Strasbourg, 7th September 2010

Another crucial step has been taken towards the ratification of an historic free trade deal between the EU and Korea today, Robert Sturdy MEP, the parliament’s rapporteur on the agreement, said today.

He was speaking after MEPs voted on amendments to a safeguard clause to be built into the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which would enable the EU to reintroduce Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to areas where it is felt liberalisation is causing serious injury to EU industry.

A final legislative resolution will be deferred to a future session, following further negotiations with the Council of Ministers, but Mr Sturdy said that the votes today show that there is strong support for the agreement in the parliament.

The FTA will bring about an unparalleled series of tariff liberalisation and dismantling of technical barriers to trade, enabling EU businesses to gain extensive and comprehensive access to the Korean marketplace. It will immediately remove €1.6 billion of export duties levied annually on EU exporters of industrial and agricultural products, and €1.1 billion levied on Korean exporters.

The deal is expected to save the EU agricultural industry €380 million, whilst the services sector (inducing financial services, telecoms and environmental services) could expect to see a 70% rise in trade volume.

After the votes Mr Sturdy said:

 “This will be one of the most historic trade agreements signed by the EU and it will deliver some much-needed good news for the European economy. This is the first FTA of its kind and I hope that it will set a precedent for future trade deals.

”Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, auto parts, shoes, spirits and medial equipment exporters will all see substantial savings after tariffs are removed. Non-tariff barriers to trade such as technical standards for cars or certification procedures for consumer electronics will also be broken down.

”The long-term benefits of this deal will be substantial for the EU and the adoption of this safeguard clause will help prevent short-term pain. The EU needs to send a signal that it is open for business and that it will not resort to protectionism at a time of economic difficulties.

”I hope that we can now move forward to approve this deal as swiftly as possible.”

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The parliament today voted on the amendments to the Bidegain report on bilateral safeguards in the EU-Korea FTA. Mr Sturdy is the rapporteur for the overall agreement.

For further information, please contact: Robert on +33 (0)3 88 1 75294

ECR Press Office – James Holtum – +32 473 861762

NO WONDER PEOPLE ARE CRACKING UP WITH EU AFTER ATTEMPT TO BAN A DOZEN EGGS

Brussels 28 June 2010. New legislation being considered by the EU would block shops from selling food by quantity and restrict them to sell by weight only.

The move, if implemented, would see a dozen eggs become a thing of the past.

Conservative MEP Robert Sturdy said that the law would be fought at European council level as the UK currently has a derogation in their food law to allow the labelling of pre-packed foods by number.

It will also come back to the European Parliament where Conservative MEPs will table amendments to have the rule thrown out. 

Speaking today Mr Sturdy said,

“First they tried to ban imperial measures, then bendy fruit and vegetables and now some within the EU are trying to overturn our right to sell groceries by number.

“This plan would mean that each egg box would have to be weighed individually, adding costs to producers who would then inevitably pass them on to the consumer.  At a time when many local people in East Anglia are already struggling to make ends meet the last thing they need is for the price of staples to increase.

“This is the sort of ridiculous law that makes people’s tempers boil.  I can guarantee that Conservative MEPs will be fighting this ridiculous rule when it comes back to the European Parliament at second reading.” 

The trade committee this week began deliberating Mr Sturdy’s proposal for the parliament to grant assent to the wider agreement, with a vote expected in September. The committee has also today adopted a separate report which creates a safeguard mechanism, enabling the EU to restore Most Favoured Nation duty rates, if the deal threatens to cause serious injury to an EU industry.

Mr Sturdy, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the parliament, said that the committee’s adoption of the emergency safeguard element of the deal heralds the way to a swift vote in the parliament on the whole agreement. MEPs now have the power of consent regarding international trade deals following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

Mr Sturdy said:

“We often hear rhetoric about the dangers of resorting to protectionism in the economic downturn but this FTA clearly demonstrates to the world that the EU is open for business.

“Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, auto parts, shoes, spirits and medial equipment exporters will all see substantial savings after tariffs are removed. Non-tariff barriers to trade such as technical standards for cars or certification procedures for consumer electronics will also be broken down.

“Of course the long-term benefits of free trade will outweigh any potential short term concerns. Nevertheless, the parliament has also adopted a safeguard clause which ensures that the FTA cannot cause unforeseen harm to EU industries. The text also ensures strict labour standards are in place to prevent unsustainable development or worker exploitation. This agreement will enable European and Korean economies to enjoy the medicine of free trade without worrying about side effects.

“I hope that the parliament’s strong show of support for the safeguard clause will now herald the way for the parliament’s swift approval of this entire historic agreement.”

Dear Minister,

I am writing to you regarding the proposed changes to the East Coast Mainline timetable.  I understand that under the “Eureka” consultation brochure recently published by the East Coast Mainline Company that a number of timetable changes between London, Stevenage, Peterborough and the North East/Scotland have been suggested.

Peterborough, as a key rail interchange for the East of England, seems particularly badly affected and as an MEP for the Eastern Region I would invite you to consider the damaging effects that such timetable changes could have.  The reduction in passenger services could lead to:

•    Reduced connectivity
•    Increased overcrowding
•    Reduced attractiveness of rail
•    Increasingly poor perception of the East of England

I would be very interested to hear your views on whether the timetable changes will, by reducing the current frequency of services, have detrimental effects on commuters and businesses that use and rely on the East Coast Mainline services to and from Peterborough and Stevenage.   Furthermore, what guarantees are you able to give that they will not be adversely affected by the timetable changes?

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

Robert Sturdy MEP

Brussels 16 February 2010. Conservative International Trade spokesman in Europe Robert Sturdy MEP, said the European Commission decision to remove trade concessions to Sri Lanka would punish innocent Sri Lankans. The trade concessions are referred to as GSP + status.

Mr Sturdy added that human rights violations cannot be ignored but called on the European Commission to work closely with the Sri Lankan government in tackling any violations instead of punishing the country as a whole.

In a statement Mr Sturdy said,

“I am concerned about the impact that the removal of these trade concessions will have on development in Sri Lanka. Trade is the principal means for development and by taking away their GSP + status, you are limiting the country’s ability to grow.

“I wrote in December 2009 asking the Commission what the economic impact would be if it decided to remove Sri Lanka’ GSP+ status. I am still awaiting a response. Now we have a new Trade Commissioner, with a background in development policy, I would hope for some real answers.

“It goes without saying that human rights violations cannot be ignored. I am calling on the Commission to work closely with the Sri Lankan government over the next few months, to assess the efforts being made to tackle any violations, and to consider how it will support the innocent Sri Lankan people who will suffer as a result of this heavy-handed action.”

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ECR Press Office – Alex Benjamin +32 (0)476 056 450

4 February 2010

ROBERT STURDY WELCOMES SUPERMARKET’S CODE FOR FARMERS

Eastern Region MEP Robert Sturdy has welcomed a new code of practice between the UK’s leading supermarkets and farmers which sets out guidelines to ensure the principle of “fair dealing”. It will be monitored by an independent ombudsman.

Mr Sturdy, who sits on the Agriculture Committee, said the guidelines which come into effect today, known as the new Grocery Suppliers Code of Practice, were long overdue. In the past farmers have been penalised unfairly by supermarkets; for example, for not being able to harvest crops on time because of poor weather, something which was beyond their control.

He said: “Supermarkets have had huge control over farmers and many of them no longer want to deal with them any more. They have pushed the price down to such a degree that a lot of farmers are considering withdrawing from supplying most of the major supermarkets. Farmers will just consider growing energy crops if supermarkets continue to force them down in price. Why should they suffer from the unreasonable pressures that supermarkets put upon them?  We need to ensure that farmers are able to make their living from a liberal market free from price distorting practices.”

The new code of practice will provide retailers with clear guidelines for dealing with suppliers and contains an over-riding principle of fair dealings. It means farmers and other suppliers should get a fairer deal from supermarkets following years of complaints that the largest supermarkets have used their buying power to make unfair and unreasonable demands.

28 January 2010

ROBERT STURDY CONDEMNS IVORY TRADE

Eastern Region Euro MP Robert Sturdy has condemned plans by two African countries to sell ivory as he fears it could lead to the slaughter of more elephants and possible extinction.

Robert Sturdy, who sits on both the International Trade Committee and the Sustainable Hunting Intergroup where this has been discussed, believes the European Parliament should strongly object to any plans by Tanzania and Zambia to offload existing ivory stock. There is concern that if sales went ahead, poachers could slaughter more elephants and pass off the ivory as old stock. Other countries led by Mali and Kenya are opposed to this.

With elephant numbers already in decline across a number of African countries, and Sierra Leone’s elephant population wiped out since November, Conservative MEPs   have warned that any moves to grant the sale of ivory would be a disaster and could see the near extinction of African elephants in the wild. The UK government has so far refused to rule out supporting a resumption of sales when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meets in Qatar in March.

Mr Sturdy said: “I am very concerned that supporting these plans to trade ivory could easily lead to a rise in illegal poaching and threaten marginal elephant populations across Africa.  We should be choking demand, not stocking it by legitimising the trade.

“The UK government has a chance to make a difference to the fate of elephants in the coming weeks by supporting this ban. I want the public to get behind my campaign to prevent the ivory trade being given the green light.  I urge people to write to the government, or their elected representative, and asking them get off the fence and follow our lead in opposing the lifting of the ban to help African countries protect their precious but threatened wildlife heritage.”

PRESS RELEASE
CAUTIOUS SUPPORT FOR NEW EU AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER

Eastern Region Conservative MEP Robert Sturdy has given his “cautious support” to the new Romanian Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos.

Mr Ciolos was originally a controversial choice as he had been described by Nicholas Sarkozy as “France’s second commissioner”.

However, during a three hour hearing in front of MEPs in the European Parliament Mr Ciolos gave a convincing performance, demonstrating an excellent knowledge of the European farming industry, as well as a willingness to work constructively with MEPs to ensure reform of the outmoded CAP.

Mr Sturdy, who sits on the Agriculture Committee, said :-

“It was good to hear the Commissioner describe himself as a moderniser, someone who would not let the CAP return to the bad old days of huge surplus production and would seek to use new tools to secure the future of European Agricultural production.

“He will still need to prove that he is not merely a front for French interests and that he seriously intends to carry out serious reform, making the CAP simpler, more transparent and equitable.  We need to make sure that farmers have a secure future and are allowed to make their money from the market.

“However, I would have liked to have heard more about how Mr Ciolos plans to ensure that supermarkets do not abuse their market dominance to drive farmers out of business and how he plans to guarantee that the EU will base its food safety and quality  policies on sound scientific evidence rather than political ideology.”

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Notes to Editors:
1. Robert Sturdy MEP is available for interview on 0032 2284 7294 or through Press       Officer Ellee Seymour on 01353 648564 or 07939 811961. Please see Robert’s website at http://robertsturdymep.com

Banana agreement welcomed

Long-standing trade dispute brought to an end

Strasbourg 15 December 2009. The EU’s move to end the banana war with Latin America has been broadly welcomed by Robert Sturdy MEP, international trade spokesman of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, but the money promised to compensate African, Caribbean and Pacific countries must reach the producers.

The EU has given preferential treatment to producers in the ACP, which has led to challenges by Latin American countries at the WTO. However, the EU is expected to initial a deal today that will see its tariffs fall to 114 dollars per tonne by 2016, with an initial cut to 148 dollars. In response, Latin America will drop its WTO challenges.

The EU will also grant ACP producers 200 million Euros of aid to offset the losses caused to them.

Mr Sturdy said:

“Whatever the justification, it was wrong for the EU to give preferential treatment to one set of producers over another. Ending a bitter and long-running dispute with Latin America and the USA is significant because it shows that with a little bit of good will, we can move past protectionism.

“The EU is right to give ACP producers a soft landing. They will need legal certainty that their markets will not dry up and that the assistance being given by the EU reaches the producers and not the large distributors and processors.

“European consumers will see the price of their bananas fall as a result of this decision.”

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ECR Press Office – Alex Benjamin +32 (0)476 056 450