Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-05-22-Speech-2-513-000"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20120522.21.2-513-000"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, when we speak of trade relations between China and the European Union, we evoke relationships which, on many occasions, have affected the course of history, as the pendulum has swung between East and West.
The pendulum appears now to be firmly in the East. Europe seems to be labouring in China’s wake, as our second trading partner has seen its exports rise by 39.5% in just under two years. It is our loss if we view China only as a source of problems, as certain nationalist and protectionist elements on the political right have been trying to portray it for years, and not also as an opportunity. In the 21st century, however, the greatest world economies can work together only in an atmosphere of reciprocity, compliance with the rules, and intolerance of illegality, of unfair practices and of discrimination, to which we have grown accustomed after a great many absolutely unacceptable episodes.
It is understandable that the pendulum of history is now swinging in favour of emerging countries. It is right that we open our markets. However, the Chinese Government has a number of unacceptable policies: protecting its country’s businesses while leaving our companies’ intellectual property inadequately safeguarded; the proliferation of technical barriers, sometimes much more burdensome than tariff barriers; keeping a closed procurement market; and an almost total disregard for the most basic social and human rights, as the oppression in Tibet shows.
In the European Union, terms like ‘reciprocity’ and ‘traceability’ – which recall others, now long forgotten, like ‘transparency’ and ‘quality’ – must become a precondition for every trade agreement and every legislative initiative within the framework of a renewed multilateral policy. It is our duty, therefore, to keep our market open while protecting the Union’s interest from outside protectionism – from China and elsewhere – by demanding adequate quality standards for the goods and services available in the European Union market. This report addresses these matters with clarity, describes important solutions, and is heading in the right direction. It will therefore have our support."@en1
|
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples