Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-02-11-Speech-2-233"
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"en.20030211.10.2-233"2
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".
In response to your three questions, Mr Howitt, I shall begin with the timetable. We are currently in contact with our Member States on a technical level. I believe we shall achieve the necessary qualified majority. If that were not the case, I would have to decide whether or not to take it further. That happens from time to time. It is a question of credibility for us. The ACP countries were well aware, when we were together at Doha, why and how this derogation had to be obtained in order to cover our preference system, including on delicate issues such as bananas. They are therefore fully informed of this. Everything took place transparently. Neither the Philippines nor Thailand have hidden their aim in this matter from the ACP countries, namely to benefit from a market share that they feel should logically be theirs. Therefore, nobody was taken by surprise, and when we agree to mediation, we should – I believe that is the rule of the game – accept the results.
With regard to the impact on trade with the ACP countries, the reason why we consider that the impact would be minor is that this concerns canned tuna and, as you are no doubt aware, there is a slight difference between canned tuna and tuna not in cans: it lies in the industrial process, which takes place in networks and according to methods that closely involve our Community industry. We feel that some water will have passed under the bridge before the Philippines or Thailand obtain this kind of comparative advantage, and therefore there is no serious threat in this respect. That said, if any of the ACP countries wishes to discuss these technical aspects with us, we are fully prepared to do so.
Lastly, the third question: does this involve a derogation, a change from the market access commitments we made with regard to the ACP countries? No, of course not. This is not a change. It in no way alters the preferences. Quite simply, let us not forget that, had we not accepted this way of working with Thailand and the Philippines, the Union’s entire system of trade preference regarding the ACP countries would have suffered. That is what is behind this matter, and we should all remember this in order to evaluate fairly the results that are on the table today."@en1
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