Brussels, 10/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Although Karel De Gucht's new strategy, unveiled on Tuesday 9 November, may have been well received by conservative MEPs specialising in trade matters, these same parliamentarians have made clear the trade commissioner's policy will be judged on results.
“The European Commission must better defend the European Union's foreign trade interests,” said Daniel Caspary (EPP, Germany). While giving his support “in principle” to the De Gucht strategy, Caspary called for it to be properly implemented, “unlike the previous 'Global Europe' strategy”, launched by Peter Mandelson in 2006, “which did not achieve its targets”. “The EU needs an integrated foreign trade policy which is properly linked with the external representations in third countries and the EU's development aid,” Caspary added, highlighting two priorities: enforcement of intellectual property rights and access to rare raw materials.
His fellow MEP Robert Sturdy (ECR, UK) underlines the importance of more transparent trade policy decisions. “EU policies have often made products, such as Chinese shoes or textiles, more expensive for customers and retailers in Northern Europe, with questionable benefits for manufacturers in Southern Europe,” said Sturdy, regretting that European small businesses “find it particularly hard to navigate complex, opaque trade rules”. “It is already risky enough for small businesses to take advantage of globalisation and to outsource production or import products from abroad. The EU should provide incentives, not additional headaches,” he argued. (E.H./transl.rt)