To Slovak Presidency: Brussels, 21St September 2016 Cc EU TRADE Ministers, EU TRADE Commissioner
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To Slovak Presidency: Brussels, 21st September 2016 cc EU TRADE Ministers, EU TRADE Commissioner Honourable Minister of Economy Mr Peter Žiga Ministry of Economy Mierová 19 SK-827 15 Bratislava 212 Prerogatives of the European Parliament in the ratification process of Free Trade Agreements Dear Minister, Since its foundation, the European Parliament has greatly increased its power, and this evolution reflects the growing needs for citizens’ democratic representation in the European decision making process. Trade policy is one of the principal area of European exclusive competence, and also on this issue the role of the Parliament has evolved and considerably strengthened. This process has been parallel to the radical change that affected the European trade strategy, more focused on defining globalisation’s rules than on the elimination of tariffs and other trade obstacles alone. The rising debate over trade policy, and notably over the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiated between the EU and Canada, may put at risk the steps forward that have been made until now. The debate over the request for the ratification of the national chambers prior the entry into force of the provisional application could potentially damage both the European citizens and the European democratic system. While Treaties do not expressly foresee that the Parliament has to give its consent before the provisional application, this has become the established practice so far following a commitment by the Trade Commissioner in this direction. It is necessary to take action to enhance the involvement of national Parliaments in the decision-making process, since national chambers needs to be more included in the monitoring of the negotiating process. Nevertheless, claiming that only national chambers’ votes are able to ensure the democratic control is an implicit downgrading of the competences of the European Parliament. On the contrary, as recently proven in more than one occasion, the EP exercises its democratic control with an ever-increasing strength and independence. By giving its consent to or rejecting an agreement, the European Parliament is expressing the voice of the citizens. There is a clear need for a more timing correlation between policies, social-economic changes and citizens’ needs. In a fast changing environment in which responsiveness of politics is perceived as dramatically slow, it would be even more difficult to explain citizens further delays of an already extremely long negotiating process. This evaluation is irrespective of the idea one may have of the CETA agreement, on which opinions may differ. We, as Member of the European Parliament, are ready to improve the way of working of the European institutions and their cooperation with national chambers, but not to go backwards from the Treaties, which are the expression of the democratic decision of all Member states and have been ratified by all national parliaments. Alessia MOSCA Inmaculada RODRÍGUEZ-PIÑERO FERNÁNDEZ Mercedes BRESSO Franck PROUST Bernd LANGE David MARTIN Daniel CASPARY Artis PABRIKS Sorin MOISĂ Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ Danuta Maria HÜBNER Brando BENIFEI Ramón JÁUREGUI ATONDO Goffredo BETTINI Jude KIRTON-DARLING José BLANCO LÓPEZ Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR Simona BONAFÈ Gabriel MATO Salvatore CICU Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL Silvia COSTA Fernando RUAS Nicola DANTI Tokia SAÏFI Paolo DE CASTRO David SASSOLI Isabella DE MONTE Pedro SILVA PEREIRA Jonás FERNÁNDEZ Patrizia TOIA Santiago FISAS AYXELÀ Elena VALENCIANO Christofer FJELLNER Jarosław WAŁĘSA Roberto GUALTIERI Iuliu WINKLER Enrique GUERRERO SALOM Pablo ZALBA BIDEGAIN Sergio GUTIÉRREZ PRIETO Damiano ZOFFOLI .