On 2nd October 2020, Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, is heard by the Committee on International Trade (INTA) of the European Parliament in Brussels to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. On this occasion, Valdis DOMBROVSKIS has the opportunity to make an opening statement. The following transcription is the result of an automatic process. Check Against delivery.

Hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade: opening statement

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Honourable Chair, honourable members of the parliament, I am very honoured that the chair of the EU Commission, Von Der Leyen, has entrusted me the responsibility to take care of the trade issues. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today and to outline the tasks for the next year in the trade area, also viewing them in the wider perspective of development.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, I hope that you today will gain the most certainty to entrust me with this task. We are facing many important challenges in Latvia, we say that if you have arms and you can work. I have been elected the member of the EPP in Tallinn for three consecutive legislative and so I understand cooperation as self-explanatory thing; what works for me that works for people. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Trade is a powerful, positive force in this respect. It supports one in seven high quality European jobs. Of course, in today's world, trade is about much more than just trade. European trade policy must do more to help us meet the great challenges of our time. This is why we are conducting a wide review of our trade policy. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Working with you honourable members and with our stakeholders and civil society, 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. It must leverage our strengths as a world's trading powerhouse, and it must unlock doors for influence, globally. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Only Europe that is open to the world can shape the trade policy of the 21st century. So I propose to drive forward trade policy in order to reform the rules-based multilateral order, rethink trade policy, to deliver on our sustainability goals, reinforce free and fair trade by engaging with our partners while at the same time strengthening our defence and enforcement and finally redouble our leadership in trade by managing our key relationships. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Ladies and gentlemen, 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 a WTO that settles disputes quickly and efficiently, with strong rules to ensure a level playing field. A WTO with sustainable development goals and climate change at the core of its work, a WTO responding to the digital revolution, harnessing the full potential of the free flow of data. In this respect, I will prioritise negotiations on e-commerce. Of course, it will be very important that we uphold our GDP rules on personal data protection. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Europe has the influence and credibility to lead this reform effort. In the context of covid-19 pandemic. We have already put forward ideas for trade and health initiatives that would facilitate trade in essential pharmaceutical and medical goods. I'm happy to announce today that I will launch a WTO trade and climate initiative focusing on green goods and services. I look forward to discussing this with you at the earliest opportunity. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Staying with sustainability and climate, trade can deliver real results here. I would direct you to my track record on sustainable finance. Europe was the first region with appropriate legislation in this area and Europe is now a global leader. My approach was never top down, but based on reaching out, finding common ground and building alliances. My approach will stay the same. Working with our partners is how Europe achieves results. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Every time one of our trade deals includes a trade and sustain a sustainable development chapter, we are making a mutual commitment. I know we need to strengthen the enforcement of these chapters even more. So my commitment is that I will work closely with you and with our new chief trade enforcement officer to achieve results. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, The commission will respect will propose that respect of Paris climate commitments as essential element for future trade agreements. We'll do more to support gender equality, women's empowerment, labour and human rights, including strong action to eliminate child labour. We'll examine how we can include more granularity in the enforcement of these chapters. I will work closely with Commissioner Reynders to advance the commission's proposal on mandatory due diligence already next year. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Ladies and gentlemen, 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. Negotiating this agreement has taken 20 years. This is a first of this kind that Mercosur has negotiated with a global partner. The sustainability chapter is most progressive in any of our trade deals. It contains explicit commitments on deforestation and implementation of Paris Agreement. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, However, I recognise the concerns expressed by honourable members, by civil society and by our citizens. I share these concerns. Therefore, we should redouble our engagement with Mercosur partners to find lasting solutions for Amazon region. This will be a critical element on the path towards ratification of the agreement. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Honourable members, openness go hand in hand with fairness. To reinforce our commitment to free and fair trade, we must engage with our partners while at the same time we must strengthen our defence and enforcement. Europe needs to become more assertive by protecting our companies, securing our strategic interests, strengthening reciprocity and levelling the playing field. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, The chief trade enforcement Officer will work to implement our agreements. This means removing barriers and protecting our workers, consumers and companies wherever trade partners do not play by the rules. In addition, I will seek to strengthen our enforcement tools with your support, I hope we can swiftly agree on updated enforcement regulation. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, We also must strengthen our trade defence force. I will support the efforts to launch a new legal instrument dealing with distortions from foreign substances in our internal market. I will work as member states to ensure that screening mechanisms for foreign direct investment are working well on the ground. I will also look for your help to conclude the work on dual use exports and international procurement instrument. And to strengthen our hand in defending the EU against unfair practises of others, I will bring forward a proposal next year for a new anti-corruption mechanism. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, In parallel with defending ourselves better, we need to help our companies, in particular our SMEs, to derive maximum benefit from our free trade agreements. This is critical for our future economic prospects, given that in the next decade, 85 percent of the economic growth will take place outside the EU. Therefore, I am very pleased to announce that later this month I will launch access to Markets Portal. This will be one stop shop in all EU languages to help SMEs navigate the world of international trade. I look forward for your strong participation in this High-Level Event. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Ladies and gentlemen, all the goals I have outlined require our global partnerships to be strong and responsive. So transatlantic trade and investment relationship remