Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-07-02-Speech-3-150"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20030702.4.3-150"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Mr President, WTO gatherings have in recent years become the focus of anti-globalisation protesters. A common fear that we hear voiced is that mechanisms of global governance which are removed from democratic control and participation are being put in place and that a world order is being created which serves the goals of capitalism, and not people. Clearly, against this backdrop, it is vital that we parliamentarians, as the directly elected representatives of the European people, be completely involved in shaping the process and the outcome.
The current round which began at Doha is being hailed as the development round. We all share the belief that priorities should be given to the needs of developing nations. These have not shared the benefits of previous trade rounds and the European Union must insist on their full and active participation in the Cancun negotiations.
Market access is a very important element in encouraging integration of developing countries into the world economy. The EU has offered ambitious market openings for developing countries in goods as well as in services, while avoiding the risk of going for total liberalisation, which most developing countries could not cope with at this stage.
The 'Everything But Arms' initiative is evidence of the EU's approach in this regard. I urge the Commission to press other developed countries, particularly the United States of America, to follow the European Union's example. It is intolerable for the EU to be criticised by the President of the United States of America for its relationship with the developing world when, in terms of both aid and market access, we are light years ahead. EU imports from developing countries grow at an average rate of 12% and now account for 4% of total EU imports, representing EUR 420 million in 2001.
Following on from last week's agreement on reform of the common agricultural policy, it is imperative that we safeguard the European agricultural model in the negotiations. We have a duty to our own consumers and to our farmers to maintain the stability of national agricultural markets and protect them from international price fluctuations and to uphold the models of production and land use which are typical features of European agriculture.
I stress that any reductions agreed in the WTO on import tariffs, export refunds or trade-distorting domestic agricultural supports can only be agreed on the basis of a fair distribution of costs among all developed countries, particularly the United States of America.
In conclusion, in Cancun this September the EU will be participating in a set of talks which are of crucial importance to many sectors of our national economies, from agriculture to culture. In this context it should go without saying that the Commission is obliged to defend strenuously vital interests in these areas, in particular in insisting on full inclusion of the so-called non-trade aspects, such as environmental sustainability, consumer protection, social and regional equilibrium. Failure to do so would result in an agreement that would not be acceptable either to European citizens or indeed to their parliamentary representatives."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples