MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

1.10.2008

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Ignasi Guardans Cambó, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Gianluca Susta and Daniel Dăianu
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on the suspension of the WTO Doha Development Agenda

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0521/2008

B6‑0525/2008

European Parliament resolution on the suspension of the WTO Doha Development Agenda

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Doha Ministerial Declaration of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) of 14 November 2001,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA),

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

A.  whereas the WTO 'mini-ministerial' talks intended to close the Doha Round were stalled at the end of July 2008,

B.  whereas substantial progress had been made bringing the WTO members close to finalising the agreement,

C.  whereas the vital interests of developing countries should be kept at the heart of the negotiations,

D.  whereas a failure to close a deal might seriously undermine the credibility of the multilateral trading system and in turn of the WTO itself,

E.  whereas concluding the DDA becomes more critical by the day as the economic and financial outlook continues to deteriorate,

1.  Is seriously disappointed and concerned at the stalemate which occurred at the WTO 'mini-ministerial' talks last July;

2.  Reiterates its full commitment to the multilateral approach to trade policy and to a WTO able to guarantee a balanced outcome;

3.  Is convinced that, in the current context characterised by economic and financial crisis, a successful conclusion of the Doha Round could be a stabilising factor; believes that the global challenges relating to food security, energy and climate change can only be tackled by the WTO once this round is closed;

4.  Is fully aware of the difficulties of a Single Undertaking, and welcomes the substantial progress made towards reaching that goal at the 'mini-ministerial' talks in July;

5.  Calls for a firm commitment on the part of all the major players (the EU, the country-regionplaceUS and the G20) to make all efforts to preserve the positive achievements agreed up till now and to reach a deal by the end of this year so that the DDA can still be concluded in 2009;

6.  Calls on India and the US to find without delay a political solution on the Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) which will enable other agricultural issues to be discussed and solved, such as expansion of tariff quotas, tariff simplification and cotton subsidies, as well as issues related to NAMAs and services;

7.  Calls for more transparency in the WTO negotiations, and reiterates the need for targeted technical assistance and capacity-building in order to help developing countries engage effectively in the DDA;

8.  Calls on the Commission and Council to establish an agreement in order to ensure full participation of Parliament in the EU's international negotiations;

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, and the Director-General of the WTO.