Europaudvalget 2015-16
Rådsmøde 3384 - Udenrigsanliggender
Offentligt
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Council of the
European Union
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(OR. en)
EN
PRESSE 30
PR CO 22
OUTCOME OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
3384th Council meeting
Foreign Affairs
Trade issues
Brussels, 7 May 2015
President
Edgars Rinkēvičs
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia
PRESS
Rue de la Loi 175 B – 1048 BRUSSELS Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 6319 Fax: +32 (0)2 281 8026
[email protected] http://www.consilium.europa.eu/press
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CONTENTS
1
ITEMS DEBATED
EU-US TRADE AND INVESTMENT NEGOTIATIONS ................................................................. 4
DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA - ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS ............................................. 6
OTHER BUSINESS ............................................................................................................................ 7
–
EU-Canada economic and trade agreement ............................................................................................................. 7
MEETING IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL......................................................................... 8
–
Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting on trade .................................................................................................... 8
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
TRADE POLICY
–
Myanmar/Burma - labour rights .............................................................................................................................. 9
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
–
–
–
Central African Republic - restrictive measures ...................................................................................................... 9
South Sudan - restrictive measures .......................................................................................................................... 9
EU-Switzerland - free movement of persons ......................................................................................................... 10
JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
–
–
Visa waiver agreements ......................................................................................................................................... 10
Eurojust ................................................................................................................................................................. 10
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
–
Appellations of origin - review of the Lisbon agreement ...................................................................................... 11
CUSTOMS UNION
–
1
Rules of origin - Denmark and Faroe Islands ........................................................................................................ 11

Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated
in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks.
 
Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site
(http://www.consilium.europa.eu).
 
Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by
an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press
Office.
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AGRICULTURE
–
G20 agriculture meeting ........................................................................................................................................ 11
ENVIRONMENT
–
Pollution from ships and safety at sea ................................................................................................................... 12
TRANSPORT
–
Air transport agreements ....................................................................................................................................... 13
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ITEMS DEBATED
EU-US TRADE AND INVESTMENT NEGOTIATIONS
The Council took stock of ongoing negotiations on a comprehensive trade and investment
agreement (TTIP) with the United States. It discussed investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) on
the basis of a concept paper prepared by the Commission services setting out ideas for further
improvements to the EU's ISDS text in TTIP.
The Council encouraged the Commission to maintain its efforts aimed at achieving meaningful
progress across all three components of the agreement by the summer of 2015. This will enable the
negotiators to tackle more delicate issues of a political nature thereafter.
It reiterated its call for more transparency and for better access to negotiating documents.
The Council welcomed the Commission's paper on ISDS and its suggestions. It urged it to step up
its dialogue with national parliaments and with civil society, as well as planning and
communication with respect to the preparatory work on ISDS. This will enable the Commission to
engage fully with the US as early as possible.
The Council will continue to closely monitor the work of its preparatory bodies and - as needed -
provide the necessary political guidance.
The Commission's paper on ISDS builds on ideas presented by Commissioner Cecilia Malmström
in March 2015 to the European Parliament's committee on international trade and at an informal
meeting of EU trade ministers in Riga.
It follows a public consultation, which identified four areas for further work: 1) protection of the
right to regulate; 2) the establishment and functioning of arbitral tribunals; 3) the review of ISDS
decisions for legal correctness via an appellate mechanism, with permanent members established
directly under the TTIP, while exploring in parallel options for setting up a multilateral appeal
mechanism; 4) defining the relationship between domestic judicial systems and ISDS.
The Commission will issue a more detailed paper on the reformed ISDS in TTIP before the 2015
summer recess, after the adoption by the European Parliament of a resolution on TTIP in June.
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It is expected that the TTIP will be made up of three components: market access; regulatory issues
and non-tariff barriers; and rules.
Nine negotiating rounds have been held, the latest in New York from 20 to 24 April 2015. Ten
consolidated negotiating texts have been tabled, combining both sides' proposals in a single
document. The Commission aims to make maximum progress before the 2015 summer recess.
In March 2015, the European Council called for every effort to be made "to conclude negotiations
on an ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement by the end of the year". It said
that "member states and the Commission should step up efforts to communicate the benefits of the
agreement and to enhance dialogue with civil society".
The Commission is leading the negotiations on behalf of the EU and its member states, on the basis
of a mandate agreed by the Council in June 2013. The Council decided in October 2014 to make
public its negotiating directives.
EU negotiating mandate for TTIP
Commission webpage on trade with the US
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DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA - ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS
The Council discussed preparations for the 10th WTO ministerial conference, to be held in Nairobi
on 15-18 December 2015.
To define the structure of a deal in Nairobi on the WTO's Doha Development Agenda (DDA), it
reiterated the need for a comprehensive, realistic, feasible and balanced work programme.
The Council welcomed the trade liberalisation efforts being pursued in parallel to the DDA talks, in
particular plurilateral negotiations on an environmental goods agreement. It discussed the possible
coverage of the talks.
A deadline has been set for July 2015 for agreeing a work programme following the last ministerial
conference, held in Bali in December 2013.
The negotiations to liberalise trade in environmental goods were launched by the EU and 13 other
WTO members in July 2014. This followed a commitment made in 2012 by the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum to reduce tariffs on 54 environmental goods. The aim is to create a
'living agreement' that can respond to new technologies and to which new products can be added in
the future.
The first round of negotiations took place in Geneva in July 2014. Over the course of five
negotiating rounds, a list of product nominations covering 10 categories of environmental goods has
been developed.
On 1 April 2015, the EU tabled a complete list of product nominations. All product nominations
were compiled in April. The aim of the sixth round of negotiations, scheduled for 4-8 May 2015, is
to finalise the list of environmental goods to be included in the agreement.
Currently only some WTO members have chosen to take part in the talks. But once a critical mass
has been reached to get an agreement, the benefits of this plurilateral initiative will be applied to all
WTO members, using the most-favoured-nation principle. Ideally, the agreement will be made part
of the package of WTO accords so other WTO members can open their own markets.
In May 2014, the Council adopted conclusions and negotiating directives on a multilateral "green
goods initiative" in order to guide the Commission in negotiating on behalf of the EU.
2014 conclusions on the green goods initiative
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OTHER BUSINESS
–
EU-Canada economic and trade agreement
The Council took note of concerns raised by Greece regarding protection for geographical
indications, in particular Greek "feta cheese", in the draft comprehensive economic and trade
agreement with Canada.
*
*
*
Over lunch, ministers discussed the trade aspects of the EU's
Eastern Partnership
with Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
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MEETING IN THE MARGINS OF THE COUNCIL
–
Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting on trade
Ministers met their counterparts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and
Ukraine for the first-ever Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting on trade.
The following statement was issued:
"Joint statement of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European
Commission on Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting on Trade
On 7 May 2015 the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in close cooperation
with the Commission, organized the first Eastern Partnership Ministerial Meeting on Trade. The
meeting was co-chaired by Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Edgars Rinkēvičs, and European
Commissioner for Trade Ms Cecilia Malmström.
The EU Trade Ministers and their Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarus, Georgian, Moldovan and
Ukrainian counterparts met in the afternoon of 7 May to discuss the achievements of the Eastern
Partnership in the area of trade, as well as the opportunities for and challenges to the further
development of a successful trade dimension of the Eastern Partnership.
In light of the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga and the ongoing European
Neighbourhood Policy review, Trade Ministers exchanged views on current trade relations between
the EU and the Eastern Partners. The Ministers also discussed the possibilities for further
cooperation, taking into account the diverse interests of the Eastern Partners with regard to their
trade relations with the EU.
The Presidency and the Commission stressed the importance of trade as a part of the Eastern
Partnership policy and underlined the need to strive for inclusive and sustainable economic
development. The participants acknowledged the importance of trade and increased market
opportunities for creating growth and jobs.
They welcomed the start of the implementation of Association Agreements with Georgia, the
Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, urging a continuation of the reform process. They remarked
positively on the increase in trade between the EU and Georgia and the Republic of Moldova
respectively, since the application of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTAs) and
looked forward to the provisional application of the DCFTA with Ukraine starting on 1 January
2016.
The Presidency and the Commission expressed respect for the individual choices of the Eastern
Partners, and confirmed their readiness to work on strengthened but differentiated trade relations
with each of the Partners."
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OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
TRADE POLICY
Myanmar/Burma - labour rights
The Council is endorsed a decision by the Commission for the EU to join an initiative to promote
fundamental labour rights and practices in Myanmar/Burma.
The Commission took its decision on 26 March 2015. The initiative was launched by
Myanmar/Burma, the United States, Japan, Denmark and the International Labour Organisation in
November 2014.
Commission decision of 26 March 2015
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Central African Republic - restrictive measures
The Council amended EU restrictive measures against the Central African Republic to take account of
decisions at the UN (UN Security Council resolution 2196 / 2015).
It amended the criteria for travel bans and asset freezes on persons or entities in view of the situation in
the Central African Republic.
