On Thursday 4 May, the European Parliament's international trade committee approved (with 31 votes in favour, 4 against and 3 abstentions) the draft resolution compiled by Jaroslaw Walesa (EPP, Poland) supporting the EU's additional zero-duty annual import quotas for Ukraine, which were proposed by the European Commission at the end of September 2016. These quotas would come on top of those already offered as part of the EU-Ukraine free trade area, but certain agricultural products (such as wheat) would be excluded from them.
Following the recommendation of the European Parliament's agriculture committee (see EUROPE 11748), the international trade committee supports the exclusion of the increased quotas for tomatoes, wheat and urea (a raw material for fertilisers) that were proposed by the Commission.
The international trade committee calls for the fight against corruption and the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms to be conditions for granting Ukraine further preferences.
In addition, the MEPs call for the annual report on implementation of the EU-Ukraine free trade agreement to include an impact assessment published on the Commission's website.
“The European Parliament strongly supports the ongoing reforms in Ukraine. By granting temporary trade preferences, we want to strengthen small and medium enterprises, and provide the necessary impetus for increasing trade flows. These developments have not just economic but political value for Ukraine”, Walesa said.
In September 2016, the Commission proposed offering new market openings for certain agricultural and industrial products from Ukraine, in addition to what was already offered as part of the EU-Ukraine free trade area that has been in force since 1 January 2016 (see EUROPE 11636). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)