Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-07-02-Speech-3-148"
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"en.20030702.4.3-148"2
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"Mr President, the difficulties we are experiencing at this critical juncture in the negotiations leading up to Cancun do not augur well for an easy ministerial meeting in September. These difficulties arise to a large extent from the current world trade system, with its liberalising tendencies and the consequent effects, so often negative, on the fragile economies of the less developed countries. The North and the South have not benefited from this system in equal measure. The most important questions raised by those countries must, therefore, be treated with the utmost respect. It is also essential to put a stop to that liberalising tendency, at least until a full assessment of its consequences is carried out.
The Development Agenda must not be a paper tiger. It should rather instil in us an unshakeable resolve and steady us on a firm course. Over and above that, it is vital to give real and meaningful content to the clause granting special, privileged treatment to developing countries. The European Union should, moreover, establish a strategic alliance with those countries.
We are all aware of the central issues at stake. I will confine myself to brief comments on three of them: medicines may become a key area, if they are not one already. The United States has stood in the way of an agreement, and is even pressuring some countries to give up the right to import generic medicines. It will be important to stress and emphasise the fact that the right to health must take precedence over all commercial interests. As for the trade in agricultural products, another important area, market access may well be at the heart of the negotiations. The spectacular increase in US farm subsidies does nothing to bring an agreement closer, but the European Union will be able to take an important step forward, particularly if it contributes to the phasing-out, in the long term, of all export subsidies. Finally, as regards access to the industrial market, the textiles and clothing sector merits special attention, since it is particularly vulnerable and since concessions, above all bilateral ones, have already been made. We can countenance a few measures in this sphere aimed exclusively at developing countries, but we must always take care to protect this important industry and its employment potential."@en1
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