Brussels, 21/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - The representatives of the four main political groups in the European Parliament - the EPP, S&D, ECR and ALDE Groups - gave a welcome during the plenary session debate on Thursday 21 January to the prospect of free-trade talks between the EU on the one hand and Australia and New Zealand on the other. They also called, however, for proper account to be taken of sensitive EU sectors, and in particular in agriculture.
“In light of the transpacific partnership (TPP), it makes good sense that we negotiate free-trade deals with Australia and New Zealand. We clearly have very close relations with these two countries and similar democratic and economic structures”, said Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), while stressing the need to take account of the EU's sensitive agricultural sectors - dairy products, sugar, beef, mutton and sheep meat - along with its desires on GMOs and protection for geographical indications (GIs). Lange, who chairs the international trade committee, also stressed the opportunity to shape global rules with these two countries “which have the same structures” and “to be more ambitious than was the case with the TPP”.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Development Commissioner Neven Mimica highlighted the EU's offensive interests, including on public procurement, and said that he believed it would be possible to negotiate significant agreements with these two countries, as they themselves had done with Japan and South Korea, while taking account of the major sensitivities in agriculture. He also stressed the desire that the EU obtain protection for geographical indications well beyond the already existing agreements with the two countries on protection for wines and spirits.
For the EPP, Daniel Caspary (Germany) welcomed the opportunity to negotiate free-trade deals with two countries in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region but he nevertheless called on the Commission to bear in mind the concerns of the agricultural sector.
On behalf of the S&D Group, Karoline Graswander-Hainz (Austria) called on the Commission to ensure that the high European standards are kept and that public services are not included in any agreement. She also urged protection for geographical indications, sensitive agricultural products and EU social and environmental standards.
Emma McClarkin (ECR, UK) welcomed the opportunity afforded the EU of being able to negotiate an ambitious agreement that includes geographical indications and investment protection, the digital economy, e-commerce, rules of origin and a chapter on SMEs.
Welcoming the opportunity for the EU to build closer links between its market and two TPP partners, Tiziana Beghin (EFDD, Italy) highlighted the dangers of such agreements for EU agriculture, and called for sensitive products to be excluded from the talks.
Speaking for the Greens/EFA Group, Maria Heubuch (Germany) underlined how important it is that agricultural products, “which are of huge importance for the two countries”, be put at the heart of discussions. “Our farming is already under pressure and will find itself competing with Australian and New Zealand farmers. That will pour fuel on the flames”, she warned. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)