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 Joseph Daul, Daniel Caspary, Marianne Thyssen, Malcolm Harbour, Giles Chichester, Cristobal Montoro Romero and Csaba Őry
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the European interest: succeeding in the age of globalisation

B6‑0441/2007

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

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled 'the European interest: Succeeding in the age of globalisation' (COM (2007)581),

–  having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled 'Global Europe: a stronger partnership to deliver market access for European exporters' (COM (2007)183),

–  having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the European Council entitled 'An innovation-friendly, modern Europe' (COM (2006)589),

–  having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled ‘Global Europe: competing in the world. A contribution to the EU's Growth and Jobs Strategy’ (COM (2006)567),

–  having regard to the Communication from the Commission entitled 'Economic reforms and competitiveness: key messages from the European Competitiveness Report 2006' (COM(2006)697),

–  having regard to the Conclusions of the Spring European Council of 9 March 2007,

–  having regard to its Resolution of 15 March 2006 on the input to the Spring 2006 European Council in relation to the Lisbon Strategy,

–  having regard to its report of 22 May 2007 on 'Global Europe - external aspects of competitiveness' (2006/2292(INI)),

–  having regard to its report of 14 February 2006 on 'The effects of globalisation on the internal market' (2004/2225(INI)),

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

A.  whereas the European Union is a key player in world international trade and needs to continue to show leadership in the global economic system,

B.  whereas the EU has to face up to competition to ensure growth and job creation in a continuously modernising global economy and in the context of increased competition from major emerging economies,

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

D.  whereas the EU's performance in exporting to both developed and emerging economies is too often negatively affected by a lack of reciprocity in market access conditions, non-tariff barriers and unfair trade practices,

E.  whereas emerging countries are significantly increasing investments in R&D and in scientific and technological areas, raising the question of the sustainability of the EU's policy in the present competitive world of knowledge and innovations,

F.  whereas efforts to tackle climate change can only be made at an international level,

G.  whereas a common EU external policy on energy, based on the principles of diversification, sustainability and solidarity, aims to improve security of supply for the whole of the EU and reinforces the EU's credibility as a global player,

1.  Considers that the EU's external competitiveness is vital to meet the goals of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Employment;

2.  Welcomes the intention of the Commission to strengthen EU action on the external dimension of the Lisbon Strategy, and considers that the EU has a strong responsibility to adopt common external economic policy tools to adequately manage the external impact of the EU single market;

3.  Recalls that in most sectors the EU is already one of the most open economies in the world and that it has greatly contributed to, and benefited from, the considerable expansion of global trade;

4.  Regrets that EU citizens often equate globalisation with falling European output and job losses; calls on the Commission and Member States to better inform European citizens on all aspects of globalisation and the need for a policy at EU level to face the challenges of a globalised economy;

5.  Reiterates its call for a EU strategy for the implementation of reforms needed to enable the EU to keep pace with globalisation in order to maintain its position in a fast changing world economy, thereby boosting production and employment;

6.  Underlines the crucial importance of a fully functioning Single Market in underpinning the global competitiveness of the EU;

7.  Draws attention to the enormous potential available by engaging public procurement as a driver of new products and services; encourages the Commission to provide guidelines on innovative procurement methods as soon as possible;

8.  Considers that the transatlantic internal market could be an appropriate instrument to ensure the efficiency of EU trade defence, sustainable competitiveness and innovation; reiterates its call for a new EU-US Partnership Agreement aimed at eliminating or significantly reducing all remaining barriers to trade and investment;

9.  Calls on the Commission, when framing internal policies, systematically to evaluate and take into consideration similar policies implemented by the EU's major partners, such as the USA, Russia, China, India, Brazil and Japan, with a view to improving the European Union's competitiveness and removing barriers to global trade;

10.  Stresses that policy initiatives to increase competitiveness must not lower European standards; recalls the importance of establishing a constructive and balanced dialogue with external partners in order to influence the development of international standards;

11.  Supports the Lisbon Strategy goals to unlock the EU potential for innovation and creativity by increasing R&D expenditures; recalls that the EU needs to strengthen the coordination of research, innovation and education efforts, support public-private partnerships in R&D and facilitate the access of SMEs to new knowledge;

12.  Agrees with the aims of the European Research Area (ERA), as a cornerstone of the European knowledge society, in fulfilling the economic, social and environmental ambitions of the EU and its citizens but looks forward to a deepening and widening of the ERA so that it fully contributes to the renewed Lisbon Strategy;

13.  Welcomes the proposed Commission consultation with SMEs and the subsequent drafting of 'The Small Businesses Act'; endorses the idea of a specific initiative to further boost the contribution of SMEs, as main engines of employment creation; notes that specific measures to encourage innovative SMEs with high growth potential will have a catalytic effect on a competitive knowledge-based economy;

14.  Emphasises the importance of a coordinated EU employment policy, especially concerning immigration (blue card); stresses that a flexible labour market and lifelong learning are essential elements to boost EU competitiveness;

15.  Calls for a credible EU external policy on energy as an efficient tool to tackle the EU's dependency, to ensure security of supply at affordable and predictable prices, to diversify energy sources and suppliers, to ensure the objectives of sustainability and to guarantee the long-term interests of all the EU Member States; reiterates that the Lisbon Strategy goals can be fully achieved only by further efforts to establish a common energy policy;

16.  Acknowledges that only a sustainable, environmentally friendly strategy at international level can effectively tackle climate change challenges; calls on the Commission to push for a strong international consensus, leading to a United Nations framework with binding mandatory targets for developing countries;

17.  Underlines that the EU strategies on sustainable development and tackling climate change should be provided with appropriate support and technology research and development;

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 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;

20.  Believes that improvement of 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;

21.  Considers that the development of global rules and standards is essential in order to achieve regulatory convergence; encourages the Commission to actively participate in the work of all relevant international agencies and standard-setting bodies in order to bring about greater consistency between EU rules and practices and those of the EU's main trading partners;

22.  Emphasises the importance of multilateral trade rules within the WTO, also for developing countries, calls on the Commission to reinforce them with complementary bilateral and regional trade agreements, especially with emerging economies, and to make progress in negotiations as quickly as possible; stresses in this context the importance of far-reaching liberalisation of services and investment;

23.  Welcomes the Commission’s decision to review its Market Access Strategy; calls on the Commission to ensure that reciprocity in market access conditions is ensured, as well as compliance with agreed trade rules;

24.  Insists that EU concessions made to its negotiating partners should, except when justified by development considerations, be matched by concessions from the countries concerned;

25.  Underlines that the EU has to persuade emerging economies, including China, to respect human rights and social and economic standards and to guarantee their implementation; stresses that respect for human rights should be an integral part of sustainable economic development in the globalised world;

26.  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 the use of Trade Defence Instruments (TDIs) therefore as an indispensable component of the EU’s strategy for external competitiveness;

27.  Stresses the importance of respect for patents and the defence of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for the EU’s external competitiveness, and believes that the EU should adopt a more resolute stance towards third countries in that connection;

28.  Considers that the EU and its trading partners will also have to progressively place greater emphasis on the international recognition of minimum environmental standards that create a level playing field between all the partners;

29.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Member States.