Brev fra det hollandske Tweede Kamer vedr. de nationale parlamenters rolle i ratificeringen af handelsaftaler - TTIP specifikt, samt Kommissionens svar herpå.

Dear Mr. De Gucht,
The national parliaments of the EU have been following with great interest the
negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA)
between the EU and Canada and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and the EU. A recurring issue
between the European Commission and the Council when agreements have
been reached, is whether or not these types of comprehensive agreements
should be considered as coming within the exclusive competence of the
European Commission (so-called ‘EU-only’ agreements) or that that they
concern both competences of the Commission and of the member states
(mixed agreements).
The chairs of relevant committees in national parliaments who are signatories
to this letter believe that free trade agreements should be considered as
mixed agreements, since they contain provisions that concern policy areas
which are within the competences of the member states. For CETA, as well as
TTIP (as well as can be foreseen at this stage), this is the case for certain
elements of policy areas such as services, transport and investor protection. In
the case of a mixed status, all Member-States, namely through their national
Parliaments, have to ratify the agreement. In view of the important role
national parliaments have in the democratic decision making process of the
EU, we feel that it is of great importance that trade agreements such as CETA
and TTIP are ratified by the national parliaments.
Mr. K. de Gucht
European Commissioner for Trade
BE—1049 Brussels
Belgium
date 25 June 2014
Subject Letter in the framework of the political dialogue: the role of national parliaments in free
trade agreements
page 1/4
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page 2/4
date 25 June 2014
Therefore, we ask you to consider comprehensive trade agreements such as
TTIP and CETA as mixed agreements.
We look forward to your reaction.
Yours Sincerely,
Mr. R. W. KNOPS,
Chairman of the committee on European
Affairs
Tweede Kamer Netherlands
Mr. R. DE ROON,
Chairman of the committee on Foreign
Trade and Development Cooperation
Tweede Kamer Netherlands
Mr. K. KOPF,
Chairman of the Standing Subcommittee
on EU-Affairs
Nationalrat Austria
Mr. E. MAYER,
Chairman of the EU Committee
Bundesrat Austria
Mr. A. FLAHAUT,
President of the Belgian House of
representatives and chair of the
advisory committee on European Affairs
House of
Representatives
Belgium
Mr. O. BENESIK
Chairman of the Committee for
European Affairs
Chamber of
Deputies
Czech Republic
page 3/4
date 25 June 2014
Mr. M. KREJCA
Chairman of the Committee on EU
Affairs
Senate Czech Republic
Ms. D. AUROI,
Présidente de la Commission des
Affaires européennes
Assemblée
nationale
France
Mr. G. KRICHBAUM,
Chairman of the Committee on Affairs of the
European Union
Bundestag Germany
Mr. R. HÖRCSIK
Chairman of the Committee on
European Affairs
National
Assembly
Hungary
Mr. D. HANNIGAN
Chairman of the Joint Committee on
European Union Affairs
House of the
Oireachtas
Ireland
Ms. Z. KALNIŅA- LUKAŠEVICA
Chair of the European Affairs Committee
Saeima Latvia
Mr. M. ANGEL
Chairman of the Committee on foreign
and European Affairs
Chamber of
Deputies
Luxembourg
Hon. L. BUSUTTIL
Chairman of the Standing Committee on
Foreign and European Affairs
House of
Representatives
Malta
Ms. A. POMASKA
Chair of the European Affairs Committee
Sejm Poland
page 4/4
date 25 June 2014
Mr. E. WITTBRODT
Chairman of the EU Affairs Committee
Senate Poland
Mr. P. MOTA PINTO
Chairman of the European Affairs
Committee
Assembly of
the Republic
Portugal
Mr. L. BLAHA
Chairman of the Committee on European
Affairs
National
Council
Slovakia
Mr. J. HORVAT
Chairman of the Committee on EU
Affairs
National
Assembly
Slovenia
Sir W. CASH
Chairman of the European Scrutiny
Committee
House of
Commons
United Kingdom
Lord T. BOSWELL
Chairman of EU select Committee
House of Lords United Kingdom