Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-09-20-Speech-3-139"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-09-20"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Trade in goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000920.12.3-139"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-09-20-Speech-3-1402
lpv:speaker	lp:Rijk van Dam2
lpv:spokenAs	member; EDD (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 member; Delegation to the EU-Estonia Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-09-28--2002-01-14)3 member; Delegation for relations with Israel (1999-09-28--2002-01-14)3 member; CONT (2000-07-03--2001-09-02)3 unknown; Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij - Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond - Reformatorisch Politieke Federatie (1999-07-20--2002-03-17)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, according to this regulation, the Commission is stuck with a limited budget, and this is due to a complex of three reasons: firstly, the guaranteed prices for agricultural products of European origin; secondly, export refunds to companies which sell these agricultural raw materials in processed form on the world market; and thirdly, the agreements within the WTO. Mr Souchet is right in pointing out that it is not so much the limited budget but rather the WTO rules which are playing tricks on the Commission. In the case of shortages of raw materials on the internal European market, the food industry can import these from the world market without any import duty and under inward processing arrangements, as has been the case to date. But the regulation changes the essence of inward processing. A shortage of raw materials no longer justifies the use of inward processing, but rather financial motives, namely reaching the WTO ceiling. Suppose there was a surplus of cereals on the internal market whilst the ceiling of refunds had been reached. Inward processing would then open the door to cereal imports from the world market. There is a very real danger that the relationship between the food industry and the farmer then changes from one of partnership to one of competition. European farmers are not just producers of agricultural products; very often they also maintain our cultural landscape, but at a price. We should be very much aware of that price, which is passed on to the food industry. It requires creativity to find sound solutions for farmers and industry within the strict boundaries of the World Trade Organisation. It is inevitable that some industries will lose their export subsidies in the process. A number of industries process only a small proportion of their agricultural products into finished products. It is unfair in my eyes that they should complain, especially in view of the high profit margins they submit each quarter. Small exporters, on the other hand, deserve more protection. We back the amendments which have their interests in mind. Together with the rapporteur, we would call on the Commission to keep a close eye on the balance between agriculture and the food industry in Europe during the forthcoming negotiations within the framework of the WTO."@en1

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