A3-0273/93

Resolution on the European Community's economic and trade relations with Vietnam

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mrs Peijs on the economic and trade relations between the European Community and Vietnam (B3-0458/93),

-having regard to its resolution of 12 June 1992 on the European Community's economic and trade relations with the countries of Indo-China,

-having regard to the report by Mr Visser on his visit to Vietnam from 26 September to 3 October 1992 (PE 202.388),

-having regard to the report of the Committee on External Economic Relations (A3-0273/93),

A.noting that, since the European Community began its programme of aid to the ALA countries, Vietnam was excluded from this programme for political reasons which are now no longer valid,

B.whereas Vietnam is implementing a programme of economic reform and encouraging closer links with its neighbours in South-East Asia and the rest of the world,

C.whereas Vietnam suffers from insufficient production and investment and is eager for international monetary and financial support, investment, technology transfer and help in training from Western countries,

1.Appreciates the decisions on the economic reforms taken by the Vietnamese National Assembly leading towards a free market economy speeding up privatization of state enterprises which will give the Vietnamese the right to set up their own business and enter into joint ventures with Western countries;

2.Calls on the Vietnamese government to go further in political as well as in economic reforms;

3.Consequently considers that from now on the Community must strongly develop its relations with Vietnam;

4.Welcomes the recent steps taken by the Commission to improve EC relations with Vietnam and calls on the Commission and Council to ensure more presence and action of the Community in this part of the world in the economic and political fields;

5.Strongly urges the Community to expand its trade and economic relations with Vietnam, considering the rapid development of relations which are already taking place between this country and Japan, Taiwan, the Asean countries and Australia;

6.Welcomes the decision of the Council to authorize the Commission to negotiate a comprehensive trade and cooperation agreement with Vietnam with a view to substantially increasing trade and development cooperation;

7.Considers that such a trade and cooperation agreement should at least include

-general economic measures (such as opening up new supply sources and markets, technology-transfer, development of job opportunities);

-investment in Vietnam on as large a scale as possible;

-training and technical assistance;

-development of agriculture, forestry, rural sectors, fisheries and protection of the environment;

-development of energy resources;

-development of transport infrastructure;

-development of telecommunications;

-tourism;

-trade cooperation;

-education, sanitation and health care;

8.Emphasizes that respect for human rights and democratic principles constitutes the basis for cooperation and is an essential element of the agreement, which should therefore include an explicit reference to human rights and democracy as expressed by the World Conference held in Vienna from 15 to 25 June 1993;

9.Calls on the Commission to prepare aid projects in support of the economic development of Vietnam, paying particular attention to rural development and labour-intensive schemes (vegetables, fruit cultivation, afforestation, fishery development);

10.Asks for intensification of the ECIIP financial instrument [European Community International Investment Partner] for Vietnam; loans from the EIB and public and private investment from the Community should be granted or extended to Vietnam;

11.Considers that aid programmes should also aim at developing Vietnam's external trade;

12.Expects that the funds provided by the Commission for the repatriation and reintegration of refugees will also help to stimulate the local economy in Vietnam; if necessary this help should be continued after December 1994 and additional financial means should even be considered;

13.Urges the IMF, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to implement major development programmes for Vietnam without delay; welcomes the lifting of the financial embargo on the refinancing of the balance of payments as a first step; urges the US to abandon immediately its trade embargo;

14.Welcomes the conclusion of an agreement on textiles between the EC and Vietnam;

15.Asks the Commission to implement programmes to assist Vietnam's transition to a market economy using PHARE and TACIS programmes as models, including training schemes for Vietnamese officials and managers;

16.Insists that the opening of a delegation office in Hanoi should follow the conclusion of a cooperation agreement as soon as possible;

17.Reaffirms its decision to establish inter-parliamentary relations with Vietnam;

18.Welcomes with satisfaction the draft negotiating mandate of the Commission, but is of the opinion that the following elements have to be strengthened:

-increase of normal development cooperation in addition to aid for the boat-refugees,

-drafting of a trade and cooperation agreement in conformity with the GATT principles with a MFN-clause not undermined by exceptions,

-the prompt opening of an independent EC-representation in Vietnam;

19.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States and the government of Vietnam.