Prof. Dr. Georgios Papastamkos MEP

Q U E S T I O N N A I R E
Consultation conducted for the preparation of the European Parliament Draft Report
on the outcome of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong
Rapporteur: Prof. Dr. Georgios Papastamkos MEP
Coordinator for the EPP-ED Group: Robert Sturdy MEP


Dear Invitee:

Allow me to contact you on behalf of the Group of the European People's Party and European Democrats (EPP-ED), as the European Parliament's Rapporteur on the "Outcome of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong."

A successful conclusion of the Doha Round constitutes a significant challenge in securing a more free and fair multilateral trading system, which will further contribute to bolstering economic growth worldwide and to a better management of globalisation. The July 2004 Agreement has undoubtedly allowed for renewed momentum for the multilateral trade negotiations to move forward. However, expressions of political commitment need yet to be translated into concrete, substantial concessions by WTO members, which will allow for a far-reaching, balanced closure of the Doha Round. Unfortunately, the end-July target day for reaching "first approximations" on pivotal negotiating issues has not been met. The next milestone ahead is the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December.

The purpose of this extensive consultation is to receive constructive views, comments and remarks from national parliamentarians, political and public authorities, national and European representative associations, European civil society organisations, academics and think-thanks, which will provide an important input into my report.

The consultation consists of two phases:

The first phase seeks your position on the key issues of the DDA, your views on proposals tabled in the ongoing negotiations and on the prospects of moving the negotiations forward by and during the Hong Kong Ministerial. The second phase aims at comments and the evaluation of the outcome of the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference.

The list of questions below is intended as a guide and need not be followed rigidly. You may wish to focus on your area of interest among the various issues of the DDA, or you may wish to comment on issues not raised in the Questionnaire. Please feel free to do so.

Moreover, this needs to be a living consultation process. As there will be new proposals and offers tabled by the WTO Members on the way to the Hong Kong Ministerial, please do comment on any further crucial developments which will occur following the receipt of this document. All the more, I would be glad to have more extensive contributions on the outcome of the WTO Hong Kong Meeting.

If you would like to participate in the consultation process, responses to this Questionnaire should be submitted - preferably on-line - by 31.12.2005.


I look forward to reviewing the results of the consultation.

Yours sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Georgios Papastamkos MEP

1. Priorities
Which should be the key priorities in the EU negotiation strategy up to and at the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial Conference with a view to achieving a balanced and meaningful outcome of the negotiations? (Please cross max. 3)
 Agriculture liberalisation
 NAMA (Non-Agriculture Market Access)
 Trade & Development (specific actions for Special and Differential Treatment, trade-related assistance)
 Service Liberalisation
 Trade Facilitation
 TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights)
 Further Improving WTO Rules
 Environmental-related aspects of international trade
 Other

2. Agriculture
2.1 Agriculture - Market Access
2.1.a How do you assess overall the EU market access policy for agricultural products from third countries and in particular from DCs?
 Very liberal
 Liberal
 Partially liberal
 Protectionist
 Very protectionist
 Other
2.1.b How can an equitable balance be assured in order to respond to the requests of the DCs while securing the sustainability and competitiveness of the EU market? (Please cross max. 3)
 The EU accepts the requests of DCs (e.g. in Agriculture, NAMA and Special and Differential Treatment) but other developed countries do the same
 The EU accepts the requests of LDCs but other developed countries and the most dynamic DCs do the same
 The EU accepts the requests of DCs but DCs have to further their markets for goods and services and undertake new commitments
 The EU accepts fully only the requests of the LDCs but insists on more reciprocity by the most dynamic DCs
 The EU accepts further market access and new rules only if all other WTO Member Countries do the same (strict and horizontal reciprocity)
 Other
2.1.c Comment on the "Round for free" EU proposal that LDCs and "other weak or vulnerable DCs in a similar situation" should not have to further open their markets or undertake new commitments and be able to benefit from increased market access offered by both developed and advanced developing countries.
 I strongly agree
 I agree
 I don't agree/ LDCs have to open their markets
 They should not have to further open their markets, but should adopt stronger WTO rules and disciplines
 Other
2.1.d Which structure for tariff reduction do you support?
 Negotiations should proceed on the basis of the G-20 proposal (New Delhi Declaration), which provides for a non-linear band system for overall cuts with a linear cut in each band
 The EU should accept the linear approach to tariff cuts laid down in the G-20 proposal, only if flexibility regarding tariff cuts is guaranteed
 I find satisfactory the EU proposal asking for flexibility with respect to the linear cut in each band (addition of 'pivots' to the formula)
 Other
2.1.e What is your position as to the treatment of 'sensitive products'? Give your views on the G-33 request for the designation of 'Special Products' and the creation of a 'Special Safeguard Mechanism' for DCs.
 I agree with these proposals
 I agree only when designation of special products (for food security, livelihood and rural development) is based on a common set of indicators
 I agree only for LDCs and a small number of agricultural products and raw materials
 I agree only for LDCs and all agricultural products and raw materials
 I agree with the proposal but for all WTO Member Countries (including developed countries)
 Other
2.2 Agriculture, Domestic Support
2.2.a Given the substantial effort the EU has undertaken with regard to the reduction of domestic support in the recent CAP Reform, which is, in your opinion, the negotiating margin for the EU to abstain from any further concessions in this area? Or, specify any further steps aiming to the reduction of - trade distorting - domestic support, which meet both internal challenges and external constraints.
 Cuts in trade distorting agricultural support through recent CAP reform must be the only EU contribution - no room for further cutting
 The EU could consider further cuts if other developed countries do the same
 Overall levels of the most trade distorting domestic support will have to be substantially reduced, big subsidisers will make the deepest cuts
 The de minimis-loophole will be reduced
 Other
2.2.b Give your position on the review and clarification as to the definition of measures falling under the Green Box.
 The non-trade distorting green box remains untouched
 Review and clarification of the Green Box in order to ensure that no trade distorting effects will be generated by any direct payment
 Special and differential treatment for developing countries
 Other

3. Agriculture - Export Subsidies
Under which conditions and within which timeframe would you support the phasing out of EU export subsidies?
 All export subsidies have to be eliminated immediately
 Export subsidies should be eliminated by an end-date to be agreed and with full parallelism with other forms of - trade distorting - export competition, including food aid and state-trading entities, by all industrialised countries
 The EU approach (more phased, gradually withdrawing, eliminating and phasing out different groups of export subsidies within different timescales)
 Export subsidies should not be eliminated
 Other

4. Agriculture - GIs
Do you share the EU position that the agriculture negotiations in the lead-up to Hong Kong should include the extension of the protection of geographical indications granted to wines and spirits to other products?
 A balanced outcome of the market access negotiations on agriculture presupposes the achievement of progress in the area of GIs, which is of major importance for EU exporters
 There should be no link (trade-off) between granting improved access for agricultural products to the EU market and the satisfaction of EU exporting interests in the area of GIs
 Other

5. NAMA
5.a Identify the key priorities and objectives in the negotiations on tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade in non-agricultural products. (Please cross max. 3)
 Reduce or, as appropriate, eliminate tariffs including the reduction or elimination of tariff peaks, high tariffs, and tariff escalation, in particular on products of export interest to developing countries
 Unilateral tariff elimination (by all developed and possibly the most developed DCs) for all products from LDCs
 Substantial increase in the number of headings bound (i.e. products for which the tariff is fixed and cannot be raised)
 Elimination of all non-tariff barriers especially in fast-developing export countries (i.e. China, India, Brasil)
 All WTO Members agree to deeper cuts for textiles, clothing, and footwear
 Other
5.b Provide information on products and countries for which improvement of market access is of key importance to the EU export interests
CountryProduct / Sector
5.c Which structure for tariff reduction do you support?
 A 'Swiss' type formula
 The formula laid down in the ABI proposal, which links a country's tariff reductions to its average tariff level
 I overall support the EU Approach (Cuts/elimination of high tariffs, tariff peaks and tariff escalation)
 Other

6. Trade &Development
6.a Give your position on 'differentiation' among DCs. Do you share the view that we should not remove all responsibilities from all developing countries?
 Developing countries are different. The most developed of them have to contribute to a strong multilateral order and to accept some degree of reciprocity in the negotiations with developed countries
 Special and differential treatment and trade-related assistance must be given only to the LDCs
 Special and differential treatment and trade-related assistance must be given to all developing countries
 In order to boost south-south trade, developing countries have to faster liberalise their trade
 Other
6.b Undeniably, the application of Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) should form an integral part of WTO Agreements. However, in view of the criticisms as to the effectiveness of the current approach to S&DT, provide your position as to the approach, which could best serve the objective of the integration of DCs into the global trading economy.
 Special and differential treatment creates a two-tier WTO and hampers the effective integration of developing countries into the global economy
 The exception from the WTO rules an disciplines cause more damage to developing countries themselves
 For a better integration into the global economy we have to negotiate rules which DCs are better able to apply and to offer them more technical assistance
 Special and differential treatment can only produce its results if it is temporary and if it is accompanied by a global development strategy
 Possible erosions of trade preferences granted to DCs, resulting from further liberalisation under the Doha negotiations, need to be counterbalanced
 Other

