Brussels, 26/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 26 January, the European Parliament agriculture committee criticised the European Commission's approach to trade negotiations and called for the suspension of negotiations on an association agreement between the EU and Mercosur, which contains a sizeable trade chapter.
With its adoption, by 35 votes to one, with four abstentions, of the own initiative report by Georgios Papastamkos (EPP, Greece) on EU agriculture and international trade, the agriculture committee took the view that, in agriculture, European Union offers are “extremely generous” but do not achieve equivalent concessions from counterparts. It calls on the Commission to propose a more balanced approach, taking into consideration the balance between domestic production and imports, the development of negotiations for each agricultural sector and avoiding putting agricultural interests behind those of industry and the services sector.
In addition, MEPs want the EU's high standards on the environment, animal welfare and plant health to be applied to imports to ensure fair competition and protection for consumers. There is a need, too, they say, for a tightening up of import controls at the borders. MEPs also regret the lack of progress on the multilateral register for wines and spirits and call on the Commission argue for the inclusion of geographical indications in the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).
Mercosur. MEPs are critical of the Commission for resuming negotiations with Mercosur without first publishing an impact assessment and without discussing the move with the Council and the Parliament. They feel that the position of the newer member states has been neglected in the talks between the EU and Mercosur (conducted under a Council mandate dating from 2009). They call on the Commission, therefore, to suspend negotiations until a new mandate is adopted which incorporates the views of the new member states. The committee also asks the Commission not to conclude negotiations with Mercosur until the WTO Doha Round is successfully closed.
Morocco. MEPs on the committee expressed their concern at the EU-Morocco agreement which, while virtually fully opening European markets to imports from Morocco, leaves some EU agricultural products still subject to quotas. The Papastamkos report will be put to the vote in plenary session in the near future. (L.C./transl.rt)