Withdrawal of the European Union from the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG)

The European Parliament adopted by 594 votes to 38, with 2 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision concerning the withdrawal of the European Union from the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG).

Parliament gave its consent to the European Union's withdrawal from the IRSG.

The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG), established in 1944, is an intergovernmental organisation whose objectives are to provide a forum for the discussion of problems affecting the production, consumption and trade of both natural and synthetic rubber, and to collect and disseminate comprehensive statistical information on the world rubber industry.

Since 1 July 2011, only the Union has been a member of the IRSG. In recent years, the withdrawal of key member countries has had a negative impact on the IRSG. It has therefore become an international organisation of limited and declining relevance. Currently, IRSG members represent only about 10% of global production and 25% of global consumption of natural rubber.

As a consequence of the reduced number of Member Governments and the depletion of the Group's cash reserves, the EU's contribution to the IRSG's budget is significant and rising.

The maintenance of a membership to an inter-governmental organisation of limited and declining relevance would be inappropriate and inefficient.