WRITTEN QUESTION E-0619/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(2 March 2001)

Subject: Democratic control of European commercial policy

There is in effect no democratic control of the EU's commercial policy. The real power and decision-making centre is located in the fifteen national civil servants of the 133 committee. This committee is named after Article 133 of the EC treaty and was set up by the Coumcil to support the Commission.

Commissioner Lamy has proposed a substantial increase in Parliament's say in terms of commercial policy (P-3674/00)(1). He is aware that referring to the role played in the Council by the governments which are accountable to their own national parliaments is no remedy for the lack of democratic control.

This is why Mr Lamy has called for parliamentary control at European level. This would increase not only the duty of responsibility with regard to commercial policy but also the effectiveness of that policy, because the trading partners would then realise that the Commission has full support in its negotiations from the democratically elected representatives of the European people.

Does the Council subscribe to the Commission's view that parliamentary control at European level would not only increase the duty of responsibility with regard to commercial policy but also the effectiveness of that policy, because the trading partners would then realise that the Commission has full support in its negotiations from the democratically elected representatives of the European people?

- If so, what action will the Council take to ensure full parliamentary control of European commercial policy?

- If not, what is the Council's reason for not seeking full parliamentary control at European level despite the Commission's arguments?

(1) OJ C 163 E, 6.6.2001, p. 190.

Reply

(30 May 2001)

The Council would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to his Written Questions E-4034/00, E-4036/00 and E-4037/00.