Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-06-18-Speech-1-127"
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"en.20070618.15.1-127"2
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"Mr President, I have two points and one surprise.
The vodka belt has three arguments. The first is culture and tradition: we have made vodka out of potatoes and grain for over 500 years.
The second is equal treatment: when we joined the Union in 1995, we were told that vodka would have a tight definition, just like rum, whisky or grappa, or in line with some of the more traditional geographic definitions, for instance, of champagne and cognac. We therefore want equal treatment for vodka. We do not want it to be some kind of alcoholic waste basket.
The third is consumption and production: we know what we are talking about – seven countries produce 70% of the vodka and consume 70% of the vodka.
To Mr Stevenson, who told me that we are just driving the industry in our own country, I would point out that Mr Helmer is defending the same position as the Labour Party, so, Mr Stevenson, do not tell me that you are not driving some kind of grape-vodka industry here!
Tomorrow, as a defender of vodka, I will vote for Mr Schnellhardt’s overall compromise, but against his compromise on vodka, and for my own amendment on a tighter definition, or indeed for the Liberal ones. I hope that all traditionalists will do the same.
Now we come to my surprise. I must admit that I am not a big fan of Poland’s Kaczyński brothers. However, they have done a wonderful job in this vodka debate. They have defended vodka heroically and I hope that this little token of appreciation I am going to send them – a bottle of vodka – will make them soften their position on the Constitution!"@en1
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