Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-10-23-Speech-4-163"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2003-10-23"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Reform of the CMOs for tobacco, cotton and olive oil2
dcterms:Language	"es"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20031023.5.4-163"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2003-10-23-Speech-4-1642
lpv:speaker	lp:María Rodríguez Ramos2
lpv:spokenAs	unknown; Partido Socialista Obrero Español (1999-07-20--2004-03-31)3 member; Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities (2002-01-17--2004-03-31)3 vice-chair; AGRI (2002-01-22--2004-03-31)3 substitute; Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy (2002-01-17--2004-03-31)3 member; PES (1999-07-20--2004-03-31)3 member; Delegation for relations with Canada (2002-02-07--2004-03-31)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, Commissioner, the Commission has presented a communication on reform of the sugar, tobacco and cotton sectors. I am bound make an initial observation. It is that yet again this debate has been characterised by blatant discrimination against traditional Mediterranean crops as regards reform of their production. Mr Jove Peres highlighted this earlier. Concerning the sugar sector, there is a document outlining a number of options. It is due to be discussed and worked on in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. A decision will then be taken in plenary. By contrast, the only chance of debating the implications of the communication for the other three Mediterranean crops will be following an oral question today. This will not even lead to a resolution in plenary. There does not appear to be any justification for such differences in formal procedures. Furthermore, discrimination and variable treatment are evident in the substance, not just in the formalities. Changes are in train within the common agricultural policy. Price support mechanisms are being phased out and replaced with others designed to support income. The Commission itself is on record as stating that this concludes the 1992 decoupling. Transitional periods of between 15 and 17 years are therefore involved. Nonetheless, immediate changes are demanded in these three sectors. This means that for cotton, olive oil and tobacco, there is to be a sudden change from aid linked directly to production to totally decoupled aid. There can be no justification for failure to provide an opportunity for us to discuss a suitable transitional period with the Commission. The employment generated in the sectors in question is of crucial importance. I refer not only to the jobs linked to cultivation of the crops, but also to jobs dependent on the processing industry, jobs in the service industries and in general to the wealth created in rural areas. Loss of production and winding up production in these sectors will have dramatic economic consequences. The result will be large-scale rural exodus. I therefore urge the Commission to be flexible. There must be an opportunity to discuss the various options contained in the proposals made. Impact assessments are needed too. I would remind the Commissioner that no impact assessment has yet been undertaken for the cotton sector. I also appeal to the Commission to be flexible when it comes to discussion of transitional adjustment periods appropriate for these sectors. Before I conclude, I should like to call on the Commissioner to provide a clear explanation of the importance of Community cotton production in the global market. I do so in my capacity as rapporteur for the cotton sector and in the wake of Cancun. The Union accounts for 0.5% of global cotton production. It does not grant any export refunds whatsoever. Imports are totally free. They are not subject to tariffs of any kind. Furthermore, 80% of the cotton used in the Union is imported."@en1

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