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Who really runs EU trade policy?

Who really runs EU trade policy?. Presentation at the SUSTRA workshop on Vested Interests and Political Economy of Trade Reforms Tobias Reichert, WWF European Policy Office. Expanding scope of trade policy . covers not only tariffs but issues including domestic regulations taxes subsidies.

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Who really runs EU trade policy?

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  1. Who really runs EU trade policy? Presentation at the SUSTRA workshop on Vested Interests and Political Economy of Trade Reforms Tobias Reichert, WWF European Policy Office

  2. Expanding scope of trade policy • covers not only tariffs but issues including • domestic regulations • taxes • subsidies

  3. Legitimacy and Transparency concerns on three different levels: • Commission • Member States/Council/Committee 133 • European and National Parliaments • NOT: “Civil Society”

  4. Commission - a question of coherence • Trade policy is part of exclusive competence of the EU - Commission takes the lead • DG-Trade and DG Ag are in charge of the negotiations, others like DG Env lack sufficient time and resources

  5. Committee 133 - the power centre? • EU treaty article 133 provides for a Council Committee to “assist” the Commission • C-133 recommendations are automatically agreed by the Council

  6. Committee 133 - ctd. • Commission normally dominates C-133, made up of less experienced national trade representatives • Other government departments have difficulties inputting due to resource and time constraints

  7. Parliaments - sidelined • Trade policy is traditionally considered part of external policy - central role of executive • EP assent is only required for new agreements, no formal consultation and information • Similar situation in most member states, exception of Scandinavia (Denmark)

  8. What does this process deliver? • Reflection period led commission to conclude that its approach was right • Continues to work on mandate that contributed to failure of two WTO-conferences

  9. Elements of reform • Joint NGO-statement: • Parliamentary scrutiny of trade policy has to be increased on all levels • Coherence in Commission and Governments has to be improved • External transparency of C-133 has to be enhanced

  10. Further actions • Support demands from EP for greater involvement and raise issue in the elections • Raise awareness in national parliaments • Test current transparency rules of Council

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