[Ip-health] Doha and Enforcement European Parliament Resolution on the Transatlantic Economic Council

Tue Jul 15 18:39:06 2008

Snip:

36. Calls on the Commission to request that the TEC issue a progress
report on intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement cooperation
activities, including an announcement of future steps to be taken to
strengthen cooperation in combating counterfeiting and piracy; requests
a clear roadmap for the facilitation of international mutual recognition
of patent law;

37. Calls on the TEC to actively support the Doha declaration on the
TRIPS Agreement facilitating access to life-saving medicines for those
countries which have no production capacity for pharmaceutical products;

calls on the Commission to raise the issue of the US policy of including
in bilateral agreements negotiated with developing countries clauses
under which those countries renounce the use of the provision of the
Doha declaration on the TRIPS Agreement which allows them to produce and
import generic drugs that are needed to tackle major public health
problems (AIDS, tuberculosis, etc);

European Parliament Resolution on the Transatlantic Economic Council
By: iStockAnalyst   Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:54 AM

By EU Document

The European Parliament,

* having regard in particular to its resolution of 25 April 2007 on
transatlantic relations(1) and its resolutions of 1 June 2006 on
improving EU-US relations in the framework of a Transatlantic
Partnership Agreement(2) and on EU-US transatlantic economic relations(3),

* having regard to its resolution of 26 September 2007 on the safety of
products and particularly toys(4),

* having regard to its resolutions on climate change, in particular
those of 16 November 2005(5), 26 October 2006(6) and 14 February 2007(7),

* having regard to the outcome of the EU-US Summit held on 30 April 2007
in Washington DC, and in particular to its Framework for Advancing
Transatlantic Economic Integration between the European Union and the
United States of America,

* having regard to the Joint Statement and progress report adopted at
the first Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) meeting on 9 November 2007,

* having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Parliament and the United States (US) Congress have both
continuously advocated completing the transatlantic market by 2015,

B. whereas peace, democracy, human rights, the rule of law,
international law, sustainable economies and sustainable development are
shared common values which constitute the basis for the Transatlantic
Partnership, which is a cornerstone of the EU's external policy and its
global economic policy,

C. whereas, given their dominant economic role in the world, the
transatlantic partners share responsibility for the state of global
economic governance and for finding solutions to global economic challenges,

D. whereas a strong and well-functioning partnership between the EU and
the US is vital for shaping global development on the basis of common
values, effective multilateralism and international law; whereas strong
and consistent political leadership is required to enable the partners
to reach this goal,

1. Underlines that a close transatlantic partnership is a vital
instrument for shaping globalisation in the interests of common values
and an equitable political and economic global order; reiterates its
view that a functioning and competitive transatlantic market is the base
on which to firmly anchor the transatlantic partnership so as to enable
the EU and the US to jointly tackle global political and economic
challenges;

2. Strongly supports the process of strengthening transatlantic economic
integration started at the 2007 summit with the adoption of the
Framework for Advancing Transatlantic Economic Integration between the
EU and the US and the establishment of the TEC, which is to oversee and
accelerate the efforts outlined in the Framework;

3. Welcomes the fact that the Commission, on the recommendation of
Parliament, has decided to have a study carried out, the results of
which are due in 2008, on which obstacles need to be dismantled to
complete the transatlantic market; believes that this study should be
widely circulated on both sides of the Atlantic; calls on the Commission
to ensure that the outcome of studies on the realisation of the
transatlantic market is discussed with the relevant parliamentary
committees before any specific conclusions are drawn for future
recommendations to the TEC;

4. Believes that a roadmap should be drawn up by both administrations in
time for the 2009 EU-US Summit showing how the long-term commitment to
the transatlantic market can be achieved, establishing a specific time
frame for sectors;

5. Appreciates the progress achieved by the TEC so far in assuming
political responsibility for identifying priorities and paving the way
for agreements on removing barriers to trade and investment and on
enhancing competition in the transatlantic market;

