Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-09-12-Speech-1-054-000"
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"en.20110912.20.1-054-000"2
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"Madam President, the commendable initiative of promoting development as an essential pillar of the multilateral trade system through the Doha Round is currently proving to be a myth. It was necessary to initiate the Doha Round negotiations to remedy the inequalities caused by the Uruguay Round, which focused on the interests of the rich countries to the detriment of the developing and least developed countries.
However, the level of development of the participating countries has not been taken into account throughout the entire duration of the current negotiations either. Indeed, before granting some concessions on agricultural subsidies, the industrialised countries asked the developing countries for reciprocity in other areas.
In order to make development more than a principle promoted for show in the Doha Round, products originating from less developed countries need to be given access to the market, free of customs duties and quotas, in keeping with the decision adopted during the Hong Kong Conference in 2005. Other requirements include ensuring special, differential treatment for developing countries, the removal by developed countries of export subsidies for cotton, improved preferential certificates of origin applicable to imports from the least developed countries, as well as greater financial input from the United States and the European Union in the area of Aid for Trade.
The very credibility of the World Trade Organisation in managing global governance depends on the success of the Doha Round. The WTO is at risk of being reduced to nothing more than an ineffective talking shop. The challenges we are faced with, such as the sovereign debt crisis, the alarming unemployment rate, volatile food prices, illegal trade and climate change require global management.
This is why I think that the multilateral trade system needs to be reviewed so that the development objectives proposed by the Doha programme can be achieved via the WTO and the links between trade and global challenges can be dealt with more effectively.
In addition, stepping up the cooperation between the WTO and other international organisations and agencies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the International Labour Organisation or the UN environmental and development programmes could help establish international standards which would tackle not only the commercial but also the social, development and environmental concerns.
Last but not least, I would like to highlight the need for greater democracy and transparency in what the WTO does. If we really want to achieve free trade and economic globalisation under fair conditions, we need to give greater consideration to a number of factors which are essential for achieving an economic balance, such as the need to encourage exchanges, especially involving technology and innovation, and averting the damaging impact on citizens’ quality of life and on the environment."@en1
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