Robert Sturdy

ROBERT STURDY WELCOMES HISTORIC TRADE DEALS BETWEEN EU AND VIETNAM

3 March 2010

Euro MP Robert Sturdy has welcomed the launching of talks towards a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the EU that could allow the Asian country to export more to Europe, the world’s biggest consumer market.

Mr Sturdy, Conservative International Trade spokesman, said these talks were crucial as it was one of several bilateral deals the EU was pursuing with emerging economies with the hope of striking a wider World Trade Organization pact in the near future.

Mr Sturdy said:

“I am delighted that Vietnam and the EU have decided to move towards an FTA.  Although the agreement may be many years in the making, I think that the economies of Vietnam and the EU are well suited, and a deal will lead to great opportunities for both sides, but particularly for the Vietnamese, helping to create jobs and foster development.”

“Some have expressed concern that a bilateral deal with hinder progress on the Doha round of talks at the WTO, but this is not the case.  During his visit to the European Parliament last week Pascal Lamy, the head of the WTO, stated that there was no evidence to support this theory.

“I am also particularly delighted that a new round of free-trade agreement negotiations will be held with Singapore next week following the announcement of our talks with Vietnam, and that we should share a vision as partners in trade and partners in growth.”

The bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations were launched following a meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi today.

Trade in goods between the two countries was almost €12 billion ($16.27 billion) in 2008 and has increased 12% a year between 2004 and 2008, said the commission, the EU’s executive arm.

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

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CONSERVATIVE EU TRADE SPOKESMAN WELCOMES AGREEMENT WITH PERU AND COLOMBIA

Brussels Wednesday 3 March 2010: Conservative International Trade spokesman Robert Sturdy today welcomed the European Commission’s ambitious trade deal with Peru and Colombia.

The trade agreement is step in the right direction in increasing prosperity in the region and in the development of human rights, he said.

In a statement Mr Sturdy said,

“I welcome the conclusion of the talks and the opportunities that will come forward from this ambitious trade deal.

“It is a step in the right direction towards increasing trade,  prosperity and will undoubtedly bring jobs to the region. In addition stable and sustainable trade will be used to foster development and human rights.

“There are concerns that a bilateral deal will hinder regional integration, but this is not the case.  During his visit to the European Parliament last week Pascal Lamy, the head of the WTO, stated that bilateral deals could be used as a springboard towards more comprehensive regional agreements. I am encouraged by Peru and Colombia’s efforts and hope that other countries in the area will follow suit.”

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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.

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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.”

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SUPPORT OUR EAST ANGLIAN FARMERS AND SHOPPERS WITH HONEST FOOD LABELLING, SAY CONSERVATIVE MEPS

20 January, 2010

With a new EU  Directive on ‘Food Information to Consumers’ in the offing, Conservative MEPs are pushing for changes in food labelling that will ensure consumers have the necessary information to make an  informed choice. Robert Sturdy and his fellow Conservative MEPs want mandatory country-of-origin labelling. They also hope this will encourage support for local produce.

Current law means that a chicken sandwich can have “produced in the UK” on the label but the chicken could have come all the way from Thailand. This is because processed food only has to indicate the “location of the last substantial change” under current rules. As long as the chicken was placed between two pieces of bread in Britain it can be labelled as produced in Britain.

Robert Sturdy said:

“This is not a protectionist measure, it is about giving the consumer the right to make clear and informed choices about the food they buy.  Clear and transparent labelling should indicate which countries the food stuffs have originated in, not simply the country in which they were processed.  We need to close this loophole to protect our consumers and keep them fully informed about where the food they are eating has been sourced.”

This campaign also has the full backing of Eastern Region MEPs Geoffrery Van Orden and Vicky Ford.

Geoffrey said:

“Meat labelled ‘British’ must from an animal born and bred in Britain. The East of England is a major food producing area. This is something we can take pride in and people want to know what they are buying really is from local produce. I would like to think that the industry would get ahead of the legislation and introduce changes itself.”

Vicky added: “I know that we all like to support local firms and local businesses, particularly when it comes to the food we eat.   Currently people are being denied the right to make a clear and informed choice. Conservatives want to change this. We will be working in 2010 to alter to how our food is labelled.”

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18 January 2010

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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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.”

ENDS

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Robert Sturdy takes Sir Paul McCartney to task over climate change

15 December 2009

While I have never been the biggest fan of The Beatles, (I always preferred The Rolling Stones) I have a huge amount of respect for Sir Paul McCartney the musical genius. And after hearing his speech in the European Parliament, I think he should stick to writing songs.  Sir Paul’s address was massively over simplified and extraordinarily disobliging to EU farmers.  At a sweep, Sir Paul reduced all world livestock farming to a single category, refusing to take into account the variations found across the world.

