Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-03-13-Speech-2-667-000"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20120313.27.2-667-000"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, Mr Cioloş, ladies and gentlemen, the vote on this report tomorrow will bring to an end a trade dispute that has lasted for 14 years. It dates back to an arbitration award by the World Trade Organisation in 1999 which went against the European Union. Since then, we have been forced, so to speak, to import hormone-treated meat from the US and sanctions have been imposed by both sides. I do not want to talk about the past, but I do want to express my pleasure about the fact that we have succeeded in putting an end to all of this.
The Danish Presidency has already endorsed my report on behalf of the Council in an informal trialogue. As a result, there are no more obstacles in the way of our vote tomorrow, which will conclude this dispute. Against this background, I would like to ask you all to support my report. It is true that it represents a compromise. However, in my view, the compromise is very balanced. The European agricultural industry in particular will now have the security to plan ahead, which has not necessarily been the case in the past.
In addition, this report is also an important indication of an improvement in transatlantic relations. We must put aside many of our differences of opinion. This is the only way we will be able to establish joint international standards. We should not be under any illusions. Only the US and the EU together will be able to hold their own in tomorrow’s globalised world. Therefore, I also welcome the fact, for example, that we have now set up a high-level working group on jobs and growth in which we can work together to establish the necessary conditions for growth.
I would like to look at one more point and this is an issue which concerns the future. Since the cases of BSE in the EU, the US has had in place an import ban on beef from the EU. However, there is no legitimate scientific reason for this any more, as there have been no BSE cases here for several years. The fact that the US has not yet lifted the import ban is purely due to protectionism.
This is unacceptable. Therefore, as part of this legislative procedure, I have written to all those involved and held a number of meetings. In particular, I have asked the US Secretary of Agriculture, Mr Vilsack, and the US Trade Representative, Mr Kirk, to complete the process of lifting the import ban as quickly as possible. Now I have some very good news for you, which I am particularly pleased about. On Friday, 9 March, the Department of Agriculture in Washington published the draft rule that forms part of the mandatory consultation procedure. This is the first step towards taking the important measures to lift the import ban.
I would therefore like to ask the United States not to jeopardise the cooperative atmosphere in this area and to complete this process as soon as possible. I would now like to extend my wholehearted thanks to the Commission and to the Council Presidency for their cooperation, but, most of all, to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. I know that for my fellow Members on the committee, some of the steps in this process have been very difficult, but you have been more than cooperative. I would like to thank you very much for this."@en1
|
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples