Brussels, 15/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas is looking to the assistance of Singapore in tackling the global threats affecting maritime transport, such as the entry into Europe of counterfeit goods.
Continuing his visit to Singapore (see EUROPE 10553), he has thrown his full weight behind closer cooperation between the EU and Singapore on air and, especially, maritime transport. Delivering a speech at the National University of Singapore on Wednesday 15 February, he called for improved access for European companies to the Singapore maritime transport services market. He also highlighted the threats hanging over maritime transport, such as piracy, concentrated in the Straits of Malacca, smuggling and counterfeiting. He said that the amount of counterfeit goods bound for Europe had tripled between 2005 and 2010. He hoped that Singapore would join the EU in its efforts, particularly in the International Maritime Organisation, to tackle these threats. He also sought to highlight how the EU and Singapore can complement one another in shipbuilding, with European expertise in top-end manufacturing combining well with Singapore's shipbuilding industry. The commissioner said in conclusion that “our two regions can only benefit from improving and expanding transport ties, and not only in the areas I have mentioned. Many of the problems that we face are indeed global problems. Let us help each other tackle them in the best and most efficient way possible.” (MD/transl.rt)