission Decision 2005/924/EC;
2. Calls on the Commission to strengthen its commitment to promoting and ensuring effective implementation of the core human and labour rights of UN/ILO conventions in GSP+ beneficiary countries, as well as of the conventions relating to environmental and governance principles;
3. Notes that the economic development and integration into the world trade system of GSP+ beneficiary countries is crucial to achieving development objectives, including stability and good governance; underlines, in this regard, that economic operators from both the EU and the GSP+ beneficiary countries require a stable and predictable commercial and investment regime; warns, therefore, against precipitate or unfounded decisions, both when granting and when withdrawing trade preferences;
4. Calls on the Commission to strengthen its monitoring of the implementation of ILO conventions in GSP+ beneficiary countries, taking into account the opinion of the beneficiary countries, and, in particular, to carry out its obligations under Article 18 of the Regulation;
5. Calls on the Commission to inform Parliament about the level of compliance by GSP+ beneficiary countries with the relevant ILO/UN conventions, and, in particular, to state if there are serious and systematic violations of the principles laid down in those conventions;
6. Stresses that a Commission decision to apply a temporary withdrawal of preferences in the event of serious violations of principles laid down in the ILO conventions should be based on the findings of the appropriate monitoring institutions, with due regard to the opinion of the European Parliament;
7. Insists that an assessment of the effectiveness of implementation of the GSP+ requirements should be carried out before any renewal of GSP+ preferences is granted on the expiry of the current Regulation in 2008;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.