In his speech, the UK Prime Minister urged the rest of Europe to be ‘bolder’. He set out an agenda for completing the Single Market and reducing stifling red tape on enterprise. Mr Harbour, the ECR chairman of the European Parliament’s internal market committee said that his main checklist of reforms was already being delivered by ECR MEPs in the European Parliament. For example, Sajjad Karim MEP is working on proposals for better legislation, which will see all future proposals tested for their impact on small businesses, and a reduction in the overall burden of EU law with a ‘one in, one out’ approach. Emma McClarkin MEP’s report on professional qualifications has helped form the basis for new legislation that will assist professional workers in having their qualifications recognised across the single market, whilst tightening up protection against rogue or ineffective workers.

Cameron also called for a ‘coalition of the willing’ to pursue bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in light of the ongoing failure to reach a multilateral agreement under the Doha round. Robert Sturdy, the ECR’s international trade spokesman and Vice-President of the trade committee in the parliament, was the parliament’s lead member on granting approval to the first of the new FTAs with South Korea – which will cut tariffs on EU products by €1.6 billion by 2016.

ECR group Chairman Martin Callanan MEP said: “The EU faces two crises: a sovereign debt crisis and a crisis of competitiveness. Instead of discussing treaties or new powers for EU institutions we need to funnel all of our energy on jump-starting economic growth and making the whole EU more competitive in a fierce global world. Europe will be left behind if we do not act immediately and with ambition.”

“David Cameron is right to point out the fundamental weakness of the Eurozone, which is the divergence of northern and southern European economies. The strait jacket of the Euro has exacerbated that divergence.”

Robert Sturdy MEP said: “By 2015, nearly 90 per cent of world growth will be generated outside of Europe, much of this in the Pacific area. This is a staggering statistic. The EU must re orientate its trade to take into account these current realities.”

“In view of this, the EU has implemented a progressive bilateral trade agenda that has targeted the world’s dynamic and high growth economies. After the success of the EU-South Korea FTA that came into force last summer, the EU has been pursuing similar agreements with India, Japan, Singapore and Canada amongst others. Only by taking into account the advantages and opportunities of the rise of ‘the rest’ has to offer, will the EU be able to guarantee economic growth and prosperity into the 21st Century.”

Malcolm Harbour MEP, who was this week re-elected chairman of the internal market committee in the parliament, said: “Much of David Cameron’s agenda for completing the Single Market is being taken forward. Our focus has been on bringing the Single Market into the digital age so that online businesses can offer goods and services across 500 million people.”

“We are also in the process of agreeing a major reform of public procurement rules. Our aim is to encourage innovation in the way that public bodies commission goods and services so that taxpayer money is saved and smaller businesses are given access to this untapped potential. This reform would act as a substantial boost to businesses across Europe.”

“A Single Market that is open within itself and to the outside world is the best way of granting our businesses new opportunities. EU regulation is still placing too many burdens on entrepreneurs. There is so much more that we can be doing to free the hands of businesses so that they can dedicate all of their energies to growing rather than complying.”

“The previous EU summit called for the completion of all the Single Market Act proposals by the end of 2012. The SMA is the centrepiece of the European Growth Agenda and the ECR was pivotal in getting it approved.”

“Whatever the short term answers to this crisis, more open and competitive markets must be the long term answer. A commitment to increasing competitiveness and opening markets will go a long way towards inspiring some confidence in the markets that we will come through the storm.”

http://www.conservativeeurope.com//news/1575/camerons-davos-agenda-of-competitiveness-and-opening-trade-is-real-answer-to-eus-crisis.aspx

Alongside the European Parliament’s Sustainable Hunting, Biodiversity, Countryside Activities and Forestry Intergroup and the Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU (FACE), Mr. Sturdy chaired a very productive discussion that was also attended by Ms. Bastino of the European Commission. The aim of the seminar was to influence the Commission’s upcoming proposal for an EU Strategy on invasive Alien Species, which is expected to be presented in 2012.

Invasive Alien Species are a major cause of biodiversity loss. In the UK the American Grey Squirrel has out competed, and in many parts of the UK replaced, the native red. Aside from the cost to biodiversity there is also a cost to the economy. Invasive Alien Species are estimated to cost theUKeconomy over £2 billion a year. In the EU this figure is estimated to be £10 billion.

