P6_TA(2006)0350

Doha Development Agenda

European Parliament resolution on the suspension of negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Doha Ministerial Declaration of the World Trade Organization (WTO) of 14 November 2001,

- having regard to its resolution of 4 April 2006 on the assessment of the Doha Round following the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong [1],

- having regard to the Ministerial Declaration of the Sixth Session of the Ministerial Conference of the WTO, adopted on 18 December 2005 [2],

- having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Doha Round was launched in 2001 with the objectives of rectifying the existing imbalances in the multilateral trading system in the common belief that only a multilateral system based on fair trade and just and equitable rules could spur genuine development and of placing the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of the Doha Development Programme,

B. whereas a failure to conclude the Doha Round would challenge the credibility of the multilateral trading system and result in a shift towards bilateral and regional trade agreements, which often accentuate imbalances between the developed and the developing world,

C. whereas developing countries and the least developed countries (LDCs) would suffer most from the suspension of the Round, as the long-awaited rebalancing of trade rules, putting trade at the service of sustainable development and respecting the wider system of global governance, cannot be achieved outside the multilateral framework,

D. whereas any prolongation of the current atmosphere of uncertainty about the future of multilateralism and the WTO itself would add to global economic and political uncertainty and entail economic, financial and social consequences,

E. whereas the current structure of the WTO needs to be reformed in order to facilitate negotiations and enhance accountability and transparency,

1. Reiterates its full commitment to the multilateral approach to trade policy and the role that the WTO should play as the guarantor of a rules-based international trade system; regrets, therefore, the suspension sine die of the Doha Round negotiations in July 2006 and is especially disappointed that insufficient flexibility on the part of some of the major players led to deadlock;

2. Is concerned that a failure to reach agreement on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) could lead to the collapse of the present multilateral trading system; stresses that a shift to bilateral/regional agreements would lead to unequal and less transparent negotiations, often putting the poorer countries at a disadvantage;

3. Stresses that the short- and medium-term consequences of this suspension will affect the developing countries and the LDCs most, especially if pro-development commitments entered into in Hong Kong are no longer respected;

4. Is concerned that the suspension of the multilateral negotiations could result in the expansion of trade disputes, whereby WTO members would try to achieve by litigation what could not be achieved by negotiation;

5. Urges a strong commitment on the part of all major players, including the EU, the US and the G-20, to come to a balanced agreement on each of the Round's main negotiation topics, putting development at the heart of the conclusions and further evaluating the outcome in order to ensure that the DDA ultimately results in meaningful and sustainable economic gains, particularly for the developing countries; stresses that, in order fully to implement the Doha mandate, the positive achievements of the negotiations must be preserved and offers made to date on various elements of the negotiating agenda should form the basis of the negotiations;

6. Considers that the developed countries should continue to create more favourable trading conditions for the developing countries and the LDCs, independently of the final outcome of the round; calls on the developed and advanced developing countries to follow the EU Everything but Arms initiative, guaranteeing 100 % duty- and quota-free market access for the LDCs;

7. Underlines the need for institutional reforms to improve the functioning of the WTO and reiterates the importance of enhancing the accountability and democratic legitimacy of the WTO negotiations and organisation; is convinced that the multilateral process based on the bottom-up and transparent approach should be at the core of the negotiations; stresses at the same time the need for an inclusive process involving all members;

8. Is convinced that the suspension of negotiations must be used as a call to reflect on the conditions necessary to improve future trade negotiations;

9. Calls on the Commission and the Council to establish an agreement to ensure full participation of the European Parliament in the European Union's international trade negotiations;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Director-General of the WTO.

[1] Texts adopted, P6_TA(2006)0123.

[2] Document number 05-6248, document symbol WT/MIN(05)/DEC).

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