Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), President of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA), reminded the press on Tuesday 4 February of his belief that the ratification of the EU-Vietnam trade agreements could help put Hanoi on a democratic path (see EUROPE 12408/27, 12406/4, 12286/5). On the other hand, the German MEP made no secret of his annoyance at recent developments with the United States, Brazil, and Cambodia.
Ahead of the ratification in plenary on 12 February of two trade agreements between the EU and Vietnam - a free trade agreement and an investment protection agreement - the Socialist MEP said he was “proud about the developments” in the Vietnamese nation since the start of bilateral talks in 2017, describing the impact on the ground of the commitments made in the negotiations as a “democratic success story”. Hanoi has indeed committed itself to ratifying the last three fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) (see EUROPE 12264/19). To this end, the country is working to reform its labour code.
Mr Lange stressed the Parliament’s commitment to the country’s authorities throughout the talks leading up to the conclusion of these agreements, a commitment that should continue as the agreement is implemented.
MEPs intend to maintain an active dialogue on human rights with the Vietnamese parliamentary assembly and to monitor the implementation of the chapter on sustainable development, which includes provisions on the environmental and social criteria that the EU wants Hanoi to meet.
In this regard, Mr Lange stressed that Parliament has high expectations for the composition of the Domestic Advisory Group provided for in the FTA, which is charged with overseeing its implementation. More detailed information on the composition of the Group, which should include representatives of Vietnamese civil society, should be shared by 12 February, according to Mr Lange.
Finally, the EU must also offer an alternative to the Indochinese country in the face of neighbouring China, an overwhelming economic partner, the Socialist MEP stressed.
Pending Talks
A positive democratic trajectory therefore, according to Lange, which contrasts with the Brazilian situation, he said in response to a question on the trade agreement concluded in 2019 with the South American Mercosur bloc. Same thing for Cambodia.
Indeed, neither Brazil nor Cambodia (threatened with having its tariff preferences suspended) have so far been able to show sufficient good will to obtain the support of the European assembly in their favour.
Bernd Lange also said he was “upset” by the statements on transatlantic trade relations made by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Davos at the end of January (see EUROPE 12412/14). The Union has fulfilled all its commitments in the “positive” roadmap for 2018 (see EUROPE 12073/2), while Washington has made no effort in favour of the EU, said the German MEP.
On the contrary, the US sanctions on steel and aluminium have even been extended to cover derivative products (see EUROPE 12414/16). As for the extension of the talks to agricultural issues and sanitary and phytosanitary standards that has been demanded by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the current mandates leave the Commission too little room for manoeuvre to allow it to show the creativity expected by Washington.
Finally, Mr Lange also reviewed the guidelines for negotiations with the United Kingdom, noting that the Commission’s vision is “quite close” to that of Parliament on the forthcoming talks (see EUROPE 12417/1). (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)