During a discussion with the European Commission’s Deputy Director-General of DG Trade, Maria Martin-Prat, on Tuesday 25 January, MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) criticised the Commission for still not having any new elements to present to them regarding the revision of the 15-point action plan on sustainable development in trade agreements. The text is expected to be presented in the spring.
According to Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, Belgium), there is “a lack of political courage among the college of Commissioners”. The MEP also accused the Commission of using the excuse of consultations and impact studies to delay the presentation of a text.
Ms Martin-Prat presented the results of the public consultation on the subject to the INTA Committee. On the main issue of this review, i.e. whether or not to introduce sanctions for non-compliance with sustainability chapters in trade agreements, she reported that the input received was mixed. She also believes that a third approach is possible between the two opposing camps, for and against these sanctions.
For a large number of MEPs, however, including those from the S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left groups, these sanctions are necessary and desirable. “We have too little concrete action so far, it is time to have real deterrents,” said Marie-Pierre Vedrenne(Renew Europe, France). (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)