Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-05-22-Speech-2-506-000"
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"en.20120522.21.2-506-000"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the title of my report, ‘EU and China: unbalanced Trade?’, accurately conveys the issue we are now facing, with China destined to become the leading world power before the turn of the next century.
Relations between China and Europe are unbalanced. I would remind you that our trade deficit with China has more than tripled in 10 years. This is the challenge that faces us then, because with the European economy now apparently slowing down and setbacks in growth, there is reason to fear that it is no longer able to compete globally with its erstwhile confidence and drive. The framework that shapes our future has been turned on its head. It is up to us to redefine it, not by turning inward, which would only result in ruin, but by building a new partnership with China, the guidelines of which will ultimately be simple to define: reciprocal rules, balanced trade and transparent trade relations. I say this with all the more conviction because, in an open global economy, China needs Europe as much as Europe needs China. I say this with all the more certainty because I believe that now, during these times of crisis, is the time to forge deeper relations based on a more balanced partnership.
Thanks in particular to the work of the shadow rapporteurs and the rapporteurs for the opinions whom I commend, this report by the Committee on International Trade sets the framework and defines its requirements. These include encouraging China to open up its markets to European companies and accede to the multilateral Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). It also includes tempering the Chinese system of joint ventures and strategic technology transfers, promoting EU-China customs cooperation to combat counterfeiting. It includes encouraging the European Union to make use wherever necessary of trade defence instruments and more effectively defending the interests of European industry by reviewing the directive on intellectual property rights. It includes demanding strict compliance with European rules and standards for all Chinese goods in circulation on the internal market. It includes urging the Commission to negotiate a fair yet ambitious EU-China investment agreement, which guarantees transparency. It includes levelling out monetary competition with a coordinated system that identifies the holders of sovereign debt and encourages China to let the yuan set its own value. It also includes taking action to ultimately reform the World Trade Organisation to encompass compliance with social, health and environmental standards
Finally, I want to stress one last important point. All this would be in vain, however, should the EU refuse to implement a concerted policy of production and reindustrialisation, as well as a policy of research and innovation that met the new global challenges. I would also like to add one more requirement, one that is absolutely vital, and that is better coordination between Member States so that bilateral relations between China and any one of them do not weaken the Union’s position. On this issue of relations with China, as in many others, but especially this one, Europe needs to speak with one voice, and to have and defend a single policy.
Ladies and gentlemen, by adopting this report, we are giving the Commission and the Council a coherent road map that can restore the balance in our relations with China and respond effectively to the deep concerns of European citizens."@en1
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