Kathleen Van Brempt MEP (S&D, Belgium) presented, on Thursday April 15, her draft own-initiative report on trade related aspects and implications of Covid-19 to the Committee on International Trade (INTA). The report was positively received by the committee’s MEPs, who made some recommendations, while thanking the rapporteur.
The report is divided into four chapters which, according to the rapporteur, should guide future European trade policy. Sustainable development issues in trade make up the first part. This is followed by fair and resilient value chains, lessons from the crisis on trade in essential health products, and finally multilateralism and the EU’s geopolitical position in the world.
The rapporteur insisted on the strategic, not technical, nature of the text: “We are not evaluating individual trade agreements or their progress. It’s a report on a strategic level”, she said.
A little too green for the right
Although they welcomed the report, EPP and ECR MEPs were keen to point out that trade and sustainability issues were too prevalent in their view. Many felt that health issues should have been given a more important space in the text. “Not that the Green Deal and sustainability are not political priorities, but the main focus should be the lessons learnt from the pandemic related to trade”, stressed, for example, Ánna-Michelle Assimakopoúlou (EPP, Greece).
“Sustainable development issues are important, but it should also focus on how trade can act as a catalyst for recovery and to create jobs. Our amendments will dig deeper in this direction”, added Christophe Hansen (EPP, Luxembourg).
Need for transparency
On the other hand, all MEPs agree on the need for transparency in the trade of essential medical products. “We need transparency, on how value chains are operated, where the stocks are in the world, where exports go”, said Kathleen Van Brempt.
The issue of the export licensing mechanism for Covid-19 vaccines was raised by several MEPs. Most groups questioned the European Commission’s mechanism for banning a company from exporting its vaccines (see EUROPE 12685/7).
However, the EPP, which is also calling for more transparency, has tried to justify the current authorisation mechanism: “We share the rapporteur view that this tool should be transformed into a transparency mechanism, not to provoke barriers to exports. [...] But for now we need a mechanism with teeth to ensure the delivery of vaccines in the EU”, said Christophe Hansen.
Members of the INTA committee have until 19 April to table their amendments. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)