Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-13-Speech-3-058"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-03-13"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Transatlantic relations including steel import tariffs2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20020313.3.3-058"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-03-13-Speech-3-0592
lpv:speaker	lp:Bas Belder2
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Delegation to the EU-Romania Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 substitute; Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 member; EDD (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij - Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond - Reformatorisch Politieke Federatie (1999-07-20--2002-03-17)3 member; Delegation for relations with the Member States of ASEAN, south-east Asia and the Republic of Korea (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 vice-chair; Delegation for relations with the United States (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Today marks a critical time in the transatlantic relations which, six months after the direct terrorist attacks on the US, are straining under intense pressure. This is mainly caused by the further development of the international anti-terrorist coalition. As with the Islamic terrorist network of Al Qaida, President Bush is issuing serious military warnings to potential terrorist States. For support of this bold approach, the American Head of State is making an urgent appeal to all coalition members. It is precisely this appeal which is stirring up very mixed emotions in European quarters. The standard European reproach of American unilateralism, which dates back to before 11 September, is once again being uttered. However, this familiar European reproach addressed to Washington is rooted in a fundamental weakness on our side. Indeed, recent analyses have clearly shown that the military and technological chasm between the transatlantic allies is widening at an alarming pace. The European NATO Member States carry increasingly less military weight. There is no doubt that this imbalance within NATO promotes American unilateralism in the area of security. The scenes of battle in Afghanistan bear witness to this. Mr President, for Europe to be a force to be reckoned with on the international scene, without jeopardising its own security, it needs to make a credible defence contribution to NATO and to outline a coherent, viable Euro-Atlantic security concept as a matter of urgency, on pain of being ostracised internationally and of being isolated. However, with regard to the steel conflict that has broken out between the US and the EU, there is no reasonable excuse for this example of uninhibited American protectionism and unilateralism in terms of trade. Passing on the weakness of its own steel industry to that of other countries by levying a 30% import tariff for three years only steps up the tension in transatlantic relations. In addition, this one-sided American government measure jeopardises the new trade round within the WTO. Above all, the intervention has an adverse effect on the American economy: the protection of 9 000 jobs in the American steel industry translates into a possible loss of no fewer than 75 000 jobs in other economic sectors due to higher steel prices. Where do we go from here? A trade war between the US and the EU would undoubtedly come at the worst conceivable time politically speaking. Attempts to settle the dispute within WTO are therefore much to be preferred, for example, through a serious European contribution towards relaxing and reinforcing transatlantic relations."@en1

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