The EU and the WTO

The EU is one of the key players in the World Tradeissues affecting the Community, from the strategic
Organisation (WTO). This is because the EU has aissues surrounding the launch of rounds of trade
common trade policy, where the Europeannegotiations at the WTO to specific difficulties with
Commission negotiates on behalf of the Union 's 25the export of individual products, and considers the
Member States.trade aspects of wider Community policies in order to
As such, the EU is one of the driving forces behindensure consistency of policy. In this Committee, the
the current round of multilateral trade negotiations inCommission presents and secures endorsement of
the WTO, the Doha Development Agenda (DDA).the Member States on all trade policy issues. The
The DDA comprises both further market opening andmajor formal decisions (for example agreement to
additional rule making, underpinned by commitmentslaunch or conclude negotiations) are then confirmed
to take measures necessary to integrate developingby the Council of Ministers.
countries into the world trading system, notably byThe European Community Treaty grants a more
strengthening assistance to build capacity. The mainlimited role to the European Parliament (EP) in terms
objective of the New Round is to put developmentof trade policy: according to the current treaty, the
at the heart of the world trade system in a way“assent” of the EP may be required for major
that will help them combat poverty.treaty ratifications, when covering more than trade.
In July 2004 the WTO Members adopted aHowever, the Commission favours greater
Framework Agreement on the DDA that sets outParliamentary involvement in Trade Policy and hence
the modalities for the further negotiations.consults and informs the Parliament as systematically
EU Trade Policy and the WTOas possible. It supports a more formal extension of
The EU has a common trade policy (“Commonthe Parliament’s powers over trade policy.
Commercial Policy”). In other words, where trade,The draft Constitutional Treaty of the EU provides
including WTO matters, are concerned, the EU actsfor a major extension of the EP’s power over
as one single actor, where the European Commissiontrade policy.
negotiates trade agreements and represents theThe current WTO trade round, the Doha
European interests on behalf of the Union's 25Development Agenda, provides a good example of
Member States.how trade policy is coordinated in practice. The
The legal basis for the EU’s trade policy isCommission sets and carries forward the priorities
Article 133 of the European Community Treaty. Onand aims of the EU as laid down in guidelines given by
this basis, the Commission negotiates on behalf ofthe Council of Ministers. Officials from the
the Member States, in consultation with a specialCommission's Directorate General for Trade, under
committee, “the Article 133 Committee”. Thethe authority of the Commissioner are charged with
133 Committee is composed of representatives fromactually conducting the negotiations, and speak on
the 25 Member States and the European Commission.behalf of the EU as a whole. Coordination with
Its main function is to coordinate EU trade policy. TheMember States is assured at all times through the
Committee meets on a weekly basis, usually on a133 Committee, while the Commission regularly
Friday in Brussels at the headquarters of the Councilinforms the Parliament. At the end of the Round, the
of Ministers. It discusses the full range of trade policyCouncil has to agree formally the outcome.