mødet onsdag i den 13. marts 2002 sitzung am mittwoch i, 13. märz ...

13-03-2002 61
maniant un gros bâton, qu'il faut savoir gagner aussi la bataille de la paix, qu'il est nécessaire de consacrer aujourd'hui la
même énergie à combattre les inégalités de développement, à résorber les foyers de tension comme celui du Proche-Orient,
que celle qui a été déployée pour lutter contre le terrorisme.
En ce qui concerne l'acier, l'Europe doit faire preuve de fermeté. C'est bien de rappeler, comme l'a fait le commissaire
Lamy ce matin, qu'il faut se soumettre aux disciplines multilatérales. Encore faut-il ne pas hésiter à les faire respecter par
les autres quand c'est l'Europe qui obtient gain de cause auprès de l'OMC. Je pense évidemment au Foreign Sales
Corporation. Donc, je voudrais demander à la Commission si elle a l'intention de faire appliquer les rétorsions
commerciales que l'OMC nous a autorisé à mettre en œuvre, compte tenu des décisions que les États-Unis viennent de
prendre dans le domaine de l'acier et des violations des traités commerciaux dont ils se sont déjà rendus responsables dans
le domaine des subventions aux exportations.
3-187
Cushnahan (PPE-DE). - Relations between the European Union and the United States are inextricably linked. We have
strong bonds rooted in our respective pasts and we share many common values. The strengthening of our long-standing
transatlantic relationship is to our mutual benefit. However, this has to be a relationship based on equality and mutual
respect.
In America's hour of need, after the 11 September attacks, Europe responded with unstinting support and solidarity, and
rightly so. Regrettably, though, the same sort of solidarity and cooperation has not been reciprocated in US foreign policy.
Prior to 11 September, it was absent on the issue of Kyoto. It is non-existent with regard to a common approach on the
Middle East, which is our most critical contemporary political problem, and on which the US unfortunately adopts a
partisan role. It was cast aside by the recent decision on the part of the US to impose import tariffs on steel.
Furthermore, the return to US unilateralism - especially evident in its perceived intention to extend the war on terrorism to
Iraq - displays contempt for our role in international affairs. It would seem that for the US, the transatlantic relationship is
simply one of convenience, to be used when it suits, but ignored when US policy and interests take priority.
All these experiences, particularly those in recent days, underline how essential it is for the EU to strengthen its foreign
policy role, including its defence and military capabilities, so that a proper equilibrium can be established in our
transatlantic relationship.
3-188
Evans, Jonathan (PPE-DE). - Mr President, this week in Barcelona the European Council will gather in order to seek to
build upon the Lisbon Process. At that meeting, we will be pressing for more action to be taken in relation to deregulation,
for more liberalisation, ensuring that we learn the lessons of employment flexibility. There are those of us who have felt
ever since we have arrived in the European Parliament that there is a lot of rhetoric in this place about free trade, but that
there is also a great deal of protectionism with Member States here in Europe.
The entire agenda in Europe of taking forward a uniform competition policy and bearing down on state aid is geared
towards ensuring that we have free trade. In those circumstances, those of us who count ourselves as the best friends of the
United States are hugely disappointed by the action that the US President has taken. It is not putting it too strongly to say
that, in a sense, we feel betrayed by it.
I do not link this to our support for the United States following the events of 11 September. The events of 11 September
were so horrific that they should not be linked with any sort of agreement in any other policy area. But for those of us who
have been pointing to the United States as an example of a deregulated and liberalised economy, it has been a shattering
blow to see the way in which President Bush, faced with the difficulties that his steel industry is encountering, has gone for
protectionism. What is even worse is to read in the Financial Times today a justification of this action from Robert Zillick,
the US Trade Representative. I feel sorry for Mr Zillick, whom again we would regard as a friend of British Conservatives,
because I must say that article destroys any credibility that he had in terms of discussion of trade issues.
The United States representatives watching this debate need to know that, while we may have heard from the usual
suspects in terms of anti-Americanism, those of us who are friends of the United States feel very badly let down indeed.
3-189
Corbey (PSE). - De transatlantische betrekkingen zijn nu in onstuimig vaarwater. Het bootje van de Europese Unie heeft
het zwaar te verduren op de golven van Amerikaans machtsvertoon. De staalcrisis is in de eerste plaats politiek. President
Bush weet zich intern gesteund door zijn kiezers. Van de buitenwereld werd nauwelijks vergelding en geen politieke
reactie verwacht en dat gaf de ruimte om werkloosheid af te wentelen op de buitenwereld. Het bootje van de Europese
Unie volgt nu zuchtend een legalistische koers. We moeten alle mogelijkheden en middelen binnen de WTO optimaal
benutten. Onze vergelding moet overtuigend zijn. Maar ook dat geeft nu niet veel vertrouwen in een goede afloop op de
korte termijn. Onze boot zou groot genoeg moeten zijn om het zware weer te verduren. Maar we hebben ook goed
stuurmanschap nodig. Een politieke crisis vraagt wel om een politiek antwoord en daarover moeten wij ons beraden.