We have to maintain perspective.  In the UK our livestock production systems are already highly sustainable and are essential for our future food security. This applies not just to the UK, but to the entire EU.   Furthermore, agricultural production is responsible for just seven per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, and methane emissions from the sector have fallen by 17 per cent since 1990. In total, agriculture accounts for around one per cent of the UK’s total CO2 emissions. This is hardly the massively polluting industry that Sir Paul described in his speech.

At a time when livestock farmers are already struggling to make ends meet working eight days a week, encouraging people to eat less meat, regardless of its provenance, is not very helpful. It is clear that Sir Paul does not understand livestock production.   Much of our agricultural land in the UK is unsuitable for arable and vegetable crops and farmers play a key role in maintaining the beauty of much of our countryside. If we were to put farmers out of business by not buying their produce then this invaluable asset would be lost forever.

The European farming industry has already made huge progress in reducing its impact on the environment.  The car industry is lauded for its more efficient and environmentally friendly machines, so why should food producers not be treated in a similar fashion?  Focusing on a single issue as a way of saving the planet is irresponsible and will be counterproductive in the long run. What we should be doing is investing in agricultural research and development to develop green technologies which will enable farmers to grow ecologically sustainable food.  A recent report by the English Beef and Lamb Executive clearly demonstrates the steps the industry is taking to make sure they pull their weight.

By looking at the current emissions challenge facing the sector, and what can and will be done to further reduce its impact, the report sets out a clear and precise vision of reform.  Simplistic solutions like cutting livestock numbers, while making for a good sound bite, fail to identify the complicated challenges the food system faces, nor the strategies and practical measures that the industry is developing.
Put simply, eating less meat will not mean less climate change.

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Brussels 30 November 2009.

Robert Sturdy hopes Vauxhall jobs in Luton will be saved

Following news that General Motors plans to cut 354 jobs at its Vauxhall plant in Luton, Conservative MEP for the Eastern Region Robert Sturdy said,

“This regrettable news will mean that it will be a Bleak Christmas for some. It is a real shame that job cuts look likely.

“I hope that, following local consultation with plant and trade union leadership, that no further job cuts will be made and that GM keep their word and ensure that the plant continues to support the local community.

“Today’s news, while devastating to those involved could have been a lot worse if GM had of been sold off completely.”

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Contact: Robert +32 (0)2284 5294

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

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20 November 2009

Robert Sturdy accuses EU of “a classic fudge” over two new top Euro jobs

Eastern Region MEP Robert Sturdy has accused the EU of “a classic fudge” over the appointment of its first president and foreign minister, the two top jobs in Europe.

The Belgian Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy, is to be the first president elected by European leaders under the Lisbon Treaty, while Baroness Ashton, former Trade Commissioner, is the newly appointed High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy.

Mr Sturdy worked closely with Baroness Ashton as Conservative spokesman on international trade, and in June 2007 ratified her appointed as Trade Commissioner.

He said:

“Both these appointments are a classic EU fudge. They have appointed two weak people so Merkel and Sarkozy are not threatened.

“Baroness Ashton is a very nice person and was a good trade minister, but whether she is up to this new role remains to be seen. I am rather concerned it is a question of appointing people who are not qualified.

“Belgium has a split government and can’t agree on which language they should speak. How on earth can they agree on Europe? I would have liked to have seen Chris Patten as our president.”

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Shoes set to become cheaper if Commissioner accepts EU vote

EU trade committee votes against extending shoe duties

Brussels, 19th November 2009 — EU trade commissioner Cathy Ashton must not attempt to overrule today’s vote in an EU trade committee which would cause the price of shoes from China and Vietnam to fall, Robert Sturdy MEP, trade spokesman for the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament, said today.

The EU’s anti-dumping committee voted by 15 votes to 12 against extending a 16.5 percent and a 10 percent tariff on shoes from China and Vietnam respectively, for another 15 months.

The duties, which were introduced by Lord Mandelson in 2006 when he was trade commissioner, have had a detrimental effect on consumers and retailers across Europe. For example, Clarks says they have cost it around €800m in import costs since 2006.

However, the vote could now signal the end of the duties so long as the trade commissioner does not intervene to overrule it and force another vote in the Council of Ministers.

Mr Sturdy said:

“These import duties are a tax on consumers and retailers that are intended to futilely protect southern European manufacturers from the effects of globalisation. It is wrong that people should be forced to pay more for their shoes in order to protect Mediterranean cobblers.

“Had the EU’s anti-dumping committee voted to extend the duties it would have been inevitable that commissioner Ashton would have endorsed their decision. Now that the representatives have decided to scrap them, she must also accept their will.

“British consumers will not thank Commissioner Ashton if she intervenes now to renew these taxes, which would undermine any resurgence in high street spending.”

ENDS

Contact: Robert on +32 228 45294
ECR Press Office: James Holtum on +32 473 861762

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18 November, 2009

EU SHOE TARIFFS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE BOOT, SAYS MEP ROBERT STURDY

EU countries have been urged to defend retailers and consumers tomorrow when they vote on renewing punitive trade duties on Chinese and Vietnamese shoe imports, according to MEP Robert Sturdy, Conservative international trade spokesman in the European Parliament.

The EU’s anti-dumping committee will decide whether to extend a 16.5 per cent and a 10 per cent tariff on shoes from China and Vietnam respectively for another 15 months. The duties were introduced by Lord Mandelson in 2006 when he was Trade Commissioner.

Retailers have not taken a shine to the plans, which Clarks Shoes says have cost it around €800m in import costs since 2006.

Mr Sturdy is calling on national governments to think of the millions of consumers who will have to pay more for their shoes, rather than the few Mediterranean producers who want to protect against globalisation, and that they should seize it as an opportunity.

He said:

“Once again we are seeing the EU’s trade policy determined by a few southern European producers who have failed to see globalisation as an opportunity and want the EU to futilely protect against it.

“This is an EU tax on consumers and retailers which will not save manufacturing jobs in Europe in the long run.

“We cannot shut out cheap imports from Asia, but we can reap the benefits from cheaper production thanks to outsourcing. Countries like Britain who have embraced outsourcing of basic production have found their fashion industries thrive as more design and finishing jobs are created at home.

“It seems ludicrous that the EU would want to artificially inflate the prices of shoes at a time when we are trying to encourage high street spending.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
1.    For further information, please contact: Robert on 002 228 45294,
or ECR Press Office James Holtum on 0032 473 861762.
2.    Media requests can be arranged through Robert’s Press Officer, Ellee Seymour, on 07939 811961.

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PRESS RELEASE

20 October 2009

ROBERT STURDY CALLS FOR LONG TERM SOLUTIONS FOR THE DAIRY SECTOR

MEP Robert Sturdy has promised to challenge any attempts to bring back huge  EU cash subsidies to the crisis hit dairy sector.

As the European Commission announced £255m in aid is to be given to European dairy farmers to help the sector cope with the recent slide in milk prices, East Anglian MEP Robert Sturdy has reiterated that now is not the time for a return to the days of huge EU subsidies.

The EU dairy sector has already received large amounts of support from the European Commission who have offered national governments the option to pay farmers up to £13,800 under a “temporary crisis framework.”

But a majority of EU member states, led by France and Germany, want to see the reinstatement of subsidies to cope with the sector’s problems.

Mr Sturdy, a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, said:

“We must be careful that the recent promises of support for EU dairy farmers do not lead us back to the bad old days of inefficient over-production at the expense of our region’s taxpayers and consumers.

“While I sympathise with the plight of dairy farmers, milk prices are showing signs of recovery and we might well be over the worst of the crisis.

“Europe’s dairy farmers should be preparing for a future quota free milk sector, not calling for short term fixes that will ultimately lead to more problems for them in the long term.

“I want to see a viable and competitive European dairy sector, one that can stand on its on two feet, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a free global market.”

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16 October 2009

ROBERT STURDY CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT FOR FARM PAYMENTS BLUNDERS

A damning report from the National Audit Office has once again revealed the blundering of the British government in paying EU subsidies to farmers, said MEP Robert Sturdy.
The report said the administration of the Single Farm Payments scheme did not provide value for money for taxpayers, and accused DEFRA of showing scant regard for protecting public money.

The review also claimed that the cost of processing claims has risen to around £1,743 per claim under the complex system used. Meanwhile, the cost per claim under the simpler Scottish system is £285.

The Single Farm Payment was introduced by Margaret Beckett in 2005. At the time she went against all warnings and created an overly complex system for administering the payments which resulted in substantial delays for farmers.

Mr Sturdy, who sits on the Agriculture Committee, believes that if the government cannot get the system right after four years, it should reconsider it.

He said:

“This is another example of failed Labour Government bureaucracy and it is our farmers who are losing out.  Ministers have failed to protect public money and failed to provide taxpayers with value for money.

“Despite many warnings that this convoluted system was bound to fail from the start, the government went ahead anyway and things have gone from bad to worse.  Errors are still being made and our region’s farmers have little idea of when they will actually get paid.

“If the government is unable to get it right after four years it needs to seriously reconsider the current system.”

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14 October 2009

SHOE HIKE LIKELY AFTER UK TRADE COMMISSIONER BOWS TO PRESSURE

Brussels 14 October 2009. Conservative International Trade spokesman Robert Sturdy said Britain’s hard-pressed consumers would be hit further after Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton chose to extend ‘anti-dumping’ for another 15 months.

The so-called ‘anti-dumping’ measures currently in place will see additional duties on shoes of 16.5 percent from China, and 10 percent on shoes from Vietnam over the next two years.

Mr Sturdy said UK consumers and local retailers would feel the brunt of the duties at a time when other household bills are rising sharply.

He said:

“Commissioner Ashton’s has bowed to pressure from Mediterranean countries. Shoe prices in the UK could increase unnecessarily as a result at a time when we are already facing higher household bills.

“This extension is a vain attempt to protect Mediterranean leather shoe manufacturers who need to face up to the fact they cannot produce shoes more cheaply than Asian countries. China needs to be seen as an opportunity, but the EU is still treating it as a threat and trying to block it out.

“Free trade is good for consumers and it creates more and better jobs. It may be painful for some, but the EU will gain in the long run. Burying our heads in the sand and pretending globalisation has never happened is the totally wrong approach. I have written to Lord Davies of Abersoch, the Minister of State for Trade promotion and Investment calling on him not to succumb to the legislation and to stand strong on the issue in the European Council.”

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30 September 2009

“WHAT A LOT OF COBBLERS,” SAYS ROBERT STURDY AS EU COMES UNDER PRESSURE TO EXTEND TAX HIKE ON FAR EAST SHOES

Mediterranean high end shoe manufacturers are trying to keep up the cost of ordinary leather shoes on UK high streets to protect themselves from cheaper imports from China and Vietnam, Conservative International Trade Spokesman in Europe Robert Sturdy MEP said today.

The so-called ‘anti-dumping’ measures currently in place, and being considered for extension by the EU, could see the tariff of 16.5 percent continuing on shoes from China, and 10 percent on shoes from Vietnam over the next two years.

Mr Sturdy said UK consumers and local retailers would feel the brunt of the duties at a time when other household bills are rising sharply.

He said:

“Shoe prices in the UK could increase unnecessarily at a time when we are already facing higher household bills.

“The EU needs to see the opening of markets with China as an opportunity for consumers who will benefit from increased choice and lower higher street prices.  But the EU is still treating it as a threat and trying to block it out.

“Free trade is good for consumers and it creates more and better jobs. It may be painful for some, but the EU will gain in the long run. Burying our heads in the sand and pretending globalisation has never happened is the totally wrong approach.”

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21 September 2009

ROBERT STURDY SPEAKS AT EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON FOOD SECURITY

Eastern Region MEP Robert Study is to speak in Barcelona this week about global food security and the vital role of pesticides at a leading agri-chemical conference.

Mr Sturdy, who is a farmer and sits on the Agricultural and Environment Committees, will join a panel of experts for a discussion on this topic, including plant scientist Dr Ian Denholm, from Rothamsted Research, and Dominic Dyer, Chief Executive of the Crop Protection Association.

Mr Sturdy, who is speaking at the Agchem Forum 2009 on Wednesday, said: “This conference highlights many real concerns about food security and how demand could outstrip increases in food production. Without effective crop protection, over 40% of crops grown in Europe could be lost at pre or post harvest.

“With Europe facing serious challenges to its food security, with rising demand, coupled to increased fuel costs and the effects of climate change, it has become more viral than ever that European farmers have access to the crop protection tools they need to produce safe and healthy crops in the quantities required.”

Mr Sturdy will outline his concerns about Commission changes to how plant protection products are defined as harmful to health following the introduction of a new hazard-based regulatory system which will ban products which have been used safely for many years.

Mr Sturdy will also highlight two Commission shortfalls: the first is inconsistencies which allows produce to be imported from outside the EU having been grown with banned pesticides, and the second is their refusal to carry out an impact assessment on a group of chemicals it has banned, endocrine disrupters, without being fully aware of all the facts.

Mr Sturdy added: “We all know that pesticides are already among some of the most heavily regulated chemicals in Europe. So what does the EU do? Drown farmers and industry with yet more red tape, the costs of which will be passed on to the consumer.

“We must consider the effects for producers in the developing world and those already struggling to become better integrated on global markets. We need to have a level playing field for all, and at the moment we just don’t know what the impacts on cost will be.

“While this new legislation may be paved with good intentions, as it currently stands it could have a serious impact on European food security.

“If people can be educated as to their use, I do not see why many chemicals cannot be kept in use in European gardens, allotments, parks and fields.”

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