6. Takes the view that the results achieved by the TEC since its
establishment demonstrate that the transatlantic market cannot be built
on administrative work only, but that in order to attain this goal,
strong and continuous political guidance is needed; encourages the TEC
to continue its efforts with resolve;

7. Stresses the urgent need to sustain the momentum of the process
throughout the electoral years of 2008 and 2009, ensuring that both
partners continue to move rapidly towards the achievement of common
objectives and that the executive on both sides remain committed to
reaching the final goal;

8. Underlines that achieving concrete progress in the fields in
particular of accounting standards, securities trading, reinsurance,
import safety, suppliers' declarations of conformity and imports of
poultry which has undergone pathogen reduction treatment constitutes the
priority for the meeting of the TEC due to be held in Brussels on 14 May
2008; considers it important, however, to point to several other
relevant issues which need to be dealt with by the TEC in future;

9. Calls on the Commission to inform it of the results of the
above-mentioned study;

pard Financial Services

10. Supports the approach outlined in Regulation (EC) No 1569/ 2007(8)
and the letter of 26 September 2007 from the Commission to the US
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Proposed Rules on acceptance
from foreign private issuers of financial statements prepared in
accordance with international financial reporting standards without
reconciliation to US GAAP, as well as its resolution of 14 November 2007
on application of the international accounting standards(9), which
emphasised in particular that "[a] decision by the Commission will
imply, in all cases, the right for EU issuers to use in any third
country, IFRS [International Financial Reporting Standards] as endorsed
by the European Union";

11. Believes that mutual recognition of securities markets between the
US and the EU would be an important step forward and would improve the
efficiency of the transatlantic market by facilitating the access of the
EU and the US to a broader and deeper market; underlines, however, that
such a project must be a result of a bilateral agreement, that a
framework agreement between the US and the EU which takes full account
of EU legislation on supervision of financial markets should be
concluded, and that the Commission should discourage the conclusion of
bilateral agreements between the Member States and the US, as this could
endanger the level playing field in the EU;

12. Stresses that safeguarding financial stability is of the utmost
importance; recalls the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in
this respect; stresses the shortcomings highlighted by the current
financial turmoil, in particular in relation to the ongoing crises in
key financial markets, growing imbalances in currency alignments and
trade relations, the ongoing or reappearing debt crisis in some of the
poorest countries, and increasing wealth gaps between and within
countries; believes that enhancing cooperation between supervisory
authorities in the US and the EU is vital;

13. Welcomes the approach of the Financial Stability Forum (FSF) and of
the IMF in establishing a common diagnosis of the financial turmoil, and
looks forward to the implementation by both parties of the conclusions
and policy recommendations from the FSF Working Group on Market and
Institutional Resilience; is of the view however that such work should
only be complementary to, and should not replace, reflections and
appropriate policy responses in the EU and the US;

14. Calls on the US to keep the EU informed about the progress of the
implementation of the Basel II framework; recalls the importance of a
coordinated approach when developing or modifying global rules for
internationally active financial market players; in this respect
believes that implementation of Basel II in the US is vital for the
preservation of a global level playing field;

15. Welcomes the work of the US Congress on introducing legislation to
create a Federal Office of Insurance Information within the US Treasury;
believes that, alongside the US Treasury 'Blue Print', this is an
important step towards mutual recognition of regulatory approaches to
financial services; recognises that much has still to be agreed and that
reinsurance collateral is still a key issue to be resolved; believes
that the achievement of the aims of Solvency II will be significantly
enhanced by closer parliamentary cooperation;

pard EU-US trade and regulatory cooperation

16. Underlines that, in pursuing the goal of creating uniform standards
for trade and investment, as discussed at the meeting of the TEC of
November 2007 with regard to a roadmap for achieving mutual recognition
by 2009 of EU-US trade partnership agreements, a high level of social,
environmental and health standards must be guaranteed;

17. Reiterates that a variety of so-called non-tariff barriers to trade
and investment is rooted in activities of legislative bodies aimed at
achieving social, health-related, cultural or environmental objectives,
and hence must not be removed without a legislative act; in this
respect, points out the crucial role of Parliament and the US Congress
in controlling the process of standard alignment and the removal of
barriers to trade and investment;

18. Stresses that the safety of imported products should also be a
priority within the TEC; takes the view that people will only have
confidence in an open trading environment if their health and safety is
protected; calls on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to make
use of its greater freedom to share case-specific information, but
proposes that the TEC work on a binding cooperation instrument which
would structure and facilitate the sharing of information on product
safety and the development of a common programme of cooperative actions;
calls on the Commission and the Council to strengthen cooperation
between EU and US customs and market surveillance authorities, in order
to ensure that controls at external borders are able to prevent
dangerous products, in particular dangerous toys, from reaching
consumers, but without unnecessary bureaucratic burdens; calls on the
Member States and the US to ensure strict enforcement of product, and
particularly toy, safety laws and to ensure stronger national
inspections; underlines the need for close EU-US cooperation to ensure
that China and other third countries raise their production standards to
meet EU/US safety requirements, in particular in relation to toys, and
to convince these countries that product safety must be integrated in
the production and distribution process;

19. Calls for more information concerning the updated US Consumer
Product Safety Act, and is concerned that this new instrument will
impose unnecessary regulatory burdens on European companies by
introducing mandatory safety requirements, including third-party
testing; urges that discussions proceed on mutual recognition so as to
avoid duplication;

20. Notes that secure trade is particularly important in an ever more
closely integrated global economy, but believes that the proposal to
inspect 100% of shipping containers coming from overseas as a measure to
avert terrorist threats is unnecessary and unrealistic; consequently
calls upon Congress to withdraw this proposal, as it is convinced that
the 'Container Security Initiative', which entails inspection of
'high-risk' sea containers, is a sufficient measure to guarantee the
security of international maritime transport;

21. Calls on the Commission to negotiate within the framework of the
TEC, where feasible, common global standards; believes that the
enforcement of common automobile safety standards (United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Global Technical Regulation)
would considerably reduce costs for the automobile industry, which is a
major employer in both the EU and the US;

22. Calls on the Commission to pursue the formal adoption of procedures
for the mutual recognition of declarations of conformity for products
subject to mandatory third-party testing, in particular for Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) and electrical equipment;

23. Continues to support the Commission in its efforts to arrive at a
mutual agreement for the labelling of imported products with both
imperial and metric measurements, and insists on the need for acceptance
of units of measurement agreed under international standards, in
particular acceptance by the US of products labelled only metrically; is
of the opinion that this would increase economies of scale for European,
US and third-country companies and would, in particular, be of benefit
to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);

24. Calls on the Commission and the Council to strengthen cooperation
between the EU and the US on the Globally Harmonised System of
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), particularly in
relation to the implementation of the international criteria agreed by
the United Nations Economic and Social Council; considers that an
important aim of the System is the facilitation of trade and the
strengthening of consumer protection, and accordingly insists that the
GHS be implemented at the same time and in a compatible way in the EU
and the US;

25. Points out that personal data have become an essential ingredient of
many business activities, particularly electronic telecommunications;
notes that the economic value of personal data and value-added
operations based on them is growing rapidly; calls on the Commission to
take the initiative, in close cooperation with Parliament, to elaborate
transatlantic data protection principles together with the US Federal
Trade Commission; furthermore, calls for the urgent elaboration of
global data protection standards in the context of the TEC, so as to
guarantee a high level of protection of personal data, and legal
certainty for companies;

pard Agricultural issues

26. Calls for an urgent solution to the ongoing discussions on the ban
on imports into the EU of US poultry which has undergone pathogen
reduction treatment; acknowledges the need for proper scientific advice
with respect to consumer protection and information; acknowledges also
the considerable investments made by the European poultry sector, in
accordance with European legislation, to reduce salmonella contamination
through a whole chain approach; is of the opinion that any possible
solution should not lead to distortion of competition;

27. Believes that the Community's decision to prohibit the import of
hormone-treated beef was fully justified on the basis of scientific
evidence, and calls on the US to lift its sanctions on European goods
without further delay;

28. Emphasises the importance of the single authorisation procedure for
all food and feed containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in
accordance with the precautionary principle, as well as the importance
of the labelling and traceability of GMOs, which enables consumers to
make informed choices;

29. Calls for dialogue on the recent changes in agricultural markets, in
particular concerning fluctuations in commodity prices, the mid-term
review of the Common Agricultural Policy (EU Health Check), the US Farm
Bill, anti-cyclical payments, the growing importance of rural
development and the cross-compliance instrument;

pard Cooperation regarding energy, industry and science

30. Calls for strategic transatlantic cooperation regarding energy,
industry and science policies to be increased; stresses the importance
of the energy issue and supports the diversification of energy sources
and supply routes so as to ensure secure energy supply and
infrastructure and to promote market-based energy security policies;
notes the increasing debate on both sides of the Atlantic concerning
carbon trading systems;

31. Underlines the need for enhanced EU-US regulatory and scientific
cooperation on biofuels and biomass, promoting alternative and
sustainable fuel sources for the transportation sector on a joint basis;
encourages the TEC to continue its work to identify common biofuel
standards with Brazil which ensure maximum environmental sustainability
and cater for global food security concerns;

The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Doha Development Agenda 32.
Calls on the Commission to ensure that the TEC is helpful in achieving a
positive conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda; regards the
dominance of the EU and US in world trade (currently 60% of the total)
as a potential asset for the global trading system and its common framework;

33. Calls on the Commission to evaluate whether a bilateral trade
dispute settlement procedure could become a topic of interest for the
TEC; notes, in this regard, that while trade disputes have involved only
around 2% of trade between the EU and US, some are highly disruptive and
costly;

34. Calls on the Commission to discuss within the TEC how greater
coherence between bilateral trade agreements and the WTO multilateral
rules can be found, so as to guarantee a more harmonious and simpler
international trading system for all; urges the Commission to discuss
how the EU and the US can converge more in signing bilateral agreements
with third countries on measures imposing conditions on trade, such as
trade and environmental provisions, trade and social standards and trade
and labour laws;

35. Calls on the Commission to develop as a matter of urgency a
comprehensive approach to European non-trade concerns in world trade
talks, in particular on the issues of social and environmental clauses,
recognition and protection of geographical indications, animal welfare
and the state of health of imported animal and plant products, so as to
prevent unfair competition against European producers;

36. Calls on the Commission to request that the TEC issue a progress
report on intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement cooperation
activities, including an announcement of future steps to be taken to
strengthen cooperation in combating counterfeiting and piracy; requests
a clear roadmap for the facilitation of international mutual recognition
of patent law;

37. Calls on the TEC to actively support the Doha declaration on the
TRIPS Agreement facilitating access to life-saving medicines for those
countries which have no production capacity for pharmaceutical products;

calls on the Commission to raise the issue of the US policy of including
in bilateral agreements negotiated with developing countries clauses
under which those countries renounce the use of the provision of the
Doha declaration on the TRIPS Agreement which allows them to produce and
import generic drugs that are needed to tackle major public health
problems (AIDS, tuberculosis, etc);

38. Considers that, whatever the outcome of the Doha Development Agenda,
the concept of the Transatlantic Market to deal with regulatory
cooperation for the gradual removal of non- tariff barriers could be
vital to ensure continued momentum for generating global trade integration;

