Uruguay Round (1986-1994): results of the multilateral trade negociations

The committee adopted the draft report by Mrs Christa RANDZIO-PLATH (PSE, D) on the Council proposal concerning the conclusion of the results of the Uruguay Round negotiations. The rapporteur recommended that the EP give its approval. Thus, the results of the negotiations could be considered to be balanced as a whole for the European Union. The reduction in the customs duties applied by the Union's main partners together with the opening up of services markets would provide new incentives for economic growth and employment since at global level the financial volume was estimated at $200 billion per year. The European Union was the main partner in world trade and would benefit as a result. The concessions that the Union made, in adopting the Final Act, in the area of textiles products were accompanied by substantial improvements in the areas of the protection of intellectual property and investment measures linked to trade. The chairman, Mr Willy DE CLERCQ, took this opportunity to emphasise that the ratification of the GATT agreements by the EP would be an important act that would influence the development of global trade and contribute to the creation of employment and economic growth. In this sense, he praised the work of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the rapporteur and the committee's secretariat, which had enabled the ratification to take place during the last sitting of the year. The committee approved a motion for a resolution at the end of the debate on two oral questions put by the Members DE CLERCQ, RANDZIO-PLATH et KITTELMANN on the conclusion of the Uruguay Round and the future activities of the WTO. This latter motion for a resolution referred to the need for joint action by the Union within the framework of the WTO and called on the Member States to recognise the Commission as the sole representative of the Union in all the WTO's areas of activity. With regard to the implementing measures for the forecasts for the agreements within the Union, the REX Committee examined two draft reports by Mrs RANDZIO-PLATH concerning the regulations on the implementing legislation of the Uruguay Round. It was envisaged that the REX Committee would vote on these measures on 6 December. �