Brussels, 22/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - Jean-Pierre Audy, French EPP-ED member of the European Parliament delegation in Hong Kong, welcomed the “compromise” reached by the WTO Conference that allows, without questioning EU commitments towards agriculture, for the Doha Agenda aimed at development to be set in motion. It is necessary for all countries to do away with export subsidies, both direct and indirect, on all products, at the same date, so that world competition is not distorted, he states in a press release. In this context, Mr Audy suggests setting up an independent audit on all forms of aid to international trade (export credits, guarantee systems, State enterprises and food aid) for which conclusions may be set out in March 2006. He said the audit would aim to make a distinction between what is humanitarian, what should come under public surveillance, and what distorts competition rules in international trade, thus requiring elimination. Furthermore, Mr Audy asserts that, in order to defend European interests, “we should above all be combative on the issue of geographic names of origin for agricultural products”. He regretted that “Parliaments have not been more actively involved in negotiations to complement NGOs” (see EUROPE 9091 on the parliamentary conference in Hong Kong).
The Socialist members of the EP delegation in Hong Kong “cautiously” welcomed the agreement reached on the date for abolition of farm subsidies. “At the same time, there will be more opportunities for European companies in emerging markets if Europe is able to lower its agricultural tariff barriers”, Dutch national Max van den Berg, Harlem Désir of France and Glennys Kinnock of Britain stress in a press release. Although they welcome the “important gain in the fight against poverty” represented by the package of measures in favour of the developing world on the basis of access without duties or quotas for products to the markets of the north, Socialists sometimes deplore “the exclusion of some products of importance for developing countries”. On the services chapter, “we want to see EU companies winning opportunities to deliver services in emerging markets”, they stress. Nonetheless, they are opposed to an agreement concluding the Doha Round as they feel that an “obligation for developing countries to negotiate, rather than making their own decisions on opening their service sectors to foreign investment could produce unfair pressure”.
ALDE Group President, Graham Watson of the UK, welcomed the “extension of duty-free and quota-free access to most goods from LDCs by 2007” and the “commitment by the EU to give up export subsidies by 2013”. He nonetheless deplores the fact that the Union “has not yet decided which way to jump when faced with the challenges of globalisation”, saying in a press release: “Some still want a Europe with the drawbridge pulled up. Liberals and Democrats want the drawbridge firmly down. An open, outward-looking Europe would produce greater wealth for itself and LDCs this Round seeks to help”.
The Greens/EFA consider the “Hong Kong negotiations gave priority to opening markets rather than focusing on development” “Developing countries were under enormous pressure from the powerful trade blocks of the North to accept more free trade rather than development. The main results of the conference will serve the interests of companies operating globally. With further cuts in tariffs and fewer possibilities for protection of the weaker sectors of developing countries, their markets for food, industrial goods and services risk becoming even more vulnerable”, the Greens stress in a pres release. On the so-called “development package” approved in Hong Kong, access to some Northern markets without duties or quotas only concerns a small part of the more competitive products of LDC, and the promised financial support for trade “does not exist”, they state. On the agricultural chapter, the date of 2013 for abolishing export subsidies is too late for millions of farmers in poor countries that suffer from dumping, Hélène Flautre of France says. Furthermore, “very little has been offered to sugar and cotton producers of LDC and ACP”, she added. Caroline Lucas of Britain deplores the fact that the Union and US proposal on the services chapter had finally been preferred to the G90 counter-proposal which aimed to restrict opening of their services markets.
Speaking for the GUE/NGL, Helmuth Markov of Germany said in a communiqué that the compromise found in Hong Kong “reveals that this round of negotiations in Hong Kong was everything but a round for development”. He went on to add: “market access for multinational companies was more or less the hidden agenda dictated by the European Union and rich countries”. “Every country has the right to defend the sovereignty of its own domestic food market. The abolition of export subsidies for agricultural products is indispensable”, Vittorio Agnoletto of Italy said.