A4-0140/97

Resolution on the Commission communication on relations between the European Union and Canada (SEC(96)0331 - C4-0620/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission communication (SEC(96)0331 - C4-0620/96),

- having regard to the political declaration and joint action plan of the European Union and Canada signed in Ottawa on 17 December 1996,

- having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 20 January 1997,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy, the Committee on External Economic Relations, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media, the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs and the Committee on Fisheries (A4-0140/97),

A. whereas the European Union and Canada signed a joint political declaration on 17 December 1996 and reached agreement on a joint action plan,

B. convinced that in the new international climate a redefinition of transatlantic relations is needed which must under no circumstances be confined to the United States but must also include Canada,

C. having regard to the concern always shown by Canada in improving security in Europe through its participation in the Atlantic Alliance and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),

D. whereas the Arctic Council was established in 1996 between the Nordic countries, Canada, Russia and the United States,

E. having regard to the active role played by Canada in United Nations peace- keeping and international security operations, particularly its participation in UNPROFOR and IFOR,

F. believing that the improvement of relations must involve strengthening political dialogue on questions of mutual interest, such as reform of the United Nations, humanitarian aid, preventive diplomacy and crises and conflicts at regional and subregional level,

G. having regard to the mutual benefits to be derived from strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in sectors such as energy, culture, environmental protection and scientific research,

H. convinced that cooperation in the area of justice and home affairs will prove its worth in solving problems of immigration and granting asylum and will be necessary for effectively combating terrorism and transatlantic organized crime, including drug-trafficking, trafficking in persons, clandestine immigration, credit-card fraud, computer crime and money laundering,

I. pointing out that this necessary cooperation can only be fully effective if the European Union overcomes its own fragmentation on these matters and is seriously in a position to conclude new international law conventions with third states in this area,

J. whereas the European Union and Canada share the same interests with regard to the liberalization of international trade and the strengthening of the World Trade Organization (WTO),

K. whereas both Canada and the European Union are adversely affected by unilateral measures such as the Helms-Burton and d'Amato Acts, the extraterritorial scope of which is unacceptable to all countries which support a multilateral approach to trade,

L. whereas the adoption by Canada of extraterritorial laws in the fisheries sector, in contravention of international law, has caused serious incidents outside its Exclusive Economic Zone to the detriment of the Community fleet and which have been unanimously condemned by the European Union,

M. recognizing the existence of other disputes, such as the use of traps and animal fur imports, but remaining convinced that these differences should not undermine the determination to strengthen bilateral relations, bearing in mind the real interests of both parties,

N. whereas, unless its ties with the Union are genuinely strengthened, Canada's economic interests and policy will turn increasingly towards the Pacific region,

1. Welcomes the signing of the joint political declaration and the joint action plan and the priorities they set out, especially the common undertaking to security and democratic values;

2. Recalls the traditional political, economic, commercial and cultural links that have always marked relations between Canada and the European Union, as well as the positive role Canada has played and continues to play with regard to European security;

3. Welcomes Canada's participation in the peace-keeping operations in Bosnia- Herzegovina as a sign of the country's attachment to Europe and its commitment to the Atlantic Alliance and United Nations;

4. Welcomes Canada's commitment to humanitarian missions since actions of this kind are an increasingly important part of the United Nations efforts to guarantee international peace and security;

5. Considers that any redefinition of transatlantic relations which focuses solely on the United States and neglects Canada will not serve the interests of the Union, bearing in mind Canada's position both as a trading partner and political ally of the Union;

6. Welcomes the fact that in their respective policies Canada and the European Union agree on favouring the transition to democracy in Cuba, unlike the attitude of the United States which with the Helms-Burton Act is in effect penalizing Canadian and European citizens and businesses;

7. Considers that the free trade area established in the free trade agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico is an economic and commercial reality which must be taken into account when defining the future of transatlantic relations;

8. Also considers that the announced creation of an American free trade area in 2005 will have a decisive impact on the future development of transatlantic relations;

9. Is convinced that a better balance is required in transatlantic relations more in keeping with the political and commercial interests of Europe, which do not always coincide with those of the United States, but without disturbing the alliances which form the cornerstone of democracy and security in Europe;

10. Notes Canada's growing interest in the Pacific region but firmly believes that its relations with this region cannot be a substitute for its relations with Europe, precisely because of the strong ties referred to above;

