Brussels, 28/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - The ACTE, "Association des collectivités textiles européennes" (Association of European Textiles Organisations) has presented European Commissioner Pascal Lamy with a petition calling for the sector's interest to be taken into account after 2005, the date when the Uruguay Round of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) liberalisation process comes to an end. This declaration was signed by more than 13,000 associations representing craftsmen, unions, companies, local authorities and Chambers of Commerce and highlights: respect for the principle of reciprocity in the framework of on going bilateral negotiations; the simplification and harmonisation of multilateral rules; the elimination of tariff barriers; the protection of intellectual property in the framework of the new trade round in Geneva; the promotion of environmental defence instruments; respect for fundamental work standards and sustainable development. The Commissioner "took note", remarking that the Union proposals recently put forward to the WTO in connection with industrial goods (non-agricultural) "largely" responded to the worries and requests referred to in the document. An ACTE official also suggests more generally, that European industry focus on what it does best, quality and brands production.
In connection with the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Zone (FTZ) supported by the association, (which also includes accession candidate countries), an ACTE press statement had indicated that Mr Lamy intended to argue for and support an FTZ with these countries, despite the difficulties that seemed to be emanating from a certain wariness from southern Mediterranean countries. Mr Lamy also called on the association to present a series of priority proposals that would be likely to be included in future European regional policy, including the way in which to soften the negative repercussions of tariff dismantling and quotas in the sector and in areas where it is a key industry. These regions and areas in Italy, Spain, France (Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Portugal, England (Nottinghamshire), Belgium (Moucrons), etc., are particularly worried by the relocation trend and the risk of a sharp increase in unemployment with the dismantling of traditional textile, shoes and leather import barriers where the prices of these imports have become "unbeatable" and whose production costs are reflected in the developing world (China, India, Thailand, Bangladesh etc.).
Problems likely to arise after 2005 in the textile sector will be discussed at an international conference organised on the initiative of Pascal Lamy on 5-6 May 2003 in Brussels.