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 European Parliament adopted by 549 votes to 87, with 33 abstentions, a legislative resolution 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.

Regulation (EU) 2015/936 of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down the 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 European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure, amended the Commission proposal as follows:

Quotas on outward processing traffic: taking account of the positive political developments between the Union and Belarus, the Regulation should repeal the autonomous quotas on imports of textiles and clothing originating in Belarus, provided for in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EU) 2015/936, without prejudice to the Union’s ability to have recourse to quotas in the future should the human rights situation in Belarus seriously deteriorate.

According to the amended text, the removal of autonomous quotas on imports of textiles and clothing originating in Belarus implies that the quotas on outward processing traffic are no longer necessary. As a result, Article 4(2) and Chapter V of Regulation (EU) 2015/936, together with Annex V thereto should be deleted.

Delegated acts: Article 31 of the Regulation concerning the adoption of delegated acts has been amended accordingly.

The power to adopt delegated acts shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years (may be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration) from 20 February 2014. The European Parliament or the Council have the right to oppose the delegated act within a period of two months (extendable by four months) of notification of that act.

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