South Sudan - restrictive measures
The Council adopted new legal acts on restrictive measures in view of the situation in South Sudan.
The new legislation implements UN Security Council resolution 2206 (2015), while integrating it in
the same legal instrument as the existing EU autonomous sanctions. At the same time, the Council
repealed decision 2014/449/CFSP, which has been in force until now.
The EU's autonomous measures include an arms embargo. In addition, two South Sudanese military
leaders have been subject to an EU travel ban and asset freeze since July 2014, on account of their
responsibility for obstructing the political process in South Sudan and for serious human rights
violations.
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EU-Switzerland - free movement of persons
The Council adopted a decision on the EU position in the EU-Switzerland joint committee
concerning an amendment to annex III of the EU-Switzerland agreement on free movement of
persons.
Annex III of the agreement relates to the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. The
proposed amendment is needed in order to incorporate into the agreement new EU legal acts
(6719/15).
JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
Visa waiver agreements
The Council adopted a decision authorising the signing and the provisional application of
agreements with Saint Lucia, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Vanuatu, Timor-Leste, Samoa and Trinidad and Tobago on short-stay visa waivers.
The agreements will be provisionally applicable from the date of signature.
The Council also decided to forward a draft decision on the conclusion of the agreements to the
European Parliament for its consent once the agreements have been duly signed.
Eurojust
The Council approved the election of Ms Michèle Coninsx as President of Eurojust.
On 21 April 2015 the college of Eurojust re-elected Ms Coninsx, member for Belgium, as president.
Under Article 28 of the
Council Decision
setting up Eurojust, the college of Eurojust elects a
president from among its national members. The result of the election is submitted to the Council
for approval.
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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Appellations of origin
-
review of the Lisbon agreement
The Council authorised the opening of negotiations on a revised Lisbon agreement on appellations
of origin and geographical indications.
The Lisbon system for the international registration of appellations of origin is currently under
review. A diplomatic conference for the adoption of a revised Lisbon agreement on appellations of
origin and geographical indications will convene in Geneva, Switzerland, on 11 May 2015.
CUSTOMS UNION
Rules of origin - Denmark and Faroe Islands
The Council adopted its
position
within the joint committee established by the EU - Denmark/Faroe
Islands agreement concerning the application of preferential rules of origin laid down in the
Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin.
AGRICULTURE
G20 agriculture meeting
The Council endorsed draft EU guidelines and the first draft ministerial communiqué for a Group of
Twenty (G20) agriculture ministers meeting in Istanbul on 7-8 May 2015
On 30 November 2014 Turkey stepped in as G20 presidency for 2015. Turkey will focus the G20’s
efforts on ensuring inclusive and robust growth through collective action. It announced that it would
lay emphasis on development in its G20 agenda, with particular attention given to supporting food
security in the developing world, and a focus on sustainable food systems and on improving the
productivity of smallholder farms. Turkey will be the first G20 presidency to implement the G20's
food security and nutrition framework. On previous occasions, e.g. during Mexico's G20
presidency, the Council prepared guidelines on agriculture matters to be used by EU participants at
G20 meetings.
The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation and decision-making. Its
members Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy,
Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United
Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union.
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ENVIRONMENT
Pollution from ships and safety at sea
The Council adopted approved the position to be taken by the EU at meetings of the International
Maritime Organization's marine environment protection committee and maritime safety committee
on the adoption of amendments to:
the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships (MARPOL);
the international convention for the safety of life at sea (SOLAS);
2009 guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems.
The MARPOL convention is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of
the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. It was adopted in 1973 and
entered into force in October 1983 together with the 1978 MARPOL protocol.
The SOLAS convention was adopted in 1974 and entered into force in 1980.
http://www.imo.org/About/Conventions/ListOfConventions/Pages/International-Convention-for-
the-Prevention-of-Pollution-from-Ships-(MARPOL).aspx
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TRANSPORT
Air transport agreements
The Council adopted two decisions in the field of aviation to take account of Croatia's accession to
the EU. The decisions will permit the inclusion of Croatia in the following agreements:
- Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the EU and its member states and Jordan
- Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU and its member states and Moldova.
Council decision on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol amending the Euro-
Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Jordan to take account of Croatia's accession to the EU
Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement with Jordan to take account of
Croatia's accession to the EU
Statement concerning the agreement with Jordan
Council decision on the signing and provisional application of a Protocol amending the Common
Aviation Area Agreement with Moldova to take account of Croatia's accession to the EU
Protocol amending the Common Aviation Area Agreement with Moldova to take account of
Croatia's accession to the EU
Statement concerning the agreement with Moldova
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