Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur on EU-New Zealand free trade agreement holds a press conference. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

press conference

CASPARY, Daniel (EPP, DE)

EU - New Zealand (T)

Press Conference on EU-New Zealand free trade agreement by Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Thank you very much for being interested in this, I think very important issue. And as we are having the privilege that our interpreters are doing their great job, I would change to my mother tongue, which is German.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased indeed that during this parliamentary term, at last, we have been able to vote on a lot of trade agreements. We started with Vietnam, and finally with New Zealand we have a final vote in the European Parliament. This is something, which has been needed for a long time, and I would have hoped that during this parliamentary term we could have managed Australia and Mercosur as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Now what does this agreement mean? It means that we have new export possibilities for our businesses, particularly for us. It also above all means that we are in a better position for competition, and we are able to see what future trade is going to be like.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, New Zealand is a small partner in terms of population and production, but at a juncture when international rule of law is being called into question, we are seeing, for example, Russia and Ukraine. So the rule of law is under pressure and in this respect we are so pleased that in this agreement we are demonstrating as EU, together with our partners, we have a major interest in international law and in doing our utmost to ensure that countries adhere to it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So this is something, which we want to ensure. It strengthens the rule of law and doesn't allow pure power to succeed where it shouldn't. This is the most modern agreement that we as an European Union have concluded, and SMEs are going to have an independent position.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Also, the there is a chapter on digital trade, which stands alone. We have also looked at climate change requirements. These are now binding. For New Zealand, we have also ensured that the Maori people of New Zealand are adequately protected. We want this to be a model. We want this to be a paradigm of an agreement between the EU and another country. We want to ensure that in the future such high standards will be complied with across the board. Because there are many other things in this agreement, which we haven't seen as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So approximately €140 million is involved in exports. 10% of automobile tariffs will be dismantled, and this means that our automobile industry in the future will be in a better position, will be more competitive. And then we have also confectionery and other food products at 0%. And we have mutual investment prospects as well. European investment in New Zealand, which was a New Zealand investment in the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So I've been involved in discussion on our agreements for many years, and in our opinion, we feel that this agreement deals with many important issues climate protection. This is something which is a milestone as it is regulated in a binding fashion in this agreement, and also food standards, labelling pesticides, GMOs, a whole series of issues have been included to ensure that our rules and regulations are not jeopardised by this agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So I think we have been able to see a record voting in the European Parliament on such issues. There have been criticisms, which have been levelled. Those who have expressed doubts have often abstained now, and we hope that the Council will now vote favourably on this agreement and then we shall be able to successfully implement this agreement before the elections this year, and ensure that this remains a model for other regions of the world with which the European Union trades.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, So I'd like to thank everybody who has worked for years on this and the European Parliament. We have had an atmosphere of mutual trust during these years, and this has enabled us to reach the conclusion that we have today. Page, I think is here. And so I should like to thank him for his dedication, and I hope that also others here as well will that take the floor. Anybody who is interested in this topic over to you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, -

Q&A, Question about the enviromental consequences.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, As I said, I will be very pleased to have discussions with the Commission and also with others who are responsible in Member States. I think a message in the Parliament has been sent. We have a wide a broad majority in favour of this. We hope the Commission takes that on board and clarifies this with our partners. And then we need to look at other agreements which are under negotiation, Australia, etc.

SOUNDBITE (English), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, And we hope that in the next parliamentary term, if the majorities remain stable, that we shall be able to make good progress on other agreements with other partners. I, I think that during this parliamentary term we have managed to achieve a lot. We've got the Canada agreement, for example, we managed to overcome major differences and come to an agreed basis. And this is of course is also the basis on which we work within the European Parliament.