Brussels, 03/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The EP Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy has proposed, in approving the report by Dutch Liberal Elly Plooij-van Gorsel on the Intergovernmental Conference, modification of certain provisions of the Treaty concerning trade policy and energy policy, mainly nuclear energy. In particular, the report calls for:
- Trade policy. The Parliament should obtain codecision on this policy, and assent on all the agreements with third countries. In addition, the EP should have a greater role concerning the opening and the unfolding of trade negotiations. Furthermore, MEPs call (like the European Commission) for agreements on services, investment and intellectual property to be covered by common trade policy (Article 133, formerly Article 113).
- Energy policy. A new chapter should be included in the Treaty. Furthermore, codecision should also apply to the Euratom Treaty (the report stresses that the Parliament is one of two branches of the budgetary authority responsible for spending under the Treaty. Finally, the parliamentary committee followed Ms Plooij-van Gorsel who asked, in order to fill the gaps of the Euratom Treaty concerning nuclear safety, for the introduction of provisions fixing minimum standards at European level for the design, construction and functioning of nuclear reactors - which, notes the rapporteur, will be particularly important with a view to the EU's enlargement eastward.