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FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA

Continuation of discussions concerning
the programme of work and mandate
of the Working Party:

(c) Overview of the activities of other international organizations
and bodies relevant to the work of the Working Party

Addendum
European Union: Draft Council Conclusions
(29 October 1996)

1. On 29 October 1996, the EU Trade Ministers gathered in Luxembourg and approved conclusions which will serve as guidelines for the European Union in the further preparatory process in Geneva for the Singapore Conference. The General Affairs Council will continue its preparation for this Conference at its next session in the light of developments in Geneva.

2. On the issue of broadening the WTO agenda, the Council states⁽¹⁾ --

The Council is strongly convinced that the credibility of the WTO will be judged not only on its ability to concretely implement the commitments undertaken in the Uruguay Round Agreements and to fulfil the work programmes agreed upon under these agreements, but also on its capacity to adapt itself to new realities of the world economy. Taking account of the broader role envisaged for the WTO in the Marrakesh Agreement, the Singapore Conference should therefore also address the following issues:

• the inclusion in the 1997/98 WTO work programme of a broadly-based examination, by a separate working group, of the issue of Trade and Investment, taking account of the ongoing work in other international organisations (notably UNCTAD and OECD) with a view to opening negotiations in the WTO for an investment instrument;
• the inclusion in the 1997/98 work programme of exploratory work, by a separate working group, on an international framework of competition rules;
• an exploration of possible new industrial tariff initiatives in sectors to be agreed in the WTO by consensus. The Council is committed to working towards the rapid conclusion of an Information Technology Agreement (ITA) which benefits all participants, aims at a balanced solution to cover all aspects, and provides improved access on a non-discriminatory basis to third-country markets for the EU industry;
• the role of trade liberalization in increasing living standards worldwide and, in this context, the importance that WTO Members attach to the efforts of the ILO to promote the better definition and universal observance of core labour standards; the Conference should make clear that it rejects all attempts to undermine the competitive advantage enjoyed by developing countries in the matter of wage rates; it should also underline the importance of positive measures to assist developing countries to develop their institutional capacity to monitor compliance with core labour standards and to increase the educational opportunities available to children.

3. The Council has decided to hold a special session in Singapore itself with a view to determining the final positions of the European Union on the texts submitted for approval to the Conference.

Geneva, 14 November 1996.