Imports of textile products from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific Union import rules: imports from Belarus

The Committee on International Trade adopted the report by Hannu TAKKULA (ADLE, FI) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2015/936 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for imports of textile products from certain third countries not covered by bilateral agreements, protocols or other arrangements, or by other specific Union import rules.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure, should amend the Commission proposal as follows:

Quotas on outward processing traffic: the amended text stressed that the removal of the autonomous quotas on imports of textiles and clothing originating in Belarus implies that the quotas on outward processing traffic are no longer necessary. However, Members stated that the logical consequence of the abolition of autonomous quotas on import of textiles and clothing originating in Belarus should be the deletion from Regulation (EU) 2015/936 of all provisions relating to quotas on outward processing traffic.

Human Rights: in a new recital, Members stated that EU-Belarus relations should be based on common values, especially with regard to human rights, democracy and the rule of law and it should be recalled that the human rights situation in the Republic of Belarus remains a concern to the Union, in particular issues such as the death penalty which should be abolished.