Following the changes in the Commission, MEPs from the Committee on International Trade (INTA) examine whether candidate Valdis DOMBROVSKIS is qualified to carry out the particular duties assigned to him (An Economy that Works for People) in the European Parliament in Brussels. This hearing is followed by a meeting in which the Chairs and group representatives (coordinators) of the Committee evaluate the candidate’s suitability.

Brussels

Committee on International Trade

VAN BREMPT, Kathleen (S&D, BE)

DOMBROVSKIS, Valdis (EPP, LV, EC)

hearing of Commissioners

HANSEN, Christophe (EPP, LU)

2020 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS 2020 (T)

Hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President designate, An Economy that Works for People: extracts from the hearing

Arrival of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, 3 shots

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade, I will bring forward a new roadmap for a trade policy. This roadmap must fit into our wider plan for sustainable and digital recovery. It must be modern and UP-TO-DATE in support of our values and wider geopolitical goals. It must maximise opportunities for our companies around the world. It must strengthen our toolbox to defend ourselves from unfair practises.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade, One of my first priorities will be to reform the rules based system of global economic governance. We need to make it fit for today's world. This means WTO that settles disputes quickly and efficiently, with strong rules to ensure a level playing field at WTO with sustainable development goals and climate change at the core of its work.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade, One of the most urgent sustainability issues is to protect the Amazon rainforest. These are the lungs of our planet. Our best advantage is that we have an ongoing partnership discussion with Mercosur countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade, I will spare no effort in revitalising our strategic partnership with the United States. I will bring a fresh impetus to transatlantic work on trade, technology, taxation, the reform of multilateral trading system, including discipline on disciplines, on industrial subsidies.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade, We will work to enhance our trade and investment relationship with China, notably by concluding the Comprehensive Agreement on investment. However, our partnership must be restructured to be reciprocal, balanced and fair.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade, I see Africa as a key partner for Europe. Africa is on our doorstep. It is a continent with the highest growth potential in the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade, I would like to say a few words on our negotiations with the United Kingdom. It is a strong interest of both sides to construct the closest possible trading relationship. But I should underline that progress will depend on both sides respecting their commitments under the withdrawal agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Christophe HANSEN (EPP, LU), Your predecssor, Phil Hogan, managed to negotiate the first tariff reduction in over 20 years with the United States. And for me, it is, of course, a very positive departure, new departure. So how are you going to react and build on this? And how is this going to be used as well with, for example, the WTO arbitration on the Boeing case where four million, four billion have been granted to the European Union? Are you going to say this?

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade And the trade facilitation agreement you mentioned was a positive first step in this direction, that instead of increasing tariffs, we are discussing how we are actually mutually decreasing tariffs and we must continue this engagement. We must get us back to the negotiating table also on multilateral fora, because it's clear that to have a meaningful WTO reform, we need us on board on this.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, designated to assume responsability for trade In the absence of a negotiated settlement, of course, we will have no chance, but also to impose our tariffs in line with a WTO ruling in a Boeing case. So we will use those rights if there is not going to be a negotiated settlement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kathleen VAN BREMPT (S&amp;D, BE), With the Mercosur agreement you mentioned, you are willing take steps with regard to deforestation. Will that include, for instance, pre ratification, with enforceable TSD chapters

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, I would propose to launch a comparative study to see what countries around the world are doing on enforcement, TSD chapters and more globally, climate, environmental, social labour law. And what are the best practises so how we can move forward on these.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, We will need meaningful results, meaningful engagement from Mercosur countries before we can proceed with ratification. So some countries would need to deliver on the first version of the Paris agreement because that's very clear.

SOUNDBITE (English), Karin KARLSBRO (RE, SE), Carbon border adjustment mechanism is a priority for the commission, and the sustainability chapters now include binding reference to the Paris Agreement. Aside from these initiatives, what other measures will you introduce to make sure that the EU remains a strong power for free, fair, rules-based and sustainable trade?

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, I will come forward with a trade and climate initiative in WTO to continue basically to build on the work on a WTO, work on trade in environmental goods. So there is indeed much more we would need and open and willing to work in this direction.

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, 

SOUNDBITE (English), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), Drawing from you, from your extensive experience and frontrunning role on sustainable finance, I would like to you to use your political imagination now that we are in the middle of this negotiation with China on the investment agreement, can you see that a leadership initiative here on sustainable finance with the investment agreement with China could be a way to go?

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of an Economy that works for People, We are making progress. We see some good openings from China in the area of market access. And we also are emphasising that we do not need any agreement with China. We need agreement which helps us to rebalance our economic relationships and restores a level playing field.