AGREEING TO STANDARDS OF TRANSPARENCY IN EU-US TRADE DEAL

On 14 May 2013 the European Parliament passed a resolution on EU trade and investments negotiations with the EU. The European Parliament insisted on the need for proactive outreach and continuous and transparent engagement by the Commission with a wide range of stakeholders, including business, environment, agricultural, consumer, labour and other representatives throughout the negotiation process in order to ensure fact-based discussions, build trust in the negotiations, obtain proportionate input from various sides, and foster public support by taking stakeholders’ concerns into consideration; encourage all stakeholders to actively participate and to put forward initiatives and information relevant to the negotiations. The European Parliament further insisted in following the negotiations closely and contributing to their successful outcome and reminded the Commission of its obligation to keep Parliament immediately and fully informed at all stages of the negotiations (before and after the negotiation rounds), stressed that it is committed to addressing the legislative and regulatory issues that may arise in the context of the negotiations and the future agreement, reiterated its basic responsibility to represent the citizens of the EU, and looked forward to facilitating inclusive and open discussions during the negotiating process and its commitment in taking a proactive role in collaborating with its US counterparts when introducing new regulations.  The European Parliament is committed to working closely with the Council, the Commission, the US Congress, the US Administration and the stakeholders to achieve the full economic, social and environmental potential of the transatlantic economic relationship and strengthen EU and US leadership in the liberalisation and regulation of trade and foreign investment; is committed to encouraging a deeper bilateral EU-US cooperation in order to assert the leadership of both in international trade and investment.

While commending the European Parliament for the above resolution, AALEP is of the opinion that the guidelines here below would go a long way to ensure that policymaking in the trade context adheres to fundamental democratic precepts. Rules should be debated in the European Parliament and other transparent forums where all stakeholders can be heard not in closed negotiations that give privileged access to certain private industries.

Basic standards of transparency should include:

1. Public disclosure of the working draft texts after each round of negotiations;
2. Public disclosure of the reports on EU positions and proposals;
3. Formulation of EU positions to be taken during the negotiations with an explanation of which views have and have not been included in a proposed policy;
4. Provide briefings and processes to the public so that all who will live with the results of the trade agreement have the same opportunity to participate in the process and have access to the Commission’s negotiators.