Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-04-03-Speech-1-176"
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".
Mr President, Commissioner, I, too, wish to thank Mr Papastamkos for his report. The large number of amendments tabled in committee testifies to the fact that there can be very different views of the value of accommodating differing interests and, of course, of setting a variety of priorities.
Turning to agriculture, it is clear that the common agricultural policy is in need of reform, although it must retain its multifunctional character, one of the consequences of which is that farmers in the European Union must continue to receive support, while care must, however, be taken to ensure that grants for socially and environmentally sustainable regional development must be put to work in rural areas rather than big agribusiness and the banks being given preferential treatment. I might add that I do not regard the European Union’s offer to abolish its export subsidies by 2013 as part of CAP reform as being particularly generous; indeed, it is no more so than the cautious reduction in internal support.
As for NAMA, I regard the Swiss formula for non-agricultural market access, as currently proposed, as utterly inadequate, for ‘equal’ is not the same thing as ‘fair’. All states, and developing countries in particular, must be accorded the right to industrialise themselves at a speed of their own choosing, which means that they must also be allowed to protect vulnerable industries. Moreover, let me sound a strong warning of the negative economic consequences that the sudden breaking off of customs revenue can have for such countries, since customs duties are often a vitally important source of income for their state budgets.
As for services, the same applies to them, albeit to an even greater degree. During the past week, no less a person than Pascal Lamy, the director-general of the World Trade Organisation, has once more confirmed that the GATS rules allow all states the free choice as to whether or not to liberalise their services markets, and, should they wish to do so, to do it as and when and to such an extent as they shall themselves choose. Not even Annex C of the ministerial statement can, or should be allowed to, interfere with that in the area of services of public general interest such as education, culture, health, infrastructure and energy.
If I may move on to preferences, it is the case that the report addresses the problem of the erosion of preferences and the falling prices for raw materials, but this is where Parliament, in view of the expiry of the ACP/EU agreement, should additionally insist on greater emphasis being placed on the development goals in the course of negotiations on economic partnership agreements.
Then there is democracy: as regards the democratic dimension, what I regard as definitely necessary is greater consultation – not only within the Inter-Parliamentary Union, but also with this House, with national and regional assemblies and with the public.
TRIPS: I welcome the agreement on the amendment of TRIPS to give the developing countries better access to medicines, but I do not regard it as sufficient. If all people are to be guaranteed access to medicines, then further changes will be needed in respect of mandatory licensing."@en1
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