11. Welcomes the establishment of the Arctic Council, as a new link between Europe and Canada, and calls on the Commission to participate in its work and to make Arctic cooperation part of the Union's future policy towards the North;

12. Points out that there is a genuine overlap of interests on matters such as the liberalization of trade, strengthening the role of the WTO and rejection of the use of unilateral measures;

13. Draws attention to the advantages of developing a trilateral dimension (European Union, Canada and the United States) to cooperation in certain sectors covered by the action plan, particularly with regard to the transatlantic economic area;

14. Welcomes the fact that the joint action pact provides for coordination of efforts and initiatives to resolve the United Nations financial crisis and for useful humanitarian aid collaboration, development and preventive diplomacy to forestall crises and conflicts in accordance with international law;

15. Stresses the mutual interest of increasing collaboration on conventional arms control and considers the joint resolve to arrive at the total abolition of anti-personnel mines as provided for in the Ottawa Conference, convened at Canada's initiative, to be of particular importance;

16. Expresses its appreciation at the initiative taken by the Canadian Government in launching the Ottawa process to bring about a ban on anti- personnel mines; expresses its wish for the European Union and Canada to cooperate closely to bring about such a ban;

17. Calls for the areas of cooperation on justice and home affairs set out in the joint action plan to be precisely specified as soon as possible and incorporated into a legally effective convention to the extent necessary; points out that arrangements for cooperation between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Europol in the context of the options set out in Articles 10(4), 18 and 42 of the as yet unratified Europol Convention must have priority;

18. Hopes that the contents of the joint action plan will produce tangible results in terms of cooperation through the active participation of all bodies concerned (local and regional authorities, universities, scientific research centres, etc.);

19. Welcomes the resolve to involve all the parties interested, including the Canadian provinces, in application of the joint action plan and strengthening of transatlantic links in their respective spheres of competence;

20. Welcomes the present record of cooperation between the European Union and Canada in the field of environmental protection; at the same time, takes the view that such cooperation should be extended;

21. Takes the view that, in accordance with Agenda 21, indigenous peoples should be allowed an appropriate role in determining an environmentally responsible and sustainable form of development and should be involved in decisions affecting the use of natural resources and the development of their territories; calls for this principle to be taken into account when the joint action plan is carried out;

22. Rejects the extraterritorial provisions of current Canadian fisheries legislation and the inclusion of similar provisions in the new bill before the Federal Parliament and calls on Canada to repeal those provisions as being in breach of international law;

23. Recognizes the importance of fishing in the Newfoundland Banks and takes note of the objective scarcity of fish despite the long moratorium on certain fisheries, and hopes that Canada and the EU will cooperate in NAFO to ensure the long-term conservation of fishery resources;

24. Considers a settlement to be possible in the controversies over hunting and trade in animal furs for the dual purpose of preventing unnecessary and unacceptable suffering to animals through the use of cruel leghold and other traps and of safeguarding the life styles and sustenance of the indigenous populations;

25. Considers, nevertheless, that these sectoral disputes, however important, should not jeopardize the more important political question of redefining and strengthening bilateral relations in the spirit and letter of the joint action plan;

26. Calls on the Commission to encourage the implementation through financial contributions of projects in activities which reflect both European interests and the linguistic and cultural situation in Canada (e.g. cinema co-productions, creation of television networks, exhibitions);

27. Believes that closer cooperation is needed in the sector of applied research for advanced technologies, so as to encourage the synergy necessary to enhance the tangible impact of the efforts undertaken in the research and technological development sector;

28. Considers that greater involvement of economic operators is needed, since the success of the new relations between the Union and Canada depends also on the ability to mobilize financial and business circles with a view to encouraging investment and trade and thus encouraging the growth of job opportunities;

29. Considers it essential to increase efforts to protect the global environment through exchanges of information on biodiversity, climate changes, desertification and erosion and harmful waste, and to safeguard forests whose conservation is of interest not only to the parties but to all of humanity;

30. Calls on the Commission and the Council to keep it regularly informed of the application of the EU/Canada joint action plan;

31. Is convinced that resuming and consolidating the parliamentary dimension in relations between the European Union and Canada could be a significant factor for implementation of the action plan and could also contribute decisively to its success;

32. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Government and Parliament of Canada.