Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-09-12-Speech-3-535-000"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20120912.28.3-535-000"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, dear colleagues, first of all, allow me to thank the rapporteurs, Mr Lange and Mr Leichtfried for the work they did on these files.
I would also like to thank you for the opportunity to clarify outstanding issues regarding the adoption of the Bilateral Safeguard Regulations in the context of the agreements with Colombia and Peru and with Central America. As you know, these agreements were signed in June, and Parliament will soon take a decision on them via an assent procedure. But before I go on to explain the importance of adopting these safeguard regulations, let me first once again underline the significance of these agreements for the EU and for these two Latin American regions.
These agreements, between the EU and Colombia and Peru, and between the EU and Central America, will fundamentally change and upgrade the relationship between the EU and these two regions. On the trade side, the agreements aim at opening markets for goods, services, government procurement and investment. Tariffs in industrial and fisheries products will be fully eliminated on both sides, while trade in agricultural products will be considerably enhanced by substantial tariff concessions. In addition, the agreements will establish a set of predictable and enforceable trade rules which in many instances go further than the commitments taken in the framework of the WTO.
In short, together with your report, these agreements will give us an improved, stable, predictable and enforceable set of trading conditions under which economic operators from the EU, Colombia, Peru and Central America will be able to take full advantage of the emerging complementarities between our respective economies. Beyond pure trade flows, let me remind you that these agreements will also improve far-reaching provisions guaranteeing the protection of human rights as well as commitments on labour rights and environmental protection and will foster the promotion of sustainable development.
Let me now move to the specific question of the adoption of the Bilateral Safeguard Regulations.
The objective of these regulations is to provide a safety net for the Union’s industry in case the tariff liberalisation results in an injurious surge of imports. We need them in order to implement the safeguard provisions of the agreements. The Commission welcomes the principle adopted by the rapporteurs when examining the Commission proposal and drafting the amendments, namely of following the model of Korea as closely as the specificities of the agreements allow.
There is also a consensus that the implementing regulations cannot be in conflict with the commitments undertaken in the agreements and WTO provisions. Here it is important not to lose focus. This parliamentary debate on the safeguard regulations is very important, but it should not serve as a framework to re-open questions that have already been addressed, such as the need to make these agreements conditional on respect for human and social rights. As you know, these issues are already covered by the agreements, and in its June 2012 resolution, Parliament already clearly expressed the political line to follow and the need for Colombia and Peru to present a roadmap on human labour and environmental rights. The Commission has taken due note of this resolution and is actively working with these countries on it.
To conclude, let me express my wish that the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission will enjoy good cooperation in the trialogues that will soon begin so that all the conditions will soon be met for Parliament to take a decision on these agreements."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata | |
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples