1.
COMMISSION PROPOSES SOLUTION TO END BANANA DISPUTE AND
APPROVES ITS FIRST “SUGAR” REFORM
After numerous
contacts with the parties involved the Commission confirms
earlier conclusions that only a transitional system of tariff
quotas, combined with a move, by the year 2006, to a “tariff
only”” system strikes the right balance between the
different interests. The Commission proposes that the
transitional of tariff quotas should be managed on a “first
come, first served” (FCFS) basis. Being WTO compatible,
transparent and flexible this system provides a viable
alternative to a system based on “historic references”
on which negotiations have reached an impasse, according to the
Commission’s Spokesman.
The communication
also proposes to replace the reference to tender procedure by
fixing maximum tariff preferences for ACP imports from 275 euro/t
in the Commission’s original proposal to 300 euro/t to
protect ACP interest. The communication will be discussed in the
General Affairs Council on 9 October.
The United States
have, however, rejected the regime proposed by the Commission,
considering that it does not go far enough and that it does not
comply with WTO rules, but stay open to seek a satisfactory
compromise. On the Latin-America side, Columbia, Costa Rica,
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama rejects the regime
envisaged by the EU saying that it would cause a fall in prices
and considerable export losses. Only Ecuador took a different
stance.
The
“minor” reform on sugar provides for an abolition of
the storage system and for a 115.000 tonnes reduction in
production quotas.
2.
MIDDLE EAST: EU SUPORTS CREATION OF INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
Given
the continuing violence in Jerusalem and the Occupied
Territories, the French Council Presidency has issued a second
declaration on behalf of the EU: “On the fourth day of
bloody clashes between Israelis and Palestinians, the EU again
appeals to those involved to see reason so that the violence
stops. It considers the disproportionate recourse to force can
only further aggravate the situation, increase the already
particularly heavy toll of deaths and injuries and cause the
prospect of peace to recede at a moment when it seemed that it
would before long become a reality. It is supporting the forming
of an international commission to establish objectively what has
actually happened over the past few days and is ready to make its
contribution to the work of such a commission. It remains
convinced that a negotiated solution is the only way of
satisfying the Israeli and Palestinian peoples’ aspiration
to peace and security”.
3. EP
CALLS FOR BINDING CODE OF CONDUCT ON ARMS EXPORT
During the debate in EPs plenary session
this week covering the report by Mr. Titley (British Labour) on
the first annual report by the EU Council over the enforcement of
the Union Code of conduct concerning armament exports, most of
the MEPs who spoke supported the main demands of the rapporteur,
that the Code become binding and be made more transparent.
External
Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, asserted that the
Commission was ready to collaborate as much as possible towards
the proper implementation of the Code, even if the “ultimate
responsibility” rests with the governments. Furthermore, Mr.
Patten announced that the Commission is studying the possibility
of an improvement to legislation on non-military items able to be
used for torture and cruel and degrading treatment. The
Commissioner indicated that the Commission is considering
extending beyond its deadline, next November, a collection and
destruction programme for light arms in Cambodia and that a
similar programme is carried out with South Africa and
Mozambique.
During the
general debate General Morillon (EPP, French) admitted that a
general disarmament at a global level would be unthinkable with
the present state of the planet, while feeling that it is
necessary to make the Code of conducts as effective as possible.
The Dutch Socialist Mr. Wiersma insisted in particular on the
checking of “final users” of arms exported and on the
exports of light arms in the Balkans.
The resolution of
Mr. Titley was adopted with a significant majority. Some
amendments, including one demand for the European Parliament,
experts and NGOs to be regularly consulted “to enrich the
annual report on arms exports” were also adopted.
4.
MR. SOLANA AGREES TO INITIATE DIALOGUE WITH PARLIAMENT ON ACCESS
TO DOCUMENTS
On
a background of MEPs furious about the blanket ban on public
access to military papers (see PAF 194& 195) the
Council’s Secretary General, during a brief exchange of
views with the Conference of Presidents of the EP’s
political groups, stated he was open to dialogue with Parliament
on the new rules adopted by the Council.
The
measures, designed to safeguards NATO secrets now shared with the
EU because of its increasing military role, outraged MEPs both
because of the across-the-board nature of the ban and because it
was agreed and implemented without consulting the European
Parliament. The assembly argues that applications for sensitive
documents should be considered on a case-by- case basis, and that
the failure to consult MEPs was a breach of the Union Treaty.
This prompted members of the Parliament’s Legal Affairs
Committee to vote earlier this month in favour of legal action
against member states in the European Court of Justice.
Without
formally committing himself, Mr. Solana showed a certain amount
of willingness for a mechanism that would allow a restricted
group of MEPs to have access, under certain condition, to
classified documents. He nonetheless also felt that the
Council has the law on its side and that it would be in vain for
Parliament to try to appeal before the Court of Justice.
Also
the Dutch, Swedish, Danish and Finnish Governments might throw
their weight behind a legal challenge to the new EU rules.
Copenhagen and its supporters will argue in court that by rushing
through the decision in the summer, the 12 member states, which
agreed the move, broke the rules on secrecy enshrined in the 1997
Amsterdam Treaty.
5.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION IMPLEMENTS DECISION NOT TO ACCEPT TASKS FOR
WHICH IT DOES NOT HAVE NECESSARY PERSONNEL
Commissioner
Liikanen told the MEPs that the Commission lacks more than 1.200
posts to assume all its responsibilities, and thus it decided to
reduce the importance of the “executive” tasks and
concentrate its human resources on its “political and
legislative “ tasks. The first two examples of
refusing task if not accompanied by the creation of post was 1)
refusing the request made by Parliament, through amendments in
the Evans report on mobility within the EU for students,
trainees, young volunteers, teachers and instructors and 2) not
to consider any new allocations for awareness raising in the
fields of sexual tourism involving children.
These
first examples and declarations arrive at a time when the EP and
Council are discussing granting 400 addition posts that the
Commission requested for 2001 in order to face present duties. By
presenting this demand, in form of a letter of amendment to the
draft 2001 budget, the Commission had warned that it would have
to abandon certain activities (it had cited them specifically) if
it did not gain these new posts. The General Affairs Council must
rule on 9 October, so that the position of the Member States is
passed on to the Parliament before the first reading of the
budget at the end of October. On the Parliament’s side, the
EP’s Budget Committee last week decided to call on the EP to
accept these job creations, but on condition of certain reforms.
6.
To our readers: Please note that there will be no PAF next
week as the Eurostep staff will be busy in the ACP-EU Joint
Assembly, have meetings with our working groups and will hold its
two-days yearly (internal) Advocacy Seminar.