The Member States’ permanent representatives approved, on Wednesday 27 May, the compromise reached with the European Parliament on the tariff elements of the agreement between the European Union and the United States (see EUROPE 13871/1).
A second text negotiated in Turnberry last summer, providing for exemption from customs duties for lobster and processed lobster products, according to the most-favoured nation (MFN) principle, was also approved.
Two-stage vote. The European Parliament will rule on these texts in two stages, first within the Committee on International Trade (INTA) on 2 June, before a final green light during the next plenary session in June.
“The agreement we have concluded with the European Parliament marks an important step in implementing the commitments made by the European Union in the EU-US joint statement, and provides a basis for future collaboration with the United States on issues of common interest”, a spokesperson for the Cyprus Presidency said on Wednesday.
“At the same time, we have ensured that our agreement includes strong safeguards aimed at protecting the interests of European businesses and economic operators”, he added. The political agreement concluded last week adds several conditions to its entry into force, including a sunset clause under which the agreement will expire at the beginning of 2029, before being reviewed.
Towards adoption at end of June. The text enjoys broad support among MEPs, including the EPP group, which had been pushing for a swift conclusion to the negotiations.
Asked by Agence Europe, the Vice-Chair of the INTA committee, Manon Aubry (The Left, French), nevertheless regretted the absence of an ‘automatic’ safeguard mechanism. As it stands, this clause is based on the lodging of a complaint by at least three Member States, the sector concerned, trade unions or the European Commission. The European Parliament will only be able to issue a recommendation calling for a safeguard investigation to be opened.
Although Parliament’s negotiators did not secure the addition of certain provisions, in particular a deferred entry into force clause or a ‘sunrise clause’ (see EUROPE 13825/31), the text is well on track to be approved in committee and then in plenary. The two regulations should then be definitively adopted by the Member States by the end of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes)