MEPs of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) are getting impatient to be able to ratify new trade agreements. This message was passed to the EU Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis on Monday 20 March.
“I’m still not convinced we are working on fast track procedures on the free trade agreements with New Zealand, Mexico and Chile”, regretted the Chair of the INTA Committee, Bernd Lange (S&D, German). There is only a limited amount of time, he said, for the European Parliament to be able to ratify, for example, the EU/New Zealand agreement before the end of the current legislature.
Several MEPs from the EPP and Renew Europe groups also asked the Commissioner about the possibility of further accelerating the procedure for legal analysis and translation of agreed texts, which has been underway for several months.
“We are equally frustrated by the speed”, Mr Dombrovskis said, before promising MEPs that he would ask for “a procedural note” from the relevant Commission services. This will identify bottlenecks and possible ways to speed things up.
Mercosur
MEPs once again asked the Commissioner about the ongoing discussions on finalising the EU/Mercosur agreement.
Mr Dombrovskis explained the position of the Mercosur countries. “I would say that the criticisms we’re having from their side relates to the instrument tools that the EU has taken (such as) the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, due diligence, deforestation (and) forced labour. They’re saying that restricts their market access”, noted the Commission’s Executive Vice-President. He added: “We are currently working with them through our existing partnership collaborations, through the ‘Global Gateway’, etc., to support them with financing for the implementation”.
India
Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, German) expressed concern about the ongoing discussions with New Delhi on a comprehensive agreement: “I can’t imagine that we could deliver a comprehensive agreement within the next 5 years. Is the European Commission willing to redefine the goal as to make it possible to have a real agreement?”
The Indians are, in fact, arguing for sectoral agreements with the EU. “This means cutting out the chapters on sustainable development, public procurement, geographical indications and other elements. Is this where we want to go? For the moment, we have not even dared to ask this question to the Member States or to the European Parliament, but maybe we need to think about it”, considered Mr Dombrovskis.
At present, the EU and India are in their fourth round of negotiations, and strong differences remain between the two sides. “An improved commitment from India would be useful to conclude within a reasonable timeframe”, according to the European Commissioner. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)