Brussels, 16/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - In its adoption, by a large majority, of the own-initiative report by Tokia Saïfi (EPP, France) on "the future of textiles and clothing post-2005" on 14 June, the international trade committee of the EP stresses its attachment to a more "complete" opening up of the textile products market, as long as European producers can be assured fair trade conditions, especially from China. The MEPs also stressed the need for Chinese producers to respect international social standards, and for Beijing to commit firmly to the fight against piracy and counterfeiting. The MEPs call upon the Commission to ensure that the Chinese authorities implement measures in line with the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the WTO, and also to "the proposal that any company wishing to export to the EU must declare that it fulfils international social and environmental law, and for imports of all products which are made in violation of these rules to be banned". In order to tackle the downturn in the European textiles industry and guarantee its future, the Saïfa report recommends the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean production area, together with joint innovation, research and cooperation programmes, to come together to face up to competition from America and Asia. It also calls for a restructuring and reconversion aid plan for the textiles and clothing sector, targeting SMEs in particular, whilst taking account of the differing interests of the Member States on trade in textiles. Moreover, although the MEPs were in favour of the memorandum of understanding concluded with China on 10 June to limit the growth of Chinese textile exports (EUROPE 8967), they called upon the Commission and the Council to "extend the scope of the agreement to other categories of products if necessary, and to be transparent in calculating export limits". Ms Saïfa raised questions about "many areas of the memorandum which remain grey": the basis for calculations, the scope of the agreement, the resources at the EU's disposal to check that it is being implemented and to penalise those not applying it. Jean-Louis Bourlanges (ALDE, France) asked how the Commission could be assured that the Chinese government was fighting loss leaders, counterfeiting and the monetary imbalance stemming from the under-evaluation of the yuan.