92002E3366

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3366/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(20 November 2002)

Subject: The Union's demands in the GATS negotiations

Why has it not been made public what the European Union is demanding of other countries in regard to deregulation in the GATS negotiations?

Will the EU's demands in the GATS negotiations be made public? If so, when?

Reply

(20 February 2003)

In July 2002 the EC and its Member States submitted their initial requests to other WTO members for improved market access in the services sectors under the Doha Development Agenda.

It goes without saying that the aim of the EC and its Member States is to be as transparent as possible with regard to the GATS negotiations. That is why the civil society and stakeholders have been widely consulted, already before the submission of requests, in order to obtain their input to the process. Furthermore, a detailed summary of the requests was published by the Commission last July.

The EU has more than 140 partners in the WTO. Therefore the conduct of the GATS negotiations must take place in a way that allows time and policy space for third countries to develop their own positions. Furthermore, confidentiality among negotiators is necessary in order to allow each partner the sovereignty to decide how to proceed with the requests and how to develop counter-bids.

Thus, while aiming at the widest possible transparency with all the stakeholders and public, there must be an appropriate balance between the transparency and the EU's ability to negotiate in an atmosphere conducive to frank and open discussions.