Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-18-Speech-3-095"
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"en.20030618.8.3-095"2
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"Madam President, Commissioner, I wish first of all to thank you for being here today and for the statement you have just made, which attests to the sensitivity you have shown throughout the years towards the European textile and clothing sector.
We know that reconciling the totally legitimate interests of European industry with the need to make the development agenda a reality will not be easy, but you do have this Parliament’s full support for achieving this, Commissioner.
In its recent Communication on industrial policy, the Commission acknowledges that the vitality and dynamism of the industry are crucial to Europe’s ability to maintain and increase its prosperity and at the same time achieve its social ambitions.
From this statement we can infer the need for a European industrial policy which, in order to be effective, must not only cover the strictly industrial aspects, but must also be a horizontal policy that embraces, amongst others, the social and environmental aspects and above all, trade policy. And if this is valid and necessary for industry in general, and to preserve jobs, it is even more so in the case of the European textile and clothing industry, which has a turnover of EUR 196 billion every year, involves more than 113 000 businesses, provides work for two million people – or 7.6% of total employment in the manufacturing industry – and is characterised by significant regional concentration. Although everyone is aware of these figures, I believe they are worth repeating, because they demonstrate the sector’s importance.
This is furthermore a dynamic and competitive industry which, thanks to the efforts made in research and technological development, thanks to the design and quality of the products and as a result of its having specialised, has been able to consolidate and increase its influence and importance for the European and the world economy.
It is accordingly worth recalling that the industry in Europe is the world’s largest exporter of textiles, ahead of China, and the third largest in clothing, after China and Hong Kong and consequently has enormous export potential, which needs to be developed. This is precisely why trade policy is so important.
Furthermore, however, this sector faces many challenges, in particular – and this is something to which you also referred – the challenge of the quota restriction as of 1 January 2005, which will mean a radical change in the world’s commercial landscape. The sector is very aware of this, since it is one of the most exposed to the effects of globalisation through the stiff competition it faces due to the lower wage costs and the large export capacity of many developing countries.
Another challenge facing the industry is China’s accession to the WTO, and by way of illustration, it is worth recalling those studies predicting that once quantity restrictions are eliminated, China could see a 150% increase in its global textile and clothing exports and could consequently gain 50% of the world market share.
It is therefore crucial for Europe that markets are genuinely and universally opened up, especially in those countries that are particularly dominant and competitive in the textile and clothing sector but which remain closed to European exports, either as a result of high customs duties, in addition to further duties and taxes, or by means of non-tariff barriers that make trade with those countries unviable.
What is needed, Commissioner, for the sector’s survival at European level and for the continued existence of the millions of jobs that are at stake is above all a defensive trade policy. I can therefore only welcome the content of the statement you have just made and simply express my hope that when it comes to discussing your proposals at the WTO, they are truly allowed to prosper."@en1
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