MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the forthcoming EU-US Summit and the Transatlantic Economic Council
3.11.2010
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Elmar Brok, José Ignacio Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra, Francisco José Millán Mon, Arnaud Danjean, Elena Băsescu, Karl-Heinz Florenz on behalf of the PPE Group
Sarah Ludford, Sharon Bowles, Olle Schmidt, Marietje Schaake on behalf of the ALDE Group
Charles Tannock on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0608/2010
B7‑0608/2010
European Parliament resolution on the forthcoming EU-US Summit and the Transatlantic Economic Council
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its resolution of 26 March 2009 on the state of transatlantic relations in the aftermath of the US elections[1],
– having regard to its resolutions on the Transatlantic Economic Council and its resolution of 22 October 2009 on the upcoming EU-US Summit and the Transatlantic Economic Council Meeting[2],
– having regard to the outcome of the EU-US Summit held in Washington on 3 November 2009,
– having regard to the progress report adopted at the fourth meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council on 27 October 2009, to the Joint Statement adopted at the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD) and to the meetings held in New York on 4-9 December 2009 and in Madrid on 4-6 June 2010,
– having regard to the EU-US Joint Statement on ‘Enhancing transatlantic cooperation in the area of Justice, Freedom and Security’ of 28 October 2009,
– having regard to the EU-US Joint Declaration on Counterterrorism of 3 June 2010,
– having regard to the conclusions of the G-20 Summits in Toronto on 26 and 27 June 2010 and in Seoul from 21 to 23 October 2010,
– having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the transatlantic relationship is unique and broad in scope, including mutual commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights, fighting terrorism and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; having regard to the shared interests and values of the EU and the US, the need for the EU and the US to listen to each other and the readiness of the European Parliament to listen to the US President and the US Congress,
B. whereas EU-US relations play a pivotal role in ensuring that global issues and new challenges are addressed,
C. whereas the EU and the US work together around the world to advance a common agenda based on shared history, culture, interests and values, and whereas EU-US relations must play a pivotal role in ensuring that global issues and new challenges are tackled in the framework of international law and existing multilateral institutions, in particular the UN, the OSCE and NATO,
D. whereas together the two transatlantic partners account for half of the global economy, with their USD 4.28 trillion partnership the largest, most integrated, and longest-lasting economic relationship in the world and a key driver of global economic prosperity, and whereas the strength of and commitment to the transatlantic relationship is of even greater relevance given the current global financial and economic crisis,
E. whereas the two partners are committed to cooperation in order to promote growth and jobs in their economies, and whereas the European Parliament continues to advocate the completion of a barrier-free transatlantic market by 2015, the achievement of which – alongside the completion of the EU's own single market – will be a core element in relaunching global economic growth and recovery,
F. whereas developing countries have contributed least to the impacts of climate change imputable to human activity but are facing their most severe consequences and whereas negative externalities of climate change are placing international poverty-reduction investment at risk, thus threatening the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; having regard also to the need for a continued dialogue on the initiative for a transatlantic partnership for development,
EU-US Summit
1. Insists on the importance of the EU and the US Administration’s intensifying their strategic dialogue, cooperation and coordination when dealing with global challenges and regional conflicts;
2. Calls on both partners to promote respect for democracy and human rights in the world as a key element of their policy; underlines the need for intensive coordination in preventive and crisis diplomacy;
3. Considers it necessary that at the EU-US Summit both partners should take the leading role on the implementation of the G-20 commitments;
4. Underlines the importance of EU-US cooperation in agreeing on concrete deliverables in order to finally reach an international agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-16) in Cancun, on the basis of scientific evidence and including adequate international assistance with the financing of climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries;
5. Welcomes the new approach of the US Administration towards Israel and calls for a reinvigorated Euro-American partnership vis-à-vis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; in this context, welcomes the launch of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, announced in Washington on 2 September 2010; recalls that further negotiations are needed that will lead, within an agreed time-frame, to a two-state solution with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security; underlines that a comprehensive peace, which is a fundamental interest of the parties in the region and the EU, must be achieved on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid principles, including land for peace, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties and the Arab Peace Initiative, and emphasises that active engagement of the Middle East Quartet in the peace process is needed, recognising the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative and the continuing cooperation with the Arab partners;
6. Underlines that the uncertainties about the nature of the Iranian nuclear programme endanger the non-proliferation system and stability in the region and the world; expresses its disappointment at the continuing refusal by Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA, reflected in its obstruction of the IAEA's work, denial of access to key nuclear facilities and veto on the appointment of inspectors; calls on the Iranian leadership to fulfil Iran's obligations under the NPT; demands that Teheran ratify and implement the Additional Protocol on the Safeguards Agreement and calls on the US and the EU to coordinate their foreign policies in order to achieve this objective;
7. Although aware that the leaking of classified military documents runs the risk of placing military personnel in danger, is highly concerned over the recent serious allegations that torture has been condoned in Iraq; calls for this issue to be raised in the context of the EU-US Summit with a view to an independent transatlantic inquiry;
8. Strongly urges the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fulfil its commitments under the Six-Party Talks, including the complete and verifiable abandonment of all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes; calls on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to fully implement all relevant nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament obligations, reaffirms its firm support for the Six-Party Talks and remains determined to achieve a satisfactory and comprehensive resolution of the issues involved through diplomatic means;
9. Underlines the importance of NATO as the cornerstone of transatlantic security and urges strategic cooperation between the US and EU Member States in order to address global security challenges; welcomes the draft new Strategic Concept scheduled for adoption at the NATO summit in Lisbon on 19-20 November 2010; considers that relevant developments in this wider security structure should also be addressed in dialogue with Russia and the non-EU OSCE Member States; underlines the importance of the CSDP and the value of an enhanced European defence capability for the strengthening of transatlantic security;
10. Notes the growing number of diverse challenges which are emerging as common to both the EU and US; urges the partners to initiate an overarching joint strategy under which all transatlantic policy measures are evaluated and developed in order to produce a single coherent and wide-ranging strategy to effectively address these issues;
11. Welcomes the signature of the New START Treaty on 8 April 2010, in Prague, by US President Barack Obama and the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and looks forward to its ratification by both parties;
12. Urges a redoubling of efforts by the EU and the US to engage with Turkey, Greece and Cyprus in order to achieve a lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem based on a bizonal and bicommunal federal constitution for a reunited island; notes that, in the event of a failure to settle the Cyprus issue, there will be no basis on which the EU and NATO can establish a strong mutual partnership and the EU's own efforts to develop a common security and defence policy will be stymied; emphasises the strategic importance of Turkey in the context of EU-US relations, and that the goal of improved stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and South Caucasus will best be realised by a new security treaty between the EU, US and Turkey;
13. Recognises the overlapping commercial and political interests of the EU and the US in Latin America, where the EU has strategic partnerships with Mexico and Brazil and FTAs with Chile and Mexico and is negotiating one with Colombia; shares the US concerns about the rise of authoritarianism in countries such as Venezuela and the continuing dictatorship in Cuba; looks to continued cooperation with the US in its neighbourhood, given large EU investments in, and strong historical connections with, the region;
Transatlantic Economic Council meeting and the reinforcement of the TEC
14. Is convinced that the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) constitutes the most appropriate mechanism for managing the transatlantic economic relationship; urges the partners to use the full potential of the TEC in order to overcome the existing barriers to economic integration and to achieve a barrier-free transatlantic market by 2015, which will be a positive response to the current economic and social crises;
15. Calls on the Commission to pursue, in the light of the forthcoming TEC meeting, the formal adoption of procedures for the mutual recognition of declarations of conformity for products subject to mandatory third-party testing, in particular for ICT and electrical equipment, to insist on the mutual recognition of legal units of measurement, in particular acceptance of metric-only labelling of EU products in the US, to explore standardisation with US authorities, to establish round tables on standards, focusing on innovative solutions, and to coordinate internationally;
16. Considers it of the utmost importance to engage in a dialogue in the TEC on novel foods and the use of new technologies in food production; emphasises concerns regarding cloning in animal-breeding;
17. Calls for cooperation within the TEC on all matters affecting the regulatory environment for industries, especially SMEs, following the approach of the EU 'Small Business Act' – thinking small first – when considering legislation with a transatlantic impact;
18. Underlines the importance of also using the TEC as a framework for macro-economic cooperation between the partners, noting their unprecedented cooperation during the crisis, and encourages the competent monetary institutions to strengthen their coordination, especially in the area of supervision and systemic risk prevention; recognises the major role played by the EU and US in the world financial institutions, including the IMF, World Bank and BIS;
The role of the TLD in the TEC
19. Calls once again on the leaderships of the EU and the US, as well as the co-chairs of the TEC, to take account of the crucial role of legislators for the success of the TEC; urges them to involve the representatives of the TLD fully and directly in the TEC, as legislators share with their respective executive branches responsibility for the enactment and oversight of many of the TEC decisions;
20. Believes that it is essential to ensure that key members of Congress and of the European Parliament are brought into the Legislators' Dialogue and the TEC process, in order to make sure that legislation has no unintended consequences for transatlantic trade and investment; hopes that the current TLD can gradually be upgraded to a transatlantic inter-parliamentary assembly, following recommendations made by Parliament in its above-mentioned resolution of 26 March 2009;
Bilateral and international trade
21. Is resolved to continue to call on the US legislature – and calls on the Commission to do likewise within the TEC – to reconsider the 100% container scanning obligation, and to develop cooperation with the US based on risk management, including mutual recognition of the EU and US Trade Partnership Programmes, in accordance with the SAFE Framework of Standards of the World Customs Organisation;
22. Underlines the urgent need to conclude the Doha Development Round as soon as possible; acknowledges however the requirement of a new, substantive proposal by emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil; calls on the US to push forward together with the EU in order to remove the remaining obstacles;
23. Considers that access to third-country markets is a common concern and interest for both the EU and the US, particularly since economic recovery from the financial crisis is likely to start in some newly developed countries, such as Brazil, India and China, where significant and discriminatory trade and non-tariff barriers still exist; is convinced that the TEC can play an important role in fostering a common approach by the EU and the US in their trade relations with third countries; calls on the TEC to work towards a more common approach to, and a joint strategy on, new free trade agreements on the part of the US and the EU, with a view to standardising provisions thereof;
Development
24. Recalls that the international commitments made regarding the MDGs, many of which are lagging behind schedule, will be achievable only if the industrialised countries maintain their commitments and contribute 0.7% of their GDP in ODA by 2015; calls therefore on the EU and the US as well as other international donors to respect their commitments and to take measures to accelerate progress to meet the MDG targets by 2015;
Economic and financial crises
25. Recalls that the Basel II Agreement, and its upcoming revision, is meant to be a global standard and urges the US to speedily implement Basel II; is therefore very much concerned that limitations laid down in various national laws adopted in response to the crisis (in particular in the US Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, limiting recognition of external ratings) would result in a serious fragmentation of the application of this global standard; further notes that consistent global accounting rules are essential for a level playing field and calls upon the US to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS);
26. Urges the Commission to intensify its transatlantic financial regulatory dialogue with the US and notes that the crisis was the worst global recession since the Great Depression, and that in response governments from around the world, especially the EU and US, have cooperated in a way never seen before to reform financial markets and institutions;
27. Considers that the economic and financial governance structures in place at the onset of the crisis, whether at global level, in the US or within the EU, have not imparted enough stability to the global financial system; believes that, with increasing economic and financial market interdependence, cooperation on macroeconomic policies and surveillance of the major economies needs to be strengthened; furthermore acknowledges that the EU must address the issue of its representation on the International Monetary Fund;
28. Calls on the EU and the US to work with China towards settling the global dispute on foreign exchange rates without applying protectionist or retaliatory measures; considers that the EU Member States are subject to different market pressures compared to the US, especially in respect of sovereign bonds and the existence of a monetary union;
29. Notes that both the Frank-Dodd Bill and the programme of regulatory reform in the EU follow the G-20 initiatives, and considers it important for this cooperation to continue throughout the rule-making process; notes that this is particularly evident in legislation on OTC derivatives markets; underlines that many of the divergences are caused by differences in the natures of the legislatures and the roles of supervisors in rule-making;
Energy, environment, transport, industry, research and science
30. Welcomes the creation of the EU-US Energy Council to provide a new framework for deepening the transatlantic dialogue on strategic energy issues such as security of supply or policies to move towards low carbon energy sources while strengthening the ongoing scientific collaboration on energy technologies; welcomes the initialling of a new EU-US Energy Star Agreement on the coordination of energy-efficient labelling programmes for office equipment, and cooperation on the development of energy technologies such as hydrogen or the ITER project for nuclear fusion;
31. Encourages the TEC to develop cooperation towards a common external energy and raw materials strategy which supports diversification of sources, supply routes and infrastructure and promotes an energy-efficient economy, in order to increase security of energy supply, and encourages the TEC to help seek convergent sustainability criteria for the energy mix, and step up research and development, including in biofuels;
32. Notes that climate change is a global challenge to which there is no single political and technological solution, but that the combination of existing opportunities and a dramatic increase in efficiency in all areas of the economy and society in developed and developing countries would contribute to resolving the problem of resources and distribution and pave the way for a third industrial revolution;
33. Urges the EU Presidency to look for an ambitious US commitment during the forthcoming Cancun summit and for US cooperation in promoting links between the EU ETS and regional or federal trading schemes in the US; notes in this respect the importance of ensuring common standards and benchmarks in all emerging ETS markets so as to avoid unnecessary regulatory hurdles in this emerging market;
34. Calls upon the US to allow the full and effective implementation of the first-stage EU-US aviation agreement and of the EU-US aviation safety agreement; reminds both the Commission and the US authorities that failure to conclude a second-stage agreement could lead to the cancellation of the first-stage agreement by some Member States;
35. Urges the TEC to stimulate cooperation in the field of research to better exploit the potential of the recently extended EU-US Science and Technology Agreement, notably by extending the approach of coordinated calls for proposals in areas of mutual strategic interest and by intensifying cooperation in energy research such as the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE), the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) and the Johannesburg Renewable Energy Coalition (JREC);
Intellectual property and consumer protection
36. Underlines the importance of close transatlantic cooperation with regard to the digital agenda such as the digital market, internet freedom in the world, neutrality, common standards, transparency and the rule of law in relation to ACTA;
37. Considers it essential to develop a joint EU-US action strategy for the enforcement of intellectual property rights with the aim of fighting the soaring global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods; calls for the creation of a transatlantic task force to combat counterfeiting as a needed sign of political determination to tackle illegal activities which erode the competitiveness of innovative and creative industries while respecting civil liberties, freedom of expression, privacy and due process;
Judicial and police cooperation, visas
38. Insists that the EU must negotiate as a single entity on admission to the US visa waiver programme, to ensure that the four Member States – Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – outside the visa waiver programme do not conclude bilateral agreements with the US to gain visa waiver status; reiterates that the Commission must continue to raise with the US at political and technical level the importance assigned by the EU to the admission of the four remaining EU Member States to the visa waiver programme as soon as possible;
39. Underlines the spirit of cooperation between the EU and US in the fight against global terrorism, urges the EU and US to continue to work cooperatively in order to further counter the renewed threat from terrorism and recalls its determination in this field and its firm belief in the need to ensure that security measures do not undermine the protection of civil liberties and fundamental rights and the utmost respect for privacy and data protection; reaffirms that necessity and proportionality are key principles without which the fight against terrorism will never be effective;
40. Welcomes the reflection in the EU-US Agreement on Banking Data Transfers of the willingness of the US to respond positively to the data protection demands put forward by the European Parliament on the SWIFT report;
41. Calls on the Council to agree the negotiating mandate swiftly for an EU-US data protection agreement and then make urgent progress in the negotiations and transpose the outcome thereof into legislation as soon as possible;
42. Calls on both the US and the EU to limit data collection and processing to the absolute minimum genuinely necessary for security objectives so as to minimise threats to freedom and civil liberties, and urges that data transfer demands as well as other justice and home affairs arrangements should generally be treated in a multilateral US-EU framework rather than be pursued bilaterally with an individual Member State;
43. Stresses its serious concerns about the so-called Travel Promotion Act and its discriminatory effect in applying only to travellers under the US visa waiver programme, as well as data protection concerns that payments can be made only with one of the four major credit cards, whose companies are all based inside the US; calls for the issue of the ESTA fee to be raised at the next EU-US JHA Ministerial in December;
44. In view of recent developments on both sides of the Atlantic which pose challenges to harmonious, diverse societies, calls for an open dialogue between our governments and societies on how we can all strive for greater tolerance and respect for diversity in our respective communities within the context of respect by all for fundamental human rights;
45. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the US Congress, the co-chairs of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue and the co-chairs and secretariat of the Transatlantic Economic Council.