Brussels, 04/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - In the area of external economic policy and EU trade relations, the German Presidency of the EU is melding superbly with Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson's “Global Europe” policy, which obtained the Council's support in mid-November (EUROPE 9306).
Growth, jobs and living standards in Europe partly depend on the capacity of European companies to assert themselves on global markets. The German Presidency wants to support initiatives to increase external competitiveness and the European economy. Berlin will therefore pursue efforts for the further opening up of international markets for goods and services, as well as for Community investments and the priority of priorities, a conclusion to the multilateral Doha Round negotiations at the WTO. Nonetheless, the German presidency does consider that bilateral or bioregional free trade agreements (FTA) with selected partners could usefully complete multilateral rules. In this context, it will aim to help intensify and complete negotiations that have already been started and study new bilateral options.
The German Presidency also underlined the importance of a revised third country market access strategy, in which it wants to include fair competition (identical conditions for competing firms and respect for recognised rules): in this context, the Council will have to examine a Commission communication expected out in the first quarter of 2007. The German Presidency has provided assurance that it will firmly oppose any anti-competitive behaviour or unfair trading practices: dumping, illegal subsidies, violation of intellectual property rights (IPR) and forced technology transfers. In this context, it intends to pursue the second phase of the Community initiative involving implementation of IPR, as well as revision of certain trade policy instruments, trade defence measures and particularly public purchases.
In an effort to optimise a pro-active external economic policy, the German Presidency is seeking to highlight strategic partnerships between the Union and third countries. It is therefore initially seeking to bolster transatlantic relations and in this connection, German Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed out this week in the press that a Union/US partnership would be set up based on greater harmonisation of regulations (EUROPE 9336). In this context, two summits have been planned: one with Canada in Heiligendamm on 6 June, the other with the USA on a date that has so far not been decided. In tandem with Washington, implementation of the “Joint Economic Initiative” will focus on regulatory cooperation, innovation and technology, trade, capital markets, energy security and protection of IPR. Asia will also obviously be the regional block targeted most in external economic relations. In this context, the German Presidency will aim to push forward negotiations for a new cooperation framework agreement between the Union and China to replace the agreement in place since 1985. In view of developing economic relations with Beijing, it will be concentrating on voluntary technology transfers, improved legal security for the protection of intellectual property, greater opening up of the Chinese markets, including services, and the getting rid of distortions to competition in the area of raw materials. Germany will also play host to an EU-Japan Summit in Berlin on 5 June, and an EU-India Troika in the same city on 31 May that aims to deepen the strategic partnership with New Delhi. EU-ASEAN relations will also be developed through a more targeted trade policy. On 6 December Mandelson officially sent off his final request for a negotiating brief for an FTE with this regional block. The German Presidency is not neglecting the South American continent and is seeking to conclude negotiations for an association and free trade agreement with Mercosur and kick-start negotiations for the same kind of agreement with Central America and the Andean Community. (eh)