The European Commission is proposing a new trade and investment strategy. The changes will affect different regions in different ways. Neale Richmond, European Committee of the Regions rapporteur for the communication, spoke in the European Parliament's Committee for International Trade today to stress that local and regional authorities want to reduce negative impacts and disparities between businesses, consumers and citizens living and working in Europe's regions.
"The territorial dimension of the strategy must ensure that local and regional authorities across the EU will benefit fairly from the growth and investment opportunities that can be generated by trade agreements" he underlined.
The Communication includes many references to the role of SMEs in trade, which is something appreciated by the rapporteur. "We need to facilitate and improve the integration of European companies in global value chains, in particular small and medium sized enterprises." Within this context, he encourages negotiators to push for the inclusion of a Small Business chapter in all future EU trade agreements.
The Committee of the Regions' rapporteur also asked for:
- increased transparency in trade negotiations;
- consultation with regional parliaments before trade agreements are finalised;
- clear definitions on what trade agreements cover;
- the right for local and regional authorities to regulate and decide how public services should be provided;
- regional impact assessments before trade agreements are concluded.
The draft opinion will be debated at Commission level on the 29th February and is due to be adopted at the CoR Plenary Session in early April.