Speaking after chairing the event, Mr. Sturdy said:

“Invasive Alien Species are not only clear and present dangers to European biodiversity, their effects are felt by our rural communities and it is thought that they cost the UK and EU billions of Euros every year. It is very important that we recognise the scale of the threat and deal with it accordingly. ”

 Ends

For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit www.robertsturdymep.com

On the 2nd of March 2012, in the prestigious surroundings of one of the world’s greatest and oldest universities, Robert Sturdy MEP, Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, will be hosting a trade conference aimed at bringing together British SMEs and national and European experts, advisers and officials, to provide essential information to British companies on how to take their business to the world.

The conference will be split into three panel sessions followed by a questions and answer session. There will be an intermission for a buffet lunch which will double as a roaming session, that will provide the opportunity for the panellist and the other attendees to engage directly with one another in order for them to raise concerns, discuss experiences, and make direct contacts with policy professionals and experts.

A number of additional speakers and attendees have been confimed! Confirmed panellists now include Mark Prisk MP – Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Dr. Syed Kamall - MEP for London, Sean McGuire - Brussels Director of the CBI, John Walker - National Chairman Federation of Small Businesses , Ray Symons - EU Affairs British Retail Consotium, Liz Basing- UKTI, Signe Ratso – Trade Strategy and Analysis European Commission and Patrick Crawford – Chief Executive of the UK Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD).

 Registration Open Now – To register for this free conference, or for more information, please contact rwsturdy@btconnect.com.

The WTO Ministerial Conference, which is usually held every two years, is a high level meeting of all countries and customs unions to discuss important trade issues and make decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.

Mr. Sturdy, who is attending as part of the European Parliaments Trade Delegation, commented on the conference:

“Although it is now clear that a deal surrounding the Doha Development Round is dead, it is encouraging to see that the WTO is still making progress on multilateral level”

“This year’s ministerial conference has seen the conclusion of Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), the accession of new members including Russia and strong pledges against protectionism and the imposition of trade barriers”

“The conclusion of the GPA is an important step in the opening of markets, the dismantling barriers and boosting growth opportunities throughout the global economy. This has been a priority for the EU and is something that I have worked hard to ensure through my recent report on Barriers to Trade which was adopted by the Parliament this week. It is estimated that this agreement will open up extra procurement opportunities worth around £85 billion”

“One of the reasons that we have the WTO is to bring improved global governance and a more stable trading environment to the world economy and the more countries that are included in this system the better. Having four new members, including an important economy such as Russia, can only add strength to this system”

Ends

For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit

robertsturdymep.com

Removing obstacles to trade between nations is not only important for exporters who can thus better penetrate foreign markets and make more money, but also for consumers who can enjoy a wider choice at better prices. Trade liberalisation in the last couple of decades has pushed tariffs down across the world, but other barriers to trade still present problems.

Tariffs have been lowered and so-called non-tariff barriers removed mainly in the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) through: reciprocal tariff concessions (you lower yours, I lower mine); discipline on non-tariff barriers by limiting export subsidies and imposing strict rules on antidumping procedures, subsidies and standards; and dispute settlement, through which governments can “sue” countries that fail to abide by WTO rules.

How non-tariff barriers are hurting EU companies

A report by British Conservative Robert Sturdy on the negative impact of non-tariff barriers on EU companies was discussed in plenary on 12 December. Among the examples, the report says the EU steel sector is paying more for vital raw materials because Russia has raised export duties on copper and nickel, meaning Russian exporters have to pay higher duties to the Russian government, which means higher prices for EU buyers.

Because of how the US treats the names of European wines including “champagne” it is hard for EU exporters to register and defend geographical indications on their products, causing damage to the reputation of their goods and loss of market share.

Call for clear distinction on NBTs

And, the report says it is almost impossible to register European cosmetics containing new ingredients for more than a year in China, because China lacks the necessary regulatory procedures.

Non registration of cosmetic products because they can’t be properly evaluated can be justified on health protection grounds. Therefore the EP is calling on the Commission to establish a “clear distinction between those NTBs, which give rise to unfair distortions of competition and those which reflect legitimate public-policy aims” such as health and environmental protection.

“Reducing unjustified NTBs and other regulatory obstacles applied by the EU’s key strategic partner countries by means of regulatory dialogue should be one of the key regulatory priorities of the new EU trade policy,” says the report.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/content/20111216STO34361/html/It-is-not-only-tariffs-that-hamper-free-trade

Mr Sturdy’s report sets out proposals that would help remove or reduce unjustified non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and regulatory obstacles to trade, such as export subsidies, anti-dumping, packaging and labelling conditions, product standards, intellectual property conflicts or lengthy customs procedures.

In his report, Sturdy proposes the EU leads by example by reviewing its own NTBs so that it can then raise other partners’ NTBs in negotiations, particularly regarding Free Trade Agreements. Sturdy also calls for High Level Dialogues to be more commonplace between the EU and trading partners so that international standards can be converged and potential disputes avoided.

Sturdy’s recommendations will now feed in to the commission’s annual report on NTBs which will be published in March 2012.

Robert Sturdy MEP, speaking after the vote today said:

“The current crisis affords the EU with a golden opportunity to lead the world in breaking down all barriers to trade, including non-tariff barriers.”

“Removing, or at least restricting, NTBs should be a top trade priority of the EU this decade. To only see the immediate tariff-based obstacles to trade misses the wider point that even if we did away with tariffs tomorrow there would still be barriers to overcome for a business wishing to trade globally.

“EU businesses should now be able to feel the benefit of the opportunities that are available in the global marketplace without unnecessary red tape or governmental interference.

“Breaking down the barriers to trade across the globe should be a top priority for the EU.”

Ends

For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit

robertsturdymep.com

The announcement from DEFRA was in response to the upcoming EU Welfare of Laying Hens Directive, which comes into force on January 1 2012 and will see a ban on conventional battery cages in favour of enriched, more animal friendly cages. However, whilst the UK has spent £400million to bring its cages into compliance with the new regulations, it is estimated that come the 1st January 2012, some 50 million hens from 13 different member-states will still be producing eggs in non-compliant cages.

What to do with these eggs has been a problem, as their exportation would detrimentally effect the egg producers who have spent large sums of money abiding by the EU rules. The UK government’s proposals will prevent eggs produced in non-compliant cages from entering the market by using ultra violet light identification. The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) will use UV light to pick up small marks left in the shell, immediately after it is laid and before it has hardened, to identify eggs produced in non-compliant cages. If the tell tale wire marks are observed, the eggs will not be allowed to be sold as class A (whole) eggs.  The government has been joined by major supermarkets and food businesses who have pledged that they will not sell or use eggs produced in battery cages.

Following the announcement Mr. Sturdy said:

“Conservative MEPs have worked hard to ensure that the January 2012 deadline was maintain in the face of strong opposition from a number of national governments seeking a further delay”.

“Although the implementation of this directive was the responsibility of the EU’s national governments, the European Commission has been asleep at the wheel, as it has been inept at coming up with proposal to prevent eggs from non-compliant cages entering the EU market”

“Thankfully the UK government has come up with an effective solution to prevent our egg producers from being unfairly penalised simply for sticking to the rules.”

“This is good news for the British egg industry and this is a big step forward for animal welfare.”

Ends

For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit

robertsturdymep.com

Venue: Robinson College, University of Cambridge on the 2nd of March 2012.

On the 2nd of March 2012, in the prestigious surroundings of one of the world’s greatest and oldest universities, Robert Sturdy MEP, Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, will be hosting a trade conference aimed at bringing together British SMEs and national and European experts, advisers and officials, to provide essential information to British companies on how to take their business to the world.

The conference will be split into three panel sessions followed by a questions and answer session. There will be an intermission for a buffet lunch which will double as a roaming session, that will provide the opportunity for the panellist and the other attendees to engage directly with one another in order for them to raise concerns, discuss experiences, and make direct contacts with policy professionals and experts.

Confirmed panellists include Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Dr. Syed Kamall, MEP for London, Sean McGuire, Brussels Director of the CBI, John Walker, Federation of Small Businesses National Chairman, a number of national and European experts, Members of the European Parliament and Senior European Commission Officials.

 To register for this free conference, or for more information, please contact rwsturdy@btconnect.com.

 Eastern region Conservative MEP: Geoffrey Van Orden, Robert Sturdy, Vicky Ford and David Campbell Bannerman. This event is sponsored by the Conservatives in the European Parliament (European Conservatives and Reformists Group).

Toyota plans to invest the money by consolidating the production of the hatchback version of its European produced C-segment vehicles, which include the petrol, diesel and hybrid variants, within theUK. This will see Toyota steadily increase its UKwork force over the next two years, with the first recruitment phase of 500 workers expected from the middle of 2012.

Robert Sturdy, speaking shortly after the announcement, said:

“This great news for the UK’s manufacturing sector, especially for the British car industry. The production changes announced today will lead to new investment and higher employment levels in Toyota’s UK factories.”

“From a trade perspective, this investment is a fantastic example of international trade at its best; boosting British industries, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”

“We always hear about the decline of the UK’s production but this news is a shining endorsement of British industry that will ensure that the UK continues to produce high quality products for the global marketplace”

Ends

For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu

Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294

or visit

www.robertsturdymep.com