ESF [...]]]> The European Services Forum (ESF) is a network of representatives from the European services sector committed to actively promoting the liberalisation of international trade in services. ESF’s main field of activity are the WTO GATS negotiations and the EU’s bilateral trade negotiations on services and investments.

ESF Managing Director gives Plenary Speech at EU-Malaysia Trade and Investment Forum

On the 26 April 2012 the ESF Managing Director attended the annual EU-MCCI “EU-Malaysia Trade Forum” in Kuala Lumpur.  The theme was “Enhancing Cooperation: Innovation, Industry and Investment” and commenced with a plenary session on the services sector — generating investments in targeted growth areas.  The ESF Director gave the Plenary speech, just after the Opening Remarks of Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia, His Excellency Vincent Piket, and the Keynote address of the Secretary General (Trade) of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Datuk Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, who is also the Malaysian Chief Negotiator for the on-going EU Malaysia FTA.  The programme can be found here.

ESF Submits Contribution to the Public Consultation on  the EU-US High Level Working Group for Jobs and Growth

The European services sector sets out its interests and priorities in the EU-US High Level Working Group (HLWG) in its submission to the European Commission’s public consultation.  The HLWG will produce an interim report mid way through 2012 and final recommendation at the end of the year.

Global Services Coalition Issues Media Release

In its media statement the Global Services Coalition congratulated UNCTAD and its co-sponsors, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organisation (TAG-Org), for hosting a Global Services Forum as a pre-event under the auspices of UNCTAD XIII in Doha.  The Global Services Coalition in its statement also welcomed and applauded a new step for business in the Arab region with the establishment of the Arab Coalition of Service Industries.  The statement highlights the interest of the Global Services Coalition in working this new industry organisation.

ESF Signs Multi-Association Statement on Japan Post Reform

ESF signed a joint statement released on the 6^th April 2012 outlining concerns regarding new legislation put forward by the government of Japan that will place Japanese consumers and businesses at a great disadvantage by ignoring the longstanding concerns raised by international industry about creating equivalent conditions of competition.

ESF Signs Multi-Association  Letter to Indian PM Concerning New Preferential Market Access Rules

ESF signed a multi-association letter sent to Prime Minister Singh of India on the 4^th April 2012 expressing serious concerns with new Preferential Market Access (PMA) rules issued by the Indian Department of Information Technology.  The letter highlights an overall concern and urges the Government of India to rescind this PMA entirely and initiate a consultation process with the private sector and other stakeholders to more effectively address India’s security and economic concerns.

ESF Seminar Exploring a Plurilateral Agreement in Services

On the 6th March ESF and ECIPE held a seminar aimed at exploring the potential of a plurilateral agreement in services.  The seminar drew in participants from all quarters with an interest in international services trade.  The discussion was lively and the overall feeling was positive yet mindful.  The panel included: Michael Punke, Deputy USTR, US Ambassador at the WTO; Hosuk Lee Makiyama, Co-Director, ECIPE; Vital Moreira, Chairman of the International Trade Committee of the  European Parliament; David Plunkett, Ambassador of Canada to the EU; Tim Yeend, Australian Ambassador to the WTO; Sören Kelstrup, Chair of the EU Trade Policy Committee under the Danish Presidency of the EU; Marc Vanheukelen, Chief of Staff of EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht;  Robert Vastine, President US Coalition of the Service Industries; Pascal Kerneis, Managing Director ESF; Introduction from Jonathan Peel, EESC Member Employers Group; Conclusions from John Cooke, Chairman, LOTIS Committee TheCityUK; and Moderated by Edward Bowles, ESF Policy Committee Chairman, Regional Head of Public Affairs, EMEA and Americas Standard Chartered Bank.  See Programme.

Letter sent to EU Chief Negotiator for India FTA concerning the importance of services commitments

ESF sent a letter to Ignacio Garcia-Bercero, the EU’s chief negotiator in the India trade talks reiterating the need to secure commitments for the services sector during the crucial lead up to the Summit in February.  The letter was sent on the 5 December 2011 and is available here.

ESF signs second joint industry communication on Trade Finance and Basel III

ESF signed a joint industry communication on Trade Finance and the Basel Framework issued on 1 December 2011.  The communication outlines support for policies that aim to strengthen the resilience of the financial services sector, as promulgated by the G-20, but restates continued concern about the unintended consequences of the regulatory treatment of trade finance instruments under the Basel framework, which does not reflect the risk profile of trade finance assets, nor does it take into account the adverse effects of the proposed changes on global trade and growth in the real economy. Available here: Part 1, Part 2.

ESF signs joint letter on draft Intra-Corporate Transfers Directive

ESF signed a joint letter sent on the 29 November 2011 on Intra-Corporate Transfers to Members of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs at the European Parliament.  The letter is concerned with the draft Intra-Corporate Transferee Directive and the Committee vote on December 5^th stressing the need to support the original objectives of the directive. Available here.

Letters sent by ESF to Commissioners of Trade, Home Affairs and the Digital Agenda on need for new international agreements safeguarding Cross-Border Data Flows

The Global Services Coalition (GSC) and Financial Leaders Working Group (FLWG), both of which ESF is a member of, released a Statement on the 21st November calling for new International Agreements to safeguard the provision of Cross-Border Data Flows.  The European Services Forum sent this statement with covering letters to the Commissioners in charge of Trade, Home Affairs and the Digital Agenda, further highlighting the importance of Cross-Border Data Flows for international trade in services.  See Statement here and letter here.

ESF sends letter of support for swift approval of the EU’s trade agreements with Colombia, Peru and Central America in the European Parliament

On the 21st of November ESF sent a letter to the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA) Chairman, Vital Moreira, and the competent rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs outlining the European services industry’s desire to see a quick approval for the highly ambitious trade agreements, which will strongly benefit all countries during the current difficult global economic climate.  See letter here.

ESF outlines European services industries’ priorities in Trade Agreement negotiation with Malaysia

On the 9th of November the ESF Policy Committee Chairman sent a letter in accompaniment to the ESF position paper on Malaysia to DG Trade Director-General Jean Luc Demarty. The letter and paper sets out the European Services industry’s priorities in the negotiations with Malaysia for a Free Trade Agreement. Letter and position paper can be found here.

Joint ESF and BUSINESSEUROPE letter sent to Commission concerning impact of the Capital Requirements Directive 4 (CRD IV) on trade and export finance

On the 24th of October ESF and BUSINESSEUROPE sent a letter to Commissioner Barnier, Commissioner De Gucht and Vice-President Tajani expressing strong concern regarding the proposed regulation on capital requirements for banks due to the negative impact it will have on trade and export finance.  Trade finance, which is essentially a means of payment and a guarantee mechanism for the movement of goods and services, has historically maintained a low risk profile.  If adopted and implemented as currently defined, the new capital and liquidity requirements of CRD IV will seriously reduce the availability of short term trade and export finance.  The restriction of trade finance products for European businesses will ultimately threaten the recovery of the global economy, since European banks are providing a very large share of the world’s needs in financing international trade. Letter here.

Letter sent to Commissioner De Gucht outlining the European services industry’s views on EU Investment Policy towards China

On the 3^rd of October the European Services Forum sent a letter to Trade Commissioner De Gucht conveying its assessment and concerns regarding the EU’s investment policy towards China.  This letter was sent as a follow-up to the ESF secretariats response to the Commission’s consultation process on this topic in July.  China undoubtedly holds much potential that is yet to be realised and given the importance of investment in establishing services suppliers in new markets the European Services Forum encourages, in principle, efforts to review the investment landscape and implement well-considered strategies to ensure that China is an open, secure and welcoming market for European investments.  However, the approach adopted must be based on practical considerations of commercial interests, existing Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), time scales, the need to maintain the highest levels of protection, a sound dispute resolution mechanism and the practicalities of negotiating pre-establishment market access.  As such, future investment policy towards China must build on a comprehensive assessment.

ESF sends letter to Joint Secretary Prasad in response to the Indian Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion’s discussion paper on equity caps

On Friday 15 July the European Services Forum submitted a letter to Joint Secretary Prasad in response to the Indian Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion’s discussion paper: ‘FDI Policy Rationale and Relevance of Caps’.  The letter highlights the close relationship between FDI and the services sector and draws attention more generally to the importance of FDI and an open transparent policy framework to a healthy economy.  The letter goes on to address the specific questions raised by the discussion paper with a general focus on the detrimental effects of equity caps and the positive results that can be achieved sectorally through non-discriminatory regulatory frameworks that fairly treat foreign companies like all domestic companies.  Within this context the letter also draws attention to freedoms enjoyed by Indian companies within the EU market.

ESF endorses joint association letter on Proposal for Directive on Intra-Corporate Transferees

The European Services Forum has always supported better mobility for highly skilled service providers with the rationale that it is important element in driving European economic activity. The adoption of the Proposal for a Directive on conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer (COM (2010) 378 final of 13 July 2010) has therefore been actively supported by ESF at each European level. In further support of this important issue the ESF has endorsed a joint business association letter (22 June 2011) addressed to the European Parliament supporting the proposal for a directive on Intra-Corporate Transferees. The letter is available here.

ESF endorses paper on Reinvigorating Open Trade in Financial Services

Against the backdrop of global work on economic recovery and regulatory reform it has become important to reinvigorate efforts to open trade in financial services.  The role of financial services as an essential driver of increased trade and investment flows underpins the European Services Forum’s endorsement of the Reinvigorating Open Trade in Financial Services paper, which highlights the critical role vibrant financial markets play for both companies and individuals and the importance of a transparent and sound regulatory environment. The paper’s message and content are pertinent to all international trade negotiations.

European Services Industry Priorities on EU-Mercosur FTA

The European Services Forum has followed-up on its June 14^th 2010 letter to Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, where it vocalised the services industry’s support for the renewed EU-Mercosur trade negotiations, with a letter and detailed position paper outlining the specific priorities of the European services industry (April 8 2011 Letter and Position Paper).  The letter reiterates the importance of placing services at the top of the negotiating list and of achieving progress in Public Procurement access and treatment, investment security, and also of putting agricultural interests into perspective.  The position paper provides further details of the horizontal and sector specific issues that need to be addressed in this trade agreement if it is to contribute ambitiously towards development in Latin America and growth and employment creation within the EU.

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