Brussels, 26/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - "Of course, you often ask pertinent questions. But are you sure you also give the right answers?". This sets the tone used by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt in an open letter to anti-globalisation activists published yesterday in the newspapers of 55 countries. The exercise, which proves to be an appeal in favour of "ethical globalisation", reflects the determination of the current President-in-Office of the EU Council of Ministers, on the eve of the "'high-risk" summits of Gent and Laeken, to make up for the lack of understanding that has formed a rift between anti-globalisation movements and the political establishment. But it remains to be seen whether the letter has the desired effect as several associations, such as Attac, have already reacted in a negative way to the "draft" of the letter, which has been doing the rounds on the internet over the past few days.
Mr Verhofstadt starts by stating he is in favour of globalisation, arguing that each additional percent of a country's economic opening generates a 1% increase in the country's per capita income. He does not make such a claim, however, without also admitting that global free trade is often a one way thing, from the rich North to the poor South. Which does not mean that he sides with anti-globalisation arguments, of which he stresses the contradictions: "You attacking the American fast food chains, genetically modified corn by multinationals (…)". According to you, "we must return to local markets, to the local community. Except when it is a question of immigration. There, globalisation becomes a goal. Lines of expatriates are erring along the borders of Europe and North America (…). Is it not precisely the lack of free-trade and investment that forces them on the road west?" Stressing that it was globalisation that allowed us to live today in a multicultural and tolerant society, the author of the open letter attacks the "nostalgia and local consumers of long ago", that perceive in the anti-globalisation movement, the nostalgia that they would share with conservatives, the adepts of the extreme right and religious fanatics. Mr. Verhofstadt goes even further, considering that "an important fringe of the anti-globalisation movement, even if not aware, flirt dangerously with the extreme right and popular right". The association Attac has already deplored this parallel between anti-globalists and the extreme right, some other associations regarding it "provocation".
For Guy Verhofstadt, there needs to be more globalisation, but it is necessary that trade liberalisation is of advantage to everyone, including the most unfortunate. How? By returning to a global, ethical approach to the process. The Prime Minister said that he would describe ethical globalisation as a triangle of free trade, knowledge and democracy. Or in other words, trade, co-operation and conflict prevention. The Belgian Prime Minister feels that more co-operation is needed for development, and roundly came out for increasing world trade liberalisation associated with a few indispensable corrections. He feels that dumping of western agricultural surpluses on third world markets should be stopped, as should unfair exceptions for bananas, rice and sugar. He maintained that the exception should only be kept for weapons.
In order to implement this ethical globalisation, Mr Verhofstadt recommends replacing the current G8 of the rich countries with a G8 of existing regional co-operation associations (EU, ASEAN, MERCOSUR, etc) in which the South would have a "fair and important place". Representing all members of civil society, this new G8 would become the new forum for binding agreements on working conditions, intellectual property and good governance and should be capable of formulating a radical response to global problems such as the slave trade. Mr Verhofstadt acknowledged that ethical globalisation had to be launched before the first meeting of this new G8, but he felt that the process could be launched in Europe. Why not examine every decision taken at EU level in the light of its impact on the situation of the least well-off of the planet, he concluded.