Brussels, 07/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European agriculture committee called in Strasbourg on Tuesday 7 June for the interests of industry and services not to be placed ahead of those of farmers in free-trade negotiations being conducted by the EU.
In an opinion (adopted by 36 votes to 2, with 4 abstentions) for the Parliamentary international trade committee, agriculture MEPs also argue that trade deals must contain safeguards for sensitive sectors, promote fair competition and protect EU's geographical indications and its high environmental, food safety and animal welfare standards.
The opening of new external markets for EU agricultural production, such as meat, dairy products and fruits and vegetables, is important particularly in the context of the current EU farming crisis, state the MEPs. They stress, however, that the European agriculture must not be used in trade negotiations as an expendable bargaining chip to obtain concessions in other sectors. When negotiating market access, the Commission should, they say, base its decisions on evaluation of the impact on the EU's farming sector and exclude sectors that could be seriously affected from negotiations.
MEPs also call on the EU not to sign any trade agreement which would not protect EU geographical indications and urge the Commission to continue to hold a firm position in this respect in all trade negotiations, including those with the United States (TTIP)
Similarly, MEPs call on the Commission to defend Europe's high environmental, food safety, animal welfare and social standards to allow EU farmers fully benefit from tariff concessions without being exposed to unfair competition.
The international trade committee is due at its 16 June meeting to adopt an own initiative report on the new EU trade strategy proposed by the Commission in October 2015 (see EUROPE 11410). The plenary session vote on the strategy could then take place in July. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)