Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-11-14-Speech-1-134"
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"en.20051114.16.1-134"2
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".
Mr President, when I look back in time I find that the issue of bananas has always stirred emotions. 1992 was the first time I really heard about this discussion, which has lasted for so many years. We have not yet actually finalised this issue.
Addressing some of the remarks made here today, firstly, it was a priority for me when we started these discussions immediately after I came into office last November to reach a negotiated conclusion on this issue. Yet it soon turned out that even within the Latin American countries there is no common agreement, so it was not possible to reach a negotiated conclusion on the issue in January. We tried over and over again to see whether it was possible. I will not go into details about the various big companies in the Latin American countries that hold completely opposite views on how this is will end, but do not believe those who say that negotiation possibilities have not been explored.
It is quite right that Honduras has put bananas on the agenda for the Hong Kong ministerial conference. I can only say that we will do our utmost to ensure that this issue does not unduly disturb the whole process. To this end, we are counting on our approach being reasonable, on our continued preparedness to discuss with our partners and on the support of the ACP countries.
Regarding sugar, which has also been mentioned, it is my intention to try to reach a political compromise in the Council at the meeting before the Hong Kong meeting, so that this will not be an issue.
As regards the timeframe and the different scenarios, there is currently a proposal on the table before the Council for moving to a tariff-only system and this will be the basis for further discussions. At this stage I cannot go into details, because this is issue will be dealt with and negotiated with the Council before I put all the figures and ideas on the table in Parliament.
Of course our target is to get fair trade on this banana issue. The fact is that at the end of the day it is the consumers who decide what is going to be on the supermarket shelves, so those who have a huge interest in this issue should use any opportunity to encourage consumers to make their choice. As a number of speakers have mentioned, it is clear that we have to find a balance on this very delicate issue. In deciding on the import regime for bananas there are a number of considerations that need to be taken into account and, most importantly, as I said previously, our responsibility to all the different stakeholders.
We also have to consider the interests of Community producers and the management of the common market organisation for bananas with a view to the reform that we will hopefully achieve with the Council during the second half of 2006. I can only assure those of you who have an interest in this difficult, long-lasting issue that we will do our utmost to arrive at a positive outcome so that the tariff-only system enters into force on 1 January 2006."@en1
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