Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2016-01-19-Speech-2-881-000"
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"en.20160119.35.2-881-000"2
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"Madam President, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the issue of personal protective equipment. This file has been an interesting case study in how the single market operates for both businesses and consumers across the 28 different countries, in the roles of the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, and in how they interact. It has also been a case study on why it is important to have a seat at the negotiating table.
Just a few weeks ago, many of us saw the shocking images of a factory in Turkey manufacturing thousands of fake life jackets. Instead of helping a person to float, these jackets would make it more likely that the wearer would drown. In order to prevent fake, fraudulent or dangerous equipment from entering our markets, the European Union has had common standards on personal protective equipment for 25 years. This covers lifejackets, crash helmets and safety harnesses – sort of equipment that is used in many different workplaces.
I am sure colleagues will remember the recent Ebola crisis, where PPE was crucial to protect nurses and doctors from infection. When PPE fails, lives can be lost. Our European rules not only cover the responsibility of the manufacturers, but of importers and distributors too. They make it easier for our market surveillance authorities to track products that are found to be dangerous and to remove them from the market. Having a common standard in Europe can often help our manufacturers to secure sales in other parts of the globe, thus boosting our own trade.
The technical changes in the report that we are discussing today will help simplify and modernise 25 years of legislation. This is welcomed by manufacturers, consumer organisations and market players along the supply line, and I welcome it too.
But one of the key quandaries of a single market is always how much standardisation is necessary. In the Commission’s initial approach, they suggested increasing the scope of the legislation to domestic gloves. Now I believe we need a better approach to regulation, and new laws should be based on a clear analysis of the costs and benefits. There was no impact assessment to justify this increase in the scope. Furthermore, I do not believe we need an EU—level agreement on what we wear in our homes to do the washing up. I went into politics to get out of the kitchen not to write rules about what people do in their own sinks. I would like to thank my colleagues from the Parliament’s Internal Market Committee for voting to reject this Commission suggestion to extend the scope to domestic gloves.
We then went into negotiation with the Council – the representatives of 28 European governments. After much discussion, they agreed with most of what the MEPs had suggested. There will be no EU law on washing-up gloves. There will be no EU law on those handmade artisanal products which we see in our Christmas markets and craft fairs. But 27 of those ministers voted by a large majority that they would like to have an EU law on factory—made oven gloves. I personally do not see that need, but I do respect their democratic decision. Furthermore, given that many countries – including my own – already have a market standard on this product, I do not believe that this particular element would add cost to the consumers. I am therefore happy to concede to the Member States’ elected democratic governments on this point.
The gloves are off – at least the washing-up gloves – as are the umbrellas – one more minute, please – but by being at the table, we have made a hundred different amendments to the legislation, all making it simpler, clearer, less bureaucratic and also safer in life saving equipment. I hope that this will make it easier for businesses and consumers to trade."@en1
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