A4-0099/94

Resolution on the economic and trade aspects of the partnership agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Treaty on European Union and, more specifically, to the provisions on foreign and security policy,

- having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

- having regard to the proposal for a Commission and Council Decision on the conclusion of the partnership and cooperation agreement between the European Communities and their Member States of the one part, and the Republic of Kazakhstan, of the other part,

- having regard to Rule 148 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on External Economic Relations (A4-0099/94),

A. mindful of the key place which Kazakhstan occupies in Central Asia and among the CIS States, on account both of its size and of its natural resources,

B. mindful of the vital importance of Kazakhstan's mining and energy sector for the country's economy,

C. mindful of the scale of the aid which the EU can and must provide for modernization and privatization of the Kazakh economy and to facilitate its integration into the world economy,

1. Welcomes the signing of the partnership and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Kazakhstan;

2. Applauds the goals expressly laid down in the agreement which, in addition to economic, trading, and cooperation relations, seeks to establish a political dialogue, consolidate democracy, and promote respect for human rights;

3. Approves the provisions of the partnership agreement concerning trade in goods but hopes that WTO rules can be applied to Kazakhstan as fully and as quickly as possible;

4. Notes that trade in textile products is covered in a separate agreement initialled on 15 October 1993 and implemented on a temporary basis since 1 January 1994, and expresses concern about the future of trade between the EU and Kazakhstan in this exceedingly sensitive sector;

5. Notes that trade in coal and steel, a matter of particular importance for Kazakhstan and the EU, is regulated by the partnership agreement;

6. Approves the provisions of the partnership agreement relating to employment and the conditions under which companies may take up and carry on their business, but hopes that they can be made more flexible in the future;

7. Sets the utmost store by expansion in cross-border provision of services between the EU and Kazakhstan and the emergence of a market-driven service sector in Kazakhstan;

8. Acknowledges the efforts being made by both parties to liberalize capital transactions with respect to direct investment and realization and repatriation of the profits therefrom, and to refrain from imposing fresh restrictions on capital movements and payments on current account;

9. Welcomes the fact that multifaceted cooperation is to be implemented between the EU and Kazakhstan and sets particular store by anything connected with:

- expansion of tourism and cultural relations,

- environmental protection,

- regional development;

10. Hopes, given that Kazakhstan is a geographically remote country and relations between it and the EU have until recently been confined to a very modest scale, that cooperation will be strengthened with a view to training students, business executives and civil servants in Kazakhstan in order to familiarize them with the EU's institutional, legal and economic systems and the workings thereof;

11. Calls on the governments of the Member States to intensify private and official contacts with Kazakhstan in order to help consolidate democracy and the market economy in that country and assist its integration into the European and international economy as a whole;

12. Considers the pursuit of all forms of space cooperation with Kazakhstan to be a matter of great interest, bearing in mind that Kazakhstan has the benefit of specific assets in this ultra-modern sector;

13. Considers that the partnership and cooperation agreement constitutes a starting point and will have to be revised, amended and, if possible, extended on expiry of the ten-year period for which it has been concluded, taking account in particular of the operation of the WTO and the progress of regional relations within the CIS and Central Asia;

14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission and Council and the Government of Kazakhstan.