Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-09-24-Speech-3-251"
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"en.20030924.6.3-251"2
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".
Madam President, I will just say a few words, first and foremost to thank the European Parliament for the contribution it has made today. Thirty-one speeches underline the importance this institution – the greatest representative institution of the European Union – attaches to the principle of multilateralism which must govern our work. You have stated, reiterated and stressed the need to save and reinvigorate multilateralism, and, at the same time, many of you have stressed how important it is to launch a WTO reform process, in which the need for recognition of the new players must on no account be disregarded, to this end.
Of course, we cannot go back to the old GATT mechanisms; we need to move forwards, recognising, as I said, that the world is now, I am glad to say, multipolar, and this is true of both northern and southern hemispheres, as can be seen, not least, from the creation of the G-21 – with which we must cooperate – made up chiefly of developing countries which are already reaping the benefits of globalisation and which have, therefore, become strong competitors and are claiming their rightful place – China and Brazil, for example – while there is a world in the south – the ACP and African States – which, as yet, are not benefiting from globalisation but, if anything, merely suffering the consequences.
Thus, this threefold need to save multilateralism, reform the WTO and recognise new players should presumably prompt us to call for a process to be launched which can then lead to the creation of some intermediary bodies in between the Secretariat and the Assembly, in which this new representation can, at last, establish common ground between players who represent geographical, political, cultural, social and economic areas which are similar but different, so that they can create a high-level forum where issues can be resolved before they reach that assembly which really did seem in Cancún to be a veritable cacophony of languages and positions.
Another important aspect which has been stressed concerns the issue of communication – a wholly European problem. Somebody pointed out that the non-governmental organisations played a dual, perhaps ambiguous role, changing between the language spoken in Brussels or Strasbourg and the, at times, loud shouting at Cancún, and that, at the same time, the European Union and the Commission had difficulty in putting across how much Europe has done over these 22 months and how much it does every day for the weakest of the weak. In this connection, by way of example, I believe the Commission took two press
to Cancún, whereas a single non-governmental organisation had at least 14.
There is therefore a communication problem, and there may also be some linguistic confusion, which we must clear up if we are to do justice to the remarkable strength
of European civil society, which has to express itself first and foremost – although not solely – through its representative organs.
Lastly, you ask whether it is necessary to change the mandate or make it more flexible. I believe it is our duty to take your comments to the European Council, particularly in preparation for and in the wake of our appointment on 15 December, in which we may succeed in gaining a better insight into the impact of this failure on the other players too, including those who, perhaps unwittingly, have rejoiced rather too soon at this failure. I believe that we should discuss this in the coming months in order to discover whether more flexibility is needed on the Singapore issues – as requested by some – more flexibility on social and environmental issues and more flexibility on agricultural policy too.
Lastly, I believe, with due regard for the time limits, that your contribution on this matter will be important, not to say decisive."@en1
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