Conclusies van de Raad Algemene Zaken (en)
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 219 PR CO 32
PRESS RELEASE
3170th Council meeting Foreign Affairs TRADE
Brussels, 31 May 2012
Minister for Trade and Investment of Denmark
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
Main results of the Council
The Council approved the signing and provisional application of a free trade agreement with Colombia and Peru.
It also approved the launch of free trade negotiations with Vietnam.
The Council was informed of the successful conclusion of negotiations with the European Parliament on draft regulations on bilateral investment treaties and on reform of the EU's generalised system of preferences. The agreements pave the way for final adoption of the regulations.
The Council discussed the contribution of trade to the growth agenda, ahead of the June meeting of the European Council. It took stock of the results of a "scoping exercise" for a possible free trade agreement with Japan, reviewed progress on an economic and trade agreement with Canada, as well as the work of an EU-United States high-level working group for growth and jobs. It also discussed trade liberalisation in the "green " sector.
PROVISIONAL VERSION
CONTTS1
31.V.2012
PARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................................5
ITEMS DEBATED
TRADE AND GRE GROWTH......................................................................................................7
EU-JAPAN TRADE RELATIONS.....................................................................................................8
EU-US HIGH LEVEL WORKING GROUP FOR GROWTH AND JOBS.......................................9
EU-CANADA TRADE NEGOTIATIONS.......................................................................................10
THE CONTRIBUTION OF TRADE TO THE GROWTH AGDA.............................................11
OTHER BUSINESS..........................................................................................................................12
Argentina: trade restrictive measures.................................................................................................12
Ongoing work on legislative proposals: BITs and GSP....................................................................12
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
TRADE
— EU-Vietnam free trade negotiations......................................................................................................................13
— EU-Colombia/Peru free trade agreement...............................................................................................................14
— Protection of geographical indications - Agreement between the EU and Moldova.............................................15
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•Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks
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•Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site (http://www.consilium.europa.eu)
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•Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press Office
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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-Visa dialogue with Georgia...................................................................................................................................16
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-Restrictive measures..............................................................................................................................................16
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-Relations with Croatia...........................................................................................................................................16
VIRONMT
CITES Convention................................................................................................................................................16
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
PARTICIPANTS
Belgium:
Mr Didier REYNDERS
Bulgaria:
Mr Dimiter TZANTCHEV
Czech Republic:
Mr Milan HOVORKA
Denmark:
Ms Pia Olsen DYHR
Germany:
Ms Anne Ruth HERKES
Estonia:
Mr Matti MAASIKAS Ireland:
Mr Richard BRUTON Greece:
Mr Ioannis DRIMOUSSIS
Spain:
Mr Jaime GARCIA-LEGAZ PONCE France:
Mr Philippe ETINE Italy:
Mr Massimo VARI Cyprus:
Mr Neoklis SYLIKIOTIS Latvia:
Mr Juris PÜCE Lithuania:
Mr Egidijus MEILÜNAS
Luxembourg:
Mr Christian BRAUN
Hungary:
Mr Janos MARTONYI Malta:
Mr Alfred CAMILLERI
Netherlands:
Mr Pieter de GOOIJER
Austria:
Mr Walter GRAHAMMER
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign , External Trade and European Affairs
Permanent Representative
Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade
Minister for Trade and Investments
State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology
Permanent Representative
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Secretary General, Ministry for Development, Competitiveness and Maritime Affairs
State Secretary for Trade
Permanent Representative
State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development Minister for Commerce, Industry and Tourism State Secretary, Ministry of the Economy Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Permanent Representative Minister for Foreign Affairs
Permanent Secretary, Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment
Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
Poland:
Mr. Andrzej DYCHA Portugal:
Mr Miguel MORAIS LEITAO Romania:
Mr Lucian ISAR
Slovenia:
Mr Uros ROZIC
Slovakia:
Mr Ivan KORCOK
Finland:
Mr Alexander STUBB Sweden:
Ms Ewa BJÖRLING
United Kingdom:
Mr Norman LAMB
Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Poland
State Secretary attached to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs
Minister Delegate for the Business Environment
State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology
Permanent Representative
Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade
Minister for Trade
Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs
Commission:
Mr Karei DE GUCHT
Member
The government of the acceding state was represented as follows:
Croatia:
Mr Denis CAJO
Head of the State Office for Trade Policy
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
ITEMS DEBATED
TRADE AND GRE GROWTH
The Council debated trade and "green" growth. It highlighted the importance of promoting liberalisation of trade in environmental goods, with a focus on engaging with partners at the bilateral level, in particular through on-going free trade negotiations
It also discussed how to gather support for a plurilateral agreement on the elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in environmental goods and services
The incoming Cypriot presidency indicated its intention to pursue work on green growth
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
EU-.TAPAN TRADE RELATIONS
The Council was informed by the Commission of the results of an EU-Japan "scoping exercise", exploring the prospects for a possible free trade agreement
It welcomed progress made in the scoping exercise, whilst noting several concerns expressed during its discussion
The Commission indicated that the scoping exercise had been concluded, and that it would shortly present to the Council a draft mandate and negotiating directives with a view authorising the Commission to open free trade negotiations with Japan
The scoping exercise was launched following the EU-Japan summit in Brussels in May 2011, with the aim of defining the scope and level of ambition of future free trade negotiations. The scoping group has met on several occasions
PROVISIONAL VERSION 31.V.2012
EU-US HIGH LEVEL WORKING GROUP FOR GROWTH AND JOBS
The Council was briefed by the Commission of progress by an EU-United States high-level working group assessing the options for further enhancing EU-US economic relations. It was informed by trade commissioner Karei De Gucht on the latest developments in the discussions and on the prospects for concluding an interim report in June
The Council expressed full support for the Commission's approach
At the EU-US summit in Washington, D.C. in November 2011, leaders called for the establishment of a high-level working group on jobs and growth to identify options for further enhancing EU-US economic relations. The group, co-chaired by Commissioner De Gucht and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, is due to report its findings and recommendations by the end of 2012, with an interim report due in June
Karel De Gucht is due to travel to Washington, D.C. in early June for talks with Ron Kirk and Deputy Assistant to the President Michael Froman in order to conclude the interim report
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
EU-CANADA TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
The Council discussed negotiations with Canada on a comprehensive economic and trade agreement. It addressed key outstanding issues, notably on rules of origin and intellectual property rights, most notably on pharmaceutical products
The Council was briefed by the Commission on progress achieved, in particular in the areas of market access for goods, public procurement, services, dispute settlement and, to a lesser extent, sanitary and phytosanitary issues and investment protection
It took note of the Commission's assessment of the prospects for concluding the agreement in the near future, and called for full transparency in the final stages of the negotiations
PROVISIONAL VERSION
THE CONTRIBUTION OF TRADE TO THE GROWTH AGDA
31.V.2012
The Council discussed the contribution of trade to economic growth and employment, ahead of the European Council meeting on 28-29 June, which is expected to focus on ways to boost the European economy
The Council highlighted the importance of international trade, investment and market integration as key drivers of strong sustainable and balanced growth, and called on the Commission to promote the opening of trade with strategic trading partners
At its meeting in March, the European Council called for the removal of trade barriers and for improved market access and investment conditions. It committed to review progress at its June meeting, and to discuss ways to strengthen trade and investment relationships with key international partners
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
OTHER BUSINESS
Argentina: trade restrictive measures
At the request of the Spanish delegation, the Council was briefed by the Commission on steps taken or being considered to address restrictive measures taken by Argentina on trade and investment, including its recent decision to expropriate a majority stake held by Spanish company Repsol in Argentine energy company YPF
Ongoing work on legislative proposals: BITs and GSP
The Council was informed by the presidency of the successful conclusion of negotiations with representatives of the European Parliament on draft regulations concerning:
bilateral investment treaties (BITs); and
reform of the EU's generalised system of tariff preferences (GSP). The agreements pave the way for final adoption of the regulations
Over lunch, ministers reviewed progress on a free trade agreement with India and discussed trade relations with China.
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED TRADE
EU-Vietnam free trade negotiations
The Council adopted a decision authorising the Commission to start negotiations with Vietnam on a free trade agreement
Vietnam will be the third ASEAN country to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU; talks are expected to start shortly. Negotiations are already underway with Singapore and Malaysia
In 2007, the Council agreed to launch negotiations on a region-to-region free trade agreement with the ASEAN countries, but these were put on hold in 2009. In December 2009, the Council decided to pursue free trade negotiations with the ASEAN countries in a bilateral format, whilst preserving the strategic objective of a region-to-region free trade agreement
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
EU-Colombia/Peru free trade agreement
The Council adopted a decision approving the signing and provisional application of a multipartite free trade agreement with Colombia and Peru
The agreement, initialled in March 2011, sets out to eliminate high tariffs, tackle technical barriers to trade, liberalise services markets, protect EU geographical indications and open up public procurement markets. It includes commitments on the enforcement of labour and environmental standards, as well as rapid and effective dispute settlement procedures. It will ensure a level playing field with competitors in the region such as the United States
Political agreement on the signing and provisional application of the agreement was reached by the Council in March 2012. Based on the principle of regional integration, it remains open for signature by Bolivia and Ecuador, the other two members of the Andean Community
Negotiations on a region-to-region association agreement with the Andean Community, including political dialogue, cooperation and trade, were suspended in 2008. In January 2009, the Council authorised the Commission to negotiate a multipartite trade agreement with individual members of the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru)
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
Protection of geographical indications - Agreement between the EU and Moldova
The Council adopted a decision authorising the signing of an agreement with the Republic of Moldova on the protection of geographical indications of agricultural products and foodstuffs ().
With this agreement, the EU and Moldova aim at the mutual protection of geographical indications (GIs) in order to improve the conditions of bilateral trade as well as to promote the quality in the food chain and stimulate the value for sustainable rural development. Two objectives have been developed by the EU through this agreement: on one hand expansion of the protection and use of the geographical indications system meaning that Moldova will protect the full list of EU GIs, on the other hand intervention at the source of potential misuses of EU GIs. Reciprocally, Moldova has an interest to develop and protect their current GIs in the EU territory and strengthen its relation with the EU
PROVISIONAL VERSION
31.V.2012
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Visa dialogue with Georgia
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"The Council welcomes the intention of the Commission to launch a visa dialogue with Georgia and to fully associate the Council and the EU member states to each step of the dialogue."
Restrictive measures
The Council decided to appeal the judgement of the General Court in joined cases T-(Fulmen v. Council) and T-(Fereydoun Mahmoudian v. Council), concerning restrictive measures against Iran and the general principles on which EU restrictive measures are based
Relations with Croatia
The Council approved the position to be adopted by the EU at the eighth meeting of the EU-Croatia Stabilisation and Association Council meeting, to be held in Brussels on 6 June
VIRONMT
CITES Convention
The Council adopted a decision requesting an amendment to appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) () in order to include porbeagle (Lamna nasus), a species that is vulnerable to fishing due to its low productivity
The request will be jointly submitted to the CITES Secretariat by the member states, acting in the interest of the EU