Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-05-21-Speech-1-064-000"
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"en.20120521.15.1-064-000"2
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"Madam President, I warmly welcome today’s debate, which is jointly addressing the issues of visa-free travel for all EU citizens and the EU-Canada economic and trade agreement, and I would like to start by congratulating the colleagues who have taken this initiative.
As an elected Member of the European Parliament who comes from Bulgaria, I do not ask for any exemption or special consideration. I am simply standing up for equal treatment for all European citizens, regardless of their Member State of origin.
Finally, I would be grateful if the Commission could clarify whether this principle will indeed become a ‘red line’ for the EU when it is concluding negotiations with the Canadian authorities.
Could you, Commissioner, also inform us about your cooperation with Commissioner De Gucht on this matter, as we believe it is crucial that both citizens’ rights and trade considerations should be pursued on the same path, towards, we hope, a successful outcome?
Not only are we addressing an issue which is of key interest and which directly affects European citizens from Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic, but we are also touching on the values of our Union and the principles on which we would like the Commission to stand firm as part of its negotiating mandate.
I am confident that the Commission will continue negotiating a comprehensive economic and trade agreement with the Canadian authorities, taking due account of our international commitments when it comes to trade and economic exchanges, as well as our rules and priorities for our own single market and our consumers.
The Commission, as Guardian of the Treaties, and representing the interests of the Union in this negotiation, has a duty to make sure our economic and market rules are respected and upheld in any international agreement that is concluded.
But let us not forget that our Union is not only about trade and economic exchange or about the free movement of goods and capital. It is also and mainly about people – about the citizens of Europe – and I hope that the Commission will put the core principle of European citizenship on the same level as our economic interests.
We should not forget, either, the existing common EU visa policy. Together with MEPs from Romania and the Czech Republic, I have already sent a letter to Prime Minister Harper expressing our hope that by the date of completion of negotiations for either or both of the bilateral agreement and the comprehensive economic and trade agreement, scheduled for the first quarter of next year, the visa situation for Romanian, Czech and Bulgarian citizens will be resolved.
Looking at the situation today, we still have reason to be concerned. As you know, any future EU-Canada economic and trade agreement will have to be approved by this House, and we have made clear to Prime Minister Harper that we are not ready to compromise on the principle of equal treatment for all European citizens.
We are also aware that other points in the negotiations might be problematic, notably with regard to trade, preferential markets or energy and the environment, for example. We are not denying, or forgetting about, these crucial issues but are simply asking for a fair and comprehensive negotiating strategy on the Commission’s part – one which takes into consideration the concerns and warnings voiced by the European Parliament.
So let us be clear and consistent and let us not conclude an agreement which would imply different levels of rights for European citizens according to whether they come from France, the UK or Germany, or from Bulgaria, Romania or the Czech Republic, for example."@en1
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