On 14 July 2015, Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, presented the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Council to MEPs in the International Trade Committee (INTA).
The Luxembourg Government has chosen to place "citizens at the core of the European project". According to Jean Asselborn, it is important to "defend an inclusive and consistent European trade policy, which offers real opportunities for access to markets of our partner countries", while pursuing "a regular and sustained dialogue between the European Parliament, the Commission and civil society". The minister said in effect that he is "aware of the requirements and expectations of stakeholders regarding the transparency of negotiations, some sensitive issues relating to investment or to safeguarding social and environmental standards in the EU". Jean Asselborn also intends to ensure consistency between the various policies in the work he is about to undertake with INTA.
After welcoming the agreement reached in the morning with Iran, which he expects will also have a positive impact on international trade, Jean Asselborn discussed the attack which has just hit Tunisia and which weakens its economy. "The EU's trade policy is an important instrument that can contribute to improved job prospects, particularly young people in this country", said the minister, who is pleased that the negotiations on a comprehensive and detailed trade agreement with Tunisia will be launched under the Luxembourg Presidency.
The Commission communication on trade "will determine the course of our trade policy over the next five years"
At first, Jean Asselborn discussed the communication on trade that the Commission has to present in autumn. "This strategy will determine the course of our trade policy over the next five years", underlined the minister. He said it would be the subject of conclusions at the Foreign Affairs Council of 27 November 2015. Jean Asselborn responded to criticism by MEP Viviane Reding (EPP), who fears that continuity is too strong on this issue, by confirming that he had agreed to include new partners in future discussions, as the BRICS.
"For my country, the multilateral framework is at the core of our policies, including trade"
Jean Asselborn then focused on multilateral and plurilateral negotiations currently underway within the WTO. Its objective is to prepare the setting before the ministerial meeting of the WTO Nairobi in December to conclude the Doha Round and to allow a better integration of developing countries in world trade flows and investments. As such, Jean Asselborn reminded those present that the Council relied on the ratification by the European Parliament of the agreement on trade facilitation, which allows the implementation of technical assistance programmes and sectoral exemptions for the Less Developed Countries (LDC), so that the EU can submit its instrument of accession to the agreement before the Nairobi meeting. The minister also hopes to conclude the plurilateral agreement on environmental goods outside the meeting.
Regarding the Tisa agreement, whose main objective according to him is to "stimulate economic growth and job creation by promoting a transparent business environment based on non-discriminatory rules", Jean Asselborn stated that "the Presidency will ensure that the talks safeguard the ability of our country to legislate". "Public services will be excluded from the negotiation scope, and European measures to protect privacy will be maintained", he confirmed.
TTIP – The Presidency wants "the talks to attain a new quality level - in terms of substance, dialogue and transparency"
Jean Asselborn then proceeded to list the many bilateral trade negotiations.
Regarding the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, the TTIP, Jean Asselborn expressed the will of the Presidency to ensure that "the talks attain a new quality level - in terms of substance, dialogue and transparency". Aware that "the coming weeks and months will be decisive in defining the way forward on the most politicised topics, whether regulatory issues, services, sustainable development or the US public markets", Jean Asselborn confirmed that "the Presidency will be working towards furthering discussions aimed at a reform of the ISDS mechanism". The minister, who welcomed the resolution adopted by the European Parliament, is ready to discuss this "highly contentious issue" with parliamentarians. The Luxembourg Presidency intends to organise a conference about the TTIP in Brussels with, in particular, the participation of social partners, and will draw up an inventory of negotiations at the EAC trade in November 2015.
CETA - "The Presidency takes the concerns about any investment part of this agreement very seriously"
The legal changing process of the trade agreement with Canada, the AACC, is "being finalised and we will have to decide to sign the agreement which the Council considers to be a shared competence when the time comes", explained Jean Asselborn. "The Presidency takes the concerns about any investment part of this agreement very seriously", stated the minister, who was very well aware that the text needed the support of the European Parliament during the debate.
One of the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency, also involves the conclusion of an ambitious free trade agreement with Japan, and the free trade agreement between the EU and Vietnam, which should be concluded shortly. Jean Asselborn also focused on economic relations with ASEAN members, without losing sight of the investment agreement negotiations with Myanmar and China. "We are also continuing to develop our commercial ties with our African partners", said Jean Asselborn, for which the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) provide an opportunity to consolidate our relations with Africa on a new background.
Eastern neighbourhood - "Remaining open and pedagogical in our approach with our Eastern neighbours"
"Other challenges also await us in our Eastern neighbourhood, especially in our Eastern Partnership", said Jean Asselborn stressing that European, Ukrainian and Russian experts will continue their trilateral deliberations to prevent the comprehensive free trade agreement (CAFTA) with Ukraine leading to a further deterioration in the current political situation. "The dialogue must continue", the minister stated and encouraged everyone to "remain open and pedagogical with our Eastern neighbours". The Presidency will do its utmost to ensure that the Council takes a position on legislative proposals from the Commission on EU association agreements with Moldova and Georgia.
Current legislative files
Jean Asselborn's update on legislative issues pending.
Regarding the regulation on conflict minerals, the aim of the Presidency will be to obtain a negotiating mandate from the Council in order to begin the trialogue discussion. "The minister further explained that it is important to ensure the implementation of the regulation in the field, to benefit local people and ensure access to raw materials provided by European operators with transparency and respect for international rules". He believes that a "bad regulation that would force our operators to simply leave certain areas and thereby encourage other actors would be useless both for the countries concerned and for our operators". "We must approach this issue from an ethical perspective", he said during the debate, stressing his determination to set "a clear line".
The amendment of the regulation concerning the trade of certain goods which could be used for capital punishment or torture is another priority for the Presidency, which has set itself the goal of reaching a Council mandate on this proposal to join a trialogue discussion with the EP and to conclude the review process by the end of the year.
Finally, the Luxembourg Presidency will not lose sight of the fact that the European Parliament is awaiting the Council's position on the modernisation of trade defence instruments and is ready to explore the various possible solution options", despite the divisions in the Council. The Luxembourg Presidency is waiting for a legal analysis from the Commission before deciding on the way forward regarding the forthcoming debate on granting a market economy status to China, which is "a very important trading partner", stated the minister during the debate with parliamentarians.