39. Regards it as an important task for the European side in the TEC to
convince the EU's transatlantic partners of the need for a far-reaching,
ambitious and legally binding post-Kyoto regime on greenhouse gas
emissions by 2012, and to design a grand transatlantic project for
investment and technology exchange in the field of safe and
non-polluting energy production;

pard Regional development

40. Stresses the positive impact that further progress in transatlantic
economic integration is likely to have on sustainable regional
development, and is of the opinion that such progress contributes to the
EU's efforts to implement the Lisbon Strategy and to move towards
social, economic and territorial cohesion; in this context, calls on the
EU bodies responsible to ensure that this progress contributes to the
harmonious and balanced development of all EU territories and to take
account of the European principle of universal access to services of
general interest;

41. Calls on both parties to investigate the possibility of entering
into a structured regional policy dialogue, which would provide a good
way of exploring new paths in regional policy, of exchanging good
practices, inter alia in the areas of research and development, and of
looking at ways to tackle common challenges, such as climate change and
energy prices;

pard Future Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD) agenda and
structural improvement

42. Calls on the TLD to include in the agendas for its upcoming meetings
discussion of the US cargo scanning law, ensuring greater mutual
understanding between Parliament and the US Congress on this subject;

also stresses the need to reflect within the TLD on a WTO post- Doha
agenda, including WTO reform, and to discuss human rights and
environmental and social rights clauses in bilateral trade agreements,
drawing lessons inter alia from the most recent US bilateral agreement
with Peru, which contains detailed and enforceable provisions on labour
standards;

43. Points to the crucial role of Parliament and the US Congress in
supporting this momentum, and to the fact that any non-tariff barriers
can only be removed by legislators; proposes to hold a well- prepared
annual debate on the progress made on issues discussed within the TEC,
as well as its structure;

44. Calls, therefore, upon the leadership of the EU and the US and the
co-chairs of the TEC to take account of the crucial role of legislators
for the long-term success of the process, and urges them to involve the
representatives of the TLD fully and directly in the work of the TEC;
acknowledges at the same time the importance of business and consumer
stakeholders in providing reflection on, and expert input into, the work
of the TEC; is however of the view that their consultative role is to be
differentiated from the legislative role of the US Congress and Parliament;

45. Notes the establishment of a Group of Advisers, consisting of
representatives of the TLD, Transatlantic Business Dialogue and
Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue; commends the contribution of
legislators and stakeholders to the success of the first TEC meeting in
November 2007; hopes that the Transatlantic Labour Dialogue (TALD) and
the Transatlantic Environment Dialogue (TAED) will play a greater role
in the near future; calls for the chairs of the TALD and the TAED to be
included in the Group of Advisers;

46. Reiterates its desire to strengthen dialogue between both
parliaments, and calls for their early involvement in particular as
regards any future rules developed by global self- regulatory bodies in
order to address, at an early stage, political accountability issues;

47. Believes that these are now issues of a substantive nature and that
national parliamentarians should be kept informed on a regular basis of
developments in relation thereto; calls on its President to ensure that
a mechanism is established to this end;

48. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council,
the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States,
the secretariat of the Transatlantic Economic Council and the US Congress.

(1)OJ C 74 E, 20.3.2008, p. 670.

(2)OJ C 298 E, 8.12.2006, p. 226.

(3)OJ C 298 E, 8.12.2006, p. 235.

(4)Texts adopted, P6_TA(2007)0412.

(5)OJ C 280 E, 18.11.2006, p. 120.

(6)OJ C 313 E, 20.12.2006, p. 439.

(7)OJ C 287 E, 29.11.2007, p. 344.

(8)Commission Regulation (EC) No 1569/2007 of 21 December 2007
establishing a mechanism for the determination of equivalence of
accounting standards applied by third country issuers of securities
pursuant to Directives 2003/71/EC and 2004/109/EC of the European
Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 340, 22.12.2007, p. 66).

(9)Texts adopted, P6_TA(2007)0527.

END

Story Source: Hampton Roads International Security Quarterly

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2394260&title=European_Parliament.html