European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (COM(2004)0699 — COM(2005)0043 — C6-0001/2005 — 2004/0242(CNS))
Date: 2005-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: CCT duties, common commercial policy, developing countries, generalised preferences

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P6_TA(2005)0066

Scheme of generalised tariff preferences *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation applying a
scheme of generalised tariff preferences (COM(2004)0699 — COM(2005)0043 — C6-0001/2005 —
2004/0242(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2004)0699) (1) and the amended pro-

posal (COM(2005)0043) (1),

— having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament
and the European Economic and Social Committee ‘Developing countries, international trade and sus-
tainable development: the function of the Community's generalised system of preferences (GSP) for the
ten-year period from 2006 to 2015’ (COM(2004)0461),

— having regard to its resolution of 14 October 2004 (2) concerning the above-mentioned Communi-

cation,

— having regard to Article 133 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C6-0001/2005),

— having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade and the opinion of the Committee

on Development (A6-0045/2005),

Approves the amended Commission proposal as amended;

Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substan-

1.

2.

3.

4.
tially;

5.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 1
Recital 1a (new)

(1a) Since its creation, the Generalised System of Preferences
(GSP) has been one of the key EU trade and development
policy instruments
reduce
poverty by generating revenue through international trade
and to contribute to their sustainable development by promot-
ing industrial development and the diversification of their
economies.

to assist developing countries

(1) Not yet published in OJ.
(2) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2004)0024.

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BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 2
Recital 4

(4) This Regulation is
those guidelines.
31 December 2008.

regulation implementing
It should apply from 1 April 2005 until

the first

(4) This Regulation is the first regulation implementing those
guidelines. After being published in the Official Journal of the
it should apply from 1 April 2005 until
European Union,
31 December 2008.

Amendment 3
Recital 6a (new)

(6a)
In order to increase the utilisation rate of the GSP and
to allow developing countries to capture the benefits of inter-
national trade and preferential arrangements, the European
Union will strive to provide these countries, and in particular
the LDCs, with adequate technical assistance.

Amendment 4
Recital 7

(7) The special arrangement for sustainable development and
good governance is based on an integral concept of sustainable
development as recognized by international conventions and
instruments such as the UN Declaration on the Right to Devel-
opment of 1986,
the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development of 1992, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work of 1998, the UN Millennium
Declaration of 2000 and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sus-
tainable Development of 2002. Consequently, developing coun-
tries which due to a lack of diversification and insufficient inte-
gration into the international
trading system are vulnerable
while assuming special burdens and responsibilities due to the
ratification and effective implementation of core international
conventions on human and labour rights, environmental pro-
tection and good governance should benefit from additional
tariff preferences. These preferences are designed to promote
further economic growth and thereby to respond positively to
the need for sustainable development. Under this arrangement
ad valorem tariffs are therefore suspended for the beneficiary
countries, as well as specific duties (unless combined with an
ad valorem duty).

(7) The special arrangement for sustainable development and
good governance is based on an integral concept of sustainable
development as recognized by international conventions and
instruments such as the UN Declaration on the Right to Devel-
opment of 1986,
the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development of 1992, the ILO Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work of 1998, the UN Millennium
Declaration of 2000 and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sus-
tainable Development of 2002. Consequently, developing coun-
tries which due to a lack of diversification and means of econ-
omic development and to insufficient appropriate integration
trading system are vulnerable, while
into the international
assuming special burdens and responsibilities due to the ratifi-
cation and effective implementation of core international con-
ventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection
and good governance, should benefit from additional tariff pref-
erences. These preferences are designed to promote further
economic growth and thereby to respond positively to the
need for sustainable development. Under this arrangement ad
valorem tariffs are therefore suspended for the beneficiary coun-
tries, as well as specific duties (unless combined with an ad val-
orem duty).

Amendment 5
Recital 9

(9) The Commission should monitor the effective implemen-
tation of the international conventions in accordance with the
respective mechanisms thereunder and should assess the rela-
tariff preferences and the pro-
tionship between additional
motion of sustainable development.

(9) The Commission will monitor the effective implemen-
tation of the international conventions in accordance with the
respective mechanisms thereunder and will assess the relation-
ship between additional tariff preferences and the promotion of
sustainable development.

Amendment 6
Recital 13a (new)

(13a)
In order to prevent the erosion of preferences, the
Commission will consider transferring products currently clas-
sified as ‘sensitive’ to the ‘non-sensitive’ category in the next
regulation.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 7

Recital 16

(16)
For the sake of coherence of the Community commercial
policy, a beneficiary country should not benefit from both the
Community's scheme of generalised tariff preferences and a free
trade agreement, if that agreement covers at least all the prefer-
ences provided by the present scheme for that country.

(16)
For the sake of coherence of the Community commercial
policy, a beneficiary country should not benefit from both the
Community's scheme of generalised tariff preferences and a free
trade agreement, if that agreement covers and effectively imple-
ments and, where appropriate, consolidates at least all the
preferences granted by the present scheme for that country.

Amendment 8

Recital 17a (new)

(17a)
From 2008, the graduation mechanism will be applied
so as to prevent the possible graduation of imports from bene-
ficiary countries of the present scheme whose exports to the
Community in a given section have not increased in relation to
other GSP beneficiaries.

Amendment 9

Recital 18a (new)

(18a) Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down the system
of rules of origin will be reviewed in the near future in order
to better serve the purpose of promoting economic and indus-
trial development.

The review will be completed at the latest one year prior to
the expiry of this Regulation and will cover the form, sub-
stance and procedures of the system of origin of rules, based
on best international practice and with a view to harmonising
existing systems within the EU.

The new system of rules of origin will consider, amongst other
issues, cross-regional cumulation and global cumulation, the
elimination of the requirement of a double transformation pro-
cess for certain products, and the consideration of a country as
eligible for GSP and Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential
treatment even if it is not the final country for export, pro-
vided that significant value is added to the goods in that
country.

Amendment 10

Recital 21a (new)

(21a) According to Article 37(6) of the ACP-EU Partnership
Agreement, the revision of this Regulation in 2008 shall take
including
into account the interests of the ACP countries,
non-LDCs, not willing or able to conclude an Economic Part-
nership Agreement
in the context of the Cotonou
Agreement, so that the GSP provides them with at least an
equivalent preferential treatment to the one they were granted
under the Cotonou Agreement.

(EPA)

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BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 11
Article 1, paragraph 1

The Community scheme of generalised tariff preferences
‘the scheme’) shall apply from 1 April 2005 to

1.
(hereafter
31 December 2008 in accordance with this Regulation.

1.
The Community scheme of generalised tariff preferences
(hereafter ‘the scheme’) shall apply after being published in
Journal of the European Union from 1 April
the Official
2005 to 31 December 2008 in accordance with this Regulation.

Amendment 12
Article 3, paragraph 1a (new)

1a. On the basis of the latest comparable and adjusted
data available at the time of adoption of this Regulation, the
Commission shall establish which beneficiary countries meet
the criteria set out in paragraph 1.

Amendment 13
Article 3, paragraph 1b (new)

1b.
Each year the Commission shall publish a notice in the
Official Journal of the European Union listing the beneficiary
countries which meet the condition set out in paragraph 1.

Amendment 14
Article 3, paragraph 2

2. When a beneficiary country benefits from a commercial
agreement with the Community which covers at least all the
preferences provided by the present scheme for that country,
it shall be removed from the list of beneficiary countries in
Annex I.

2. When a beneficiary country benefits from a commercial
agreement with the Community, application of the commercial
agreement shall take precedence provided it effectively imple-
ments and, where appropriate, consolidates at least all the
preferences granted by the present scheme to that country.
A commercial agreement with the Community will not pre-
clude eligibility for the special incentive arrangement provided
for in Section 2 of this Regulation.

Amendment 15
Article 3, paragraph 3a (new)

3a.
In order to improve the impact of the present scheme,
the Commission shall provide developing countries and espe-
cially LDCs with adequate technical assistance for the purpose
of building the institutional and regulatory capacity required
to capture the benefits of international trade and the GSP.

Amendment 16
Article 3, paragraph 3b (new)

3b. When the Commission calculates graduation percen-
tages, the level of imports formerly eligible for GSP of coun-
tries under paragraph 2 will be included in the calculation.

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BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 17
Article 5, paragraph 3a (new)

3a.
The Commission shall give priority within the World
Trade Organization to harmonising rules of origin which
introduce preferential treatment for the developing and least
developed countries.

Amendment 18
Article 8, paragraph 3a (new)

3a.
Technical assistance shall also be provided to help eli-
gible developing countries comply with the ratification and
the new special
effective implementation requirements of
incentive arrangement for sustainable ‘development’ and good
governance.

Amendment 19
Article 9, paragraph 1, point (c)

(c)

to ratify and effectively implement by
commits itself
31 December 2008 those conventions listed in Part B of
Annex III which it has not yet ratified and effectively
implemented, and

(c) actually begins procedures to ratify and effectively imple-
the conventions listed in Annex III within
incentive

ment all
4 years after first being granted the special
arrangement., and

Amendment 20
Article 9, paragraph 2, point (b)

(b) whose GSP-covered imports to the Community represent
less than 1 % in value of total GSP-covered imports to the
Community.

(b) whose GSP-covered imports to the Community represent
less than 1 % in value of total GSP-covered imports to the
Community or less than 2 % in value thereof if its GSP-
covered imports in one section account for more than
50 % of its total GSP-covered imports to the Community.

Amendment 21
Article 9, paragraph 3

3.
The Commission shall keep under review the status of
ratification and effective implementation of conventions listed
in Annex III. Prior to the expiry of the period of application of
this regulation, the Commission shall present to the Council a
report concerning the status of ratification of such conventions,
including recommendations on whether the ratification and
should be
effective
required in order to benefit from the future granting of the
special
incentive arrangement for sustainable development
and good governance.

implementation of

such conventions

3.
The Commission shall keep under review the status of
ratification and effective implementation of conventions listed
in Annex III. Prior to the expiry of the period of application of
this regulation, the Commission shall present to the Council a
report concerning the status of ratification and implementation
of such conventions by each country benefiting from the spe-
cial incentive arrangement. Where appropriate, the Commis-
include recommendations on whether additional
sion shall
steps for the effective implementation of a convention should
be taken by a specific country.

In its report the Commission shall also evaluate the effective-
ness of the special arrangement in fulfilling its aim and rec-
ommend, where appropriate, the revision of Annex III.

Amendment 22
Article 10, paragraph 1, point (a)

(a)

a country or territory listed in Annex I made a request to
that effect within three months after the date of entry into
force of this Regulation, and

(a)

a country or territory listed in Annex I made a request to
that effect, and

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Amendment 23
Article 10, paragraph 2a (new)

2a. Where a State meeting the conditions laid down in
Article 9(2) has not ratified and implemented a maximum of
two of the Conventions listed in Annex III due to constitu-
tional constraints but undertakes to ratify and implement
them as quickly as possible in accordance with its constitu-
tional provisions, with the assistance of the international
organisations responsible, this may be considered by the Com-
mission as equivalent to compliance with the conditions laid
down in Article 9(1). The Commission shall monitor strict
compliance with the undertaking and shall withdraw the
benefits under the special arrangement in the event of any
infringements or unjustified delay on the part of the reques-
ting country. The Commission shall hear evidence from any
relevant source, including the competent international organi-
sation, and where appropriate the European Parliament and
civil society representatives, and shall inform the Committee
and the European Parliament.

Amendment 24
Article 11, paragraph 1

1. Where the Commission receives a request accompanied by
the information referred to in Article 10, the Commission shall
examine the request. The examination shall take into account
the findings of
international organisations and
agencies.
It may ask the requesting country any questions
which it considers relevant and may verify the information
received with the requesting country or any natural or legal
person.

the relevant

the relevant

1. Where the Commission receives a request accompanied by
the information referred to in Article 10, the Commission shall
examine the request. The examination shall take into account
the findings of
international organisations and
agencies.
It may ask the requesting country any questions
which it considers relevant and should verify the information
received with the requesting country or any relevant source,
including where appropriate the European Parliament and rel-
evant representatives of civil society, such as social partners.
The Commission shall
inform the requesting country, the
European Parliament and the Committee of its assessments
and invite the requesting country to comment.

Amendment 25
Article 11, paragraph 3

3.
The Commission shall notify a requesting country of a
decision taken in accordance with paragraph 2. Where a country
is granted the special
shall be
informed of the date on which that decision enters into force.
The Commission shall by 30 June 2005 at the latest list in
Annex I, Column E the beneficiary countries benefitting from
the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development
and good governance.

incentive arrangement,

it

3.
The Commission shall notify a requesting country of a
decision taken in accordance with paragraph 2. Where a country
is granted the special
shall be
informed of the date on which that decision enters into force.
The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the
European Union, by 30 June 2005 at the latest, a list of the
beneficiary countries benefitting from the special
incentive
arrangement for sustainable development and good governance.

incentive arrangement,

it

Amendment 26
Article 11, paragraph 4

4. Where a requesting country is not granted the special
incentive arrangement, the Commission shall explain the rea-
sons if that country so requests.

4. Where a requesting country is not granted the special
incentive arrangement, the Commission shall explain the rea-
sons and inform the requesting country and the European Par-
liament thereof.

Amendment 27
Article 11, paragraph 5

5.
The Commission shall conduct all relations with a reques-
ting country concerning the request in close coordination with
the committee indicated in Article 26.

5.
The Commission shall conduct all relations with a reques-
ting country concerning the request in close coordination with
the committee indicated in Article 26 and with the European
Parliament.

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BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 28
Article 12, paragraph 4

4.
Common Customs Tariff duties on the products of tariff
heading 1701 shall be reduced by 20 % on 1 July 2006, by
50 % on 1 July 2007 and by 80 % on 1 July 2008. They shall
be entirely suspended as from 1 July 2009.

4. Without prejudice to the longer transition delays and/or
smaller percentages that may be established by the future
reform of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for
sugar, common Customs Tariff duties on the products of tariff
heading 1701 shall be reduced by 20 % on 1 July 2006, by
50 % on 1 July 2007 and by 80 % on 1 July 2008. They shall
be entirely suspended as from 1 July 2009.

Amendment 29
Article 12, paragraph 5a (new)

5a.
Paragraph 5 shall be without prejudice to the provisions
established by the future reform of the Common Market
Organisation (CMO) for sugar.

Amendment 30
Article 12, paragraph 7

7. When a country is excluded by the United Nations from
the list of the least developed countries, it is withdrawn from
the list of the beneficiaries of this arrangement. The removal of
a country from the arrangement and the establishment of a
transitional period shall be decided by the Commission,
in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27.

7. When a country is excluded by the United Nations from
the list of the LDCs, it is withdrawn from the list of the bene-
ficiaries of this arrangement. The removal of a country from the
arrangement and the establishment of a reasonable transitional
period of between 12 and 24 months shall be decided by the
Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 27.

Amendment 31
Article 13, paragraph 1

1.
The tariff preferences referred to in Articles 7 and 8 shall
be removed in respect of products originating in a beneficiary
country, of a section, when the average value of Community
imports from that country of products included in the section
concerned and covered by the arrangement enjoyed by that
country exceeds 15 % of the value of Community imports of
the same products from all countries and territories listed in
Annex I over three consecutive years, on the basis of the most
recent data available on 1 September 2004. For section XI the
threshold is 12,5 %.

1.
The tariff preferences referred to in Articles 7 and 8 shall
be removed in respect of products originating in a beneficiary
country, of a section, when it has attained a high level of com-
petitiveness. For this purpose, a high level of competitiveness
shall be deemed to have been attained by a beneficiary country
when the average value of Community imports of products
from a section in that country which benefit
from the
arrangements granted under the present scheme exceeds by
15 % the value of Community imports of the same products
from all countries and territories listed in Annex I over three
consecutive years, on the basis of the most recent data available
on 1 September 2004. For section XI the threshold is 10 %.

Amendment 32
Article 13, paragraph 3a (new)

The calculation of graduation percentages after 2008
3a.
shall be based on the data used as referred to in paragraph 1,
including all GSP-covered imports at the time this Regulation
enters into force.

