RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil[...]

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union

(15053/2022) - C9-0014/2023 - 2022/0377(NLE))

(Consent)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the draft Council decision (15053/2022),

- having regard to the draft Agreement between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union (15054/2022),

- having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Articles 207(4) first subparagraph and Article 218(6), second subparagraph, point (a)(v), of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C9-0014/2023),

- having regard to Rule 105(1) and (4) and Rule 114(7) of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on International Trade (A9-0171/2023),

1. Gives its consent to the conclusion of the agreement;

2. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

In view of the United Kingdom's (UK) withdrawal from the European Union (EU), in October 2018, the EU formally launched negotiations under Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 with a number of Members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), including the Federative Republic of Brazil (Brazil). The underlying principle of the negotiations is a "joint approach" developed between the EU and the UK in 2017 on how to "apportion" the quantitative commitments contained in the EU28 WTO schedule for the 143 EU agricultural, fish and industrial WTO tariff rate quotas (TRQs). The basis of this approach is that the existing volume of each TRQ would be fully maintained after the UK's withdrawal from the EU, but split across two separate customs territories: the EU27 and the UK.

The agreed methodology of the apportionment is described in detail in Regulation (EU) 2019/216 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Brazil has negotiating rights for 31 TRQs and consultation rights for 21 TRQs. For the majority of the TRQs where Brazil is concerned, the original EU proposed apportioned volumes were accepted by Brazil. Changes of volumes (based on a different reference period requested by Brazil) were agreed in the tariff rate quotas concerning poultry, sugar, broken rice, food preparations, fruit juices, animal feeding. Beef TRQ and plywood TRQ have also been adjusted.

In accordance with Article 218(6) TFEU, the consent of the European Parliament is needed in order for the Council to adopt a decision concluding the Agreement and for the latter to come into force in due time.

In the light of the above, the Rapporteur recommends that the Parliament give its consent to the conclusion of the Agreement, without prejudice to its democratic right of continuous scrutiny.

ANNEX I: LETTER FROM AGRI COMMITTEE CHAIR

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

TheChair

Mr Bernd Lange

Chair of the Committee on International Trade ASP 12G301

Ref.: IPOL-COM-AGRI D(2023)4419 D 301189 07.02.2023

Dear Chair,

I refer to the proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion of an agreement between the EU and Brazil on the apportionment of WTO tariff-rate quotas following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union (COM(2022)0634).

AGRI Coordinators considered the matter at their meeting of 31 January. They agreed with the conclusion by the EU of the above agreement with Brazil and asked me to convey their opinion to you pursuant to Rule 56.

Yours sincerely,

Norbert Lins

Copy: Mr Martin Hlaváček, AGRI Standing Rapporteur for Brexit related issues

PROCEDURE - COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention