Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-09-02-Speech-1-082"
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"en.20020902.7.1-082"2
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". – Mr President, in reply to some of the issues raised by honourable Members, first of all in relation to the ACP-EU trade negotiations, the European Union is prepared to further open its markets to ACP goods and services, provided the ACP States are prepared to implement appropriate policies and to strengthen their supply capacity. This approach will also be relevant in relations with other developing countries and groupings such as Mercosur, Central America and the Andean Community.
I would stress that economic partnership agreements are above all instruments for development. They will therefore be designed with all the flexibility required to take account of the economic, social and environmental constraints of the ACP countries. On the other hand, they must be integrated into the development policy of the ACP countries themselves and into the support strategies of the European Union.
The second point I want to make is that it has been suggested that the trend for economic support is downwards. There might be an element of truth in this, but there is reason to believe that this could well have bottomed out, having regard to the commitments in the Monterrey process. There is an expectation and a hope that this support should rise in view of that situation. Reference is also made to the need for support for the eradication of AIDS, TB and malaria. I would like to draw the attention of the House to the Global Health Fund that has been established. A number of Commissioners, including myself, Commissioners Lamy and Nielson are working on this.
The influence of the CAP has been referred to on a number of occasions. As has been mentioned, Commissioner Fischler and the Commission have brought forward proposals on a review of the CAP. You will have taken note of the fact that the supports there have been decoupled from production. In my view, this is a very important step in relation to the role of agriculture and supports and the impact it has on developing countries.
Finally, the food support in southern African states, particularly GMO maize, was mentioned, and I am happy to note the honourable Member's reference to the fact that the Commission had adopted a reasonable approach to this. In a statement about ten days ago the Commission pointed out again, as I and other Commissioners, and in particular Commissioner Wallström, have repeatedly said, that the scientific evidence available to us in the European Union indicates that GMO food is as safe as conventional food. That statement has been reiterated by the Commission in the last ten days in the hope of assisting in the impasse on this issue.
Part of the concern relates to the fact that some of the governments involved are worried that some farmers might retain some of the GMO maize, resulting in cross-fertilisation with conventional crops in those countries. Most if not all of the maize that I understand is involved in these shipments has already either been approved within the European Union or has already received positive risk assessments from the scientific committees, even though it may not yet been given full authorisation due to the existence and continuation of the moratorium.
Finally, if there is continuing concern on this issue, the famine problem can be addressed by adopting a sensitive approach to the planting issue and milling the seeds involved, thereby eliminating the risk that some of the governments identified as being of paramount concern."@en1
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