Amendment 55
Article 15, paragraph 1, point (a)

(a)

serious and systematic violations of principles laid down in
the conventions listed in Annex III;

(a)

systematic violations of principles laid down in the conven-
tions listed in Annex III;

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Amendment 33
Article 15, paragraph 1, point (e)

(e)

serious and systematic unfair trading practices which have
an adverse effect to the Community industry,
including
those which are prohibited or actionable under the WTO
Agreements, provided that a determination to that effect
has been made previously by the competent WTO body
and the unfair practise has not been addressed;

(e)

systematic unfair trading practices which have an adverse
effect to the Community industry,
including those which
are prohibited or actionable under the WTO Agreements;

Amendment 56
Article 15, paragraph 1, point (ea) (new)

(ea)

systematic unfair trading practices not covered under (e)
but which have adverse effects on the Community interest
and cannot be addressed under (e) or Article 20;

Amendments 57 and 34
Article 15, paragraph 1, point (f)

(f)

serious and systematic infringements of the objectives of
fishery organisations or arrangements to which
regional
the Community is a Member concerning the conservation
and management of fishery resources.

(f)

systematic infringements of the objectives of regional fis-
hery organisations or arrangements of which the Commun-
ity is a member concerning the conservation and manage-
ment of
fishery resources, and failure to comply with
European health and hygiene standards.

Amendment 35
Article 16, paragraph 1

1. Where the Commission or a Member State receives
information that may justify temporary withdrawal of prefer-
ential arrangements and where the Commission considers that
there are sufficient grounds for an investigation, the Commis-
sion shall inform the Committee.

1. Where the Commission, the European Parliament or a
Member State receives information that may justify temporary
withdrawal of preferential arrangements and where the Com-
mission considers that there are sufficient grounds for an inves-
tigation, the Commission shall immediately inform the Com-
mittee and the European Parliament.

Amendment 36
Article 16, paragraph 2

The Commission may decide, in accordance with the pro-

2.
cedure referred to in Article 28, to initiate an investigation.

The Commission may decide, in accordance with the pro-
2.
cedure referred to in Article 28,
to initiate an investigation.
With regard to the reasons referred to in point (a) of Arti-
cle 15(1),
the Commission shall automatically initiate an
investigation in all cases in which the ILO Conference Com-
mittee on the Application of Standards has approved a ‘Spe-
cial Paragraph’ on labour practices in a beneficiary country
with regard to the core labour standards.

Amendment 37
Article 17, paragraph 3

The Commission shall seek all

3.
information it considers
necessary and may verify the information received with econ-
omic operators and the beneficiary country concerned. The
available assessments, comments, decisions, recommendations

The Commission shall seek all

3.
information it considers
necessary and may verify the information received with econ-
omic operators, relevant representatives of civil society, includ-
ing social partners, and the beneficiary country concerned.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

and conclusions of the various supervisory bodies of the UN,
the ILO and other competent international organizations, shall
serve as the point of departure for the investigation as to
whether temporary withdrawal is justified for the reason refer-
red to in point (a) of Article 15(1).

The available assessments, comments, decisions, recommen-
dations and conclusions of other EU institutions and the vari-
ous supervisory bodies of the UN, the ILO and other competent
international organisations, shall serve as the point of departure
for the investigation as to whether temporary withdrawal is jus-
tified for the reason referred to in point (a) of Article 15(1).

The Commission shall submit a report on its findings to

1.
the Committee.

The Commission shall submit a report on its findings to

1.
the Committee and the European Parliament.

Amendment 38
Article 18, paragraph 1

Amendment 39
Article 18, paragraph 5

5. Where at the end of the period referred to in paragraph 3,
the Commission finds that the beneficiary country concerned
has not made the required commitment, and where it considers
temporary withdrawal necessary, it shall submit an appropriate
proposal to the Council, which shall decide within 30 days by a
qualified majority. Where the Council decides on temporary
withdrawal, such decision shall enter into force six months
after it was taken, unless it is decided before then that the rea-
sons justifying it no longer prevail.

5. Where at the end of the period referred to in paragraph 3,
the Commission finds that the beneficiary country concerned
has not made the required commitment, and where it considers
temporary withdrawal necessary,
it shall, after informing the
European Parliament, submit an appropriate proposal to the
Council, which shall decide within 30 days by a qualified major-
ity. Where the Council decides on temporary withdrawal, such
decision shall enter into force six months after it was taken,
unless it is decided before then that the reasons justifying it no
longer prevail.

Amendment 40

Article 19, paragraph 1, introductory part

After informing the Committee, the Commission may sus-
1.
pend the preferential arrangements provided for in this Regu-
lation in respect of all or of certain products, originating in a
beneficiary country:

After informing the Committee and the European Parlia-
1.
ment, the Commission may suspend the preferential arrange-
ments provided for in this Regulation in respect of all or of
certain products originating in a beneficiary country:

Amendment 41

Article 20, paragraph 4

The Commission shall take a decision within 30 working

4.
days after consulting the Committee.

4.
The Commission shall take a decision within 30 working
days after consulting the Committee and after informing the
European Parliament.

Amendment 42
Article 20, paragraph 5

5. Where exceptional circumstances
requiring immediate
action make an investigation impossible, the Commission may,
after informing the Committee, take any preventive measure
which is strictly necessary.

5. Where exceptional circumstances
requiring immediate
action make an investigation impossible, the Commission may,
after informing the Committee and the European Parliament,
take any preventive measure which is strictly necessary.

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Amendments 43 and 44
Article 21

Where imports of products included in Annex I to the EC
Treaty cause, or threaten to cause, serious disturbance to Com-
munity markets or their regulatory mechanisms, the Commis-
sion may suspend the preferential arrangements in respect of
the products concerned after informing the management com-
mittee for the relevant common market organisation.

Where imports of products included in Annex I to the EC
Treaty cause, or threaten to cause, serious disturbance to Com-
munity markets or their regulatory mechanisms, or fishery pro-
ducts do not comply with the minimum standards required for
European Union products with similar characteristics,
the
Commission may suspend the preferential arrangements in
respect of the products concerned after informing the European
Parliament and the management committee for the relevant
common market organisation.

Amendment 45
Article 22, paragraph 1

1.
The Commission shall inform the beneficiary country con-
cerned of any decision taken in accordance with Articles 19, 20
or 21 before it becomes effective. The Commission shall also
notify the Council and the Member States thereof.

1.
The Commission shall inform the beneficiary country con-
cerned as soon as possible of any decision taken in accordance
with Articles 19, 20 or 21 before it becomes effective. The Com-
mission shall also notify the Council, the European Parliament
and the Member States thereof.

Amendment 46
Article 22, paragraph 2

2.
Any Member State may refer a decision taken in accord-
ance with Articles 19, 20 or 21 to the Council within ten days.
The Council, acting by qualified majority, may adopt a different
decision within 30 days.

2.
Any Member State may refer a decision taken in accord-
ance with Articles 19, 20 or 21 to the Council within ten days.
The Council, acting by qualified majority, may adopt a different
decision within 30 days, after informing the European Parlia-
ment.

Amendment 47
Article 25, paragraph 3

3.
The Commission shall, in close cooperation with Member
States, monitor the imports of products of CN code 0803 00
19, of tariff headings 0603, 1006, and 1701 and of CN codes
1604 14 11, 1604 14 18, 1604 14 90, 1604 19 39 and 1604 20
70 in order to determine whether the conditions referred to in
Articles 20 and 21 are fulfilled.

3.
The Commission shall, in close cooperation with Member
States, monitor the imports of products of CN code 0803 00
19, of tariff headings 0603, 1006, and 1701 and of CN codes
1604 14 11, 1604 14 18, 1604 14 90, 1604 19 39, 1604 20 70,
1604 14 16 and 1604 19 31 in order to determine whether the
conditions referred to in Articles 20 and 21 are fulfilled.

Amendment 48
Article 25a (new)

Article 25a

The Commission shall keep Parliament periodically

1.
informed with regard to:

(a)

trade statistics between the European Union and GSP
beneficiary countries;

(b) the status of ratification and implementation of the con-
ventions included in Annex III by each country benefit-
incentive arrangement. Where
ting from the special
appropriate,
include recommen-
dations on whether additional steps for the effective
implementation of a convention should be taken by a spe-
cific country;

the Commission will

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C 320 E/155

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

Wednesday 9 March 2005

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

(c)

relevant information on progress towards the achievement
of the Millennium Development Goals, especially in Least
Developed Countries.

2.
The Commission shall prepare an impact assessment
study of the effects of the GSP covering the period from
1 July 2005 to 1 January 2007. The study shall be trans-
mitted to the Committee, the European Parliament and the
Economic and Social Committee by 1 March 2007.

3.
The Commission, after consulting the Committee, will
set the contents of the impact-assessment study referred to in
paragraph 2, which shall include the views of the beneficiary
countries and in any event shall contain at least the following
elements:

— an in-depth statistical analysis of GSP utilisation rates
per country and section including a comparison with pre-
vious years;

— an evaluation of the social and trade-related effects of

graduation on graduated countries;

— a preliminary assessment of the effects of future grad-
uation on the countries likely to be graduated under the
next regulation;

— a comparative study of the preferential treatment offered
by the GSP and the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement to ACP
countries, with a view to providing them, in a revised
regulation, with at least an equivalent preferential treat-
ment to the one they were granted under the Cotonou
Agreement;

— an analysis of the potential effects of extending the sys-
tem of preferences by increasing the preferential margin
accorded for sensitive products and/or transferring ‘sensi-
tive’ products to the ‘non-sensitive’ category;

— an evaluation of the contribution of this regulation to the
the Millennium Development Goals

achievement of
(MDGs), in particular in relation to LDCs.

4.
The Commission shall submit a special report to the
European Parliament at the conclusion of the Doha Round,
examining the impact of the negotiations on the scheme
established in this Regulation and considering the measures
to be adopted to ensure the effectiveness of the generalised
system of preferences.

Amendment 49

Article 26, paragraph 3

3.
The Committee shall examine the effects of the Commun-
ity scheme of generalised tariff preferences, on the basis of a
report from the Commission covering the period 1 April
2005 to 31 December 2008. This report shall cover all prefer-
ential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2).

3.
The Committee shall examine the effects of the Commun-
ity scheme of generalised tariff preferences, on the basis of the
impact-assessment study referred to in Article 25a.

C 320 E/156

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.12.2005

Wednesday 9 March 2005

TEXT PROPOSED
BY THE COMMISSION

AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

1.
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 April 2005.
Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 is repealed with effect
from 1 April 2005.

1.
This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 April 2005.
Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 is repealed with effect
from 1 April 2005 without prejudice to paragraph 1a.

Amendment 50
Article 30, paragraph 1

Amendment 51
Article 30, paragraph 1a (new)

entitled to benefit

1a.
Sections 2 and 4 of Title II, Sections 1 and 2 of Title
III, and Title IV of Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001
shall remain applicable until the publication in the Official
Journal of the European Union of the list of the beneficiary
incentive
countries
arrangement provided for in Section 2 of this Regulation.
The special incentive arrangements provided for in Council
Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 shall remain applicable until
31 December 2005 to the beneficiary countries that are not
included in the list of beneficiary countries for the special
incentive arrangement provided for in Section 2 of this Regu-
lation.

from the

special

Amendment 52
Article 30, paragraph 2a (new)

2a.
The proposal for a revised regulation covering the
period 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011 shall be trans-
mitted by the Commission to the Council, the European Par-
liament and the Economic and Social Committee by 1 June
2007. The new proposal shall duly take into consideration
the results of the impact-assessment study referred to in Arti-
cle 25a(2).

P6_TA(2005)0067

Budget guidelines (2006, other sections)

European Parliament resolution on the guidelines for Sections II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII(A) and VIII(B)
and on the European Parliament's preliminary draft estimates (Section I) for the 2006 budgetary
procedure (2004/2271(BUD))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Article 272 of the EC Treaty,

— having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the
Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure (1),

— having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2005 (2),

— having regard to the annual report of the Court of Auditors for the 2003 financial year, together with

the replies of the institutions under audit (3),

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1. Agreement as amended by Decision 2003/429/EC (OJ L 147, 14.6.2003, p. 25).
(2) OJ L 60, 8.3.2005.
(3) OJ C 293 30.11.2004, p. 1.