7. Services
7.a. Which potential do you see in the opening-up of markets in services trade?
 Services are an area in which the EU has significant potential trade gains and should remain a priority in its negotiating agenda
 Further liberalisation in services will prove beneficial not only for industrialised trading partners but also for DCs, greater opportunities for south-south trade being an important parameter to that end
 DCs will have no gains from further liberalisation in the area of trade in services
 Other
7.b Which concrete results do you consider essential in the negotiations in this area for a meaningful closure of the Doha Round? (Please cross max. 3)
 Liberalisation in new sectors
 Removal of existing limitations or bindings in modes which have so far been unbound
 The undertaking of additional commitments under Article XVIII
 The termination of MFN Exemptions
 Improving rules of the GATS (e.g. the treatment of subsidies in the provision of traded services, disciplines covering government procurement for services)
 Other
7.c In which sectors should the EU insist on further market access? (Please cross max. 3)
 Professional services
 Business services
 Telecommunication services
 Postal and courier services
 Distribution services
 Construction and related engineering services
 Financial services
 Transport services
 Educational services
 Energy services
 Environmental services
 Tourism and travel-related services
 News agency services
 Other
7.d Which services sectors should be safeguarded from liberalisation or approached cautiously? (Please cross max. 3)
 Educational services
 Health services
 Construction services
 Architecture services
 Audiovisual and related services
 Energy services
 Transport services
 Legal services
 Movement of natural persons
 Accountancy services
 Computer and related services
 Other
7.e Given the lack of progress in the Services negotiations, under the current bilateral request/offer process, do you see any suitable supplementary or alternative approach in order to move ahead in this area? (Please cross max. 3)
 There is no alternative to "request/offer" method
 Seeking alternatives to the inefficient, time-consuming "request/offer" method, but I do not know what exactly
 Negotiating sectoral agreements (like in financial services)
 Commitments on a horizontal basis (across all sectors)
 Further liberalisation in the context of regional arrangements
 Other

8. Trade Facilitation
Which matters should constitute the priorities in the DDA trade facilitation negotiations? (Please cross max. 3).
 Increasing the transparency of trade regulations (GATT Article X)
 Simplifying, standardising and modernising import, export and customs procedures (GATT Article VIII)
 Improving the conditions for transit (GATT Article V)
 Technical assistance for capacity building and co-operation with developing countries
 Trade facilitation in the framework of bilateral and regional initiatives
 Other

9. WTO Rules
Which WTO rules or procedures have to be improved? (Please cross max. 3)
 Anti-dumping and subsidies rules
 Decision-making procedure
 Dispute settlement mechanism
 Trade policy review mechanism
 Relations between WTO and other international organisations
 Relations with civil society
 Other

10. Trade and Environment
10.a Liberalisation of trade in environmental goods
 Liberalising trade in environmental goods has the potential to bring economic, environmental and developmental benefits
 Negotiations in this area should proceed through a product-specific approach, consensus on a definition of environmental goods not being a prerequisite for the finalisation of a list of goods
 I support- overall- the EU submission to the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment on Market Access for Environmental Goods, including the proposed categories of products
 It is hard to envisage a generally acceptable definition of environmental goods, or a commercially balanced and environmentally acceptable WTO list of environmental goods
 Other
10.b Give your views on improved coherence and enhanced supportiveness of trade and environmental legal and policy systems.
 Clearer rules regarding the relationship between WTO rules and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) are necessary for:
 purposes of legal certainty and predictability, and enhanced effectiveness of both WTO rules and MEAs
 ensuring non-protectionist and least trade restrictive domestic and international regulation in pursuit of environmental protection
 Other
 

 The relationship between WTO rules and trade measures pursuant to MEAs need not to be addressed within the WTO and may be simply left to potential dispute settlement and the results it imposes
 MEA-related negotiations, although important, may be dropped until after the Hong Kong Ministerial
 A closer relationship between the WTO and international environmental organisations is required
 Other

11. TRIPS - Biodiversity
In your opinion, would the Convention on Biological Diversity's objectives on access to genetic resources be better accomplished if a requirement for a patent applicant to disclose the source or origin of the genetic resource used in an invention is amended as an obligation to the TRIPS agreements?
 Yes, I agree (Developing Countries approach)
 It should be discussed as a subject in itself, with legal consequences of not meeting this requirement lying outside the scope of patent law (EU approach)
 No, I disagree; National legislation and contractual arrangements (including commitments on disclosure) are sufficient to tackle the issue (US approach)
 Other

12. Other horizontal topics
Please cross the topics that must be included in the future negotiation agenda. (Please cross max. 3).
 Trade and competition
 Public procurement
 Trade and investments
 Trade and environment
 Trade and social standards
 Other

13. General assessment
What is your general estimation of the outcome of the Doha Negotiations?
 Very optimistic
 Optimistic
 Pessimistic
 Very pessimistic
 Other

Give us some information about yourself:
1. Do you represent:
 National Parliament
 Political or Public Authority
 National Representative association
 European Representative Association
 European Civil Society Organisation
 Academics and think-tanks
 Other
2. What sector(s) do you operate in/do you represent?
3. In which country/countries is your authority/organisation based?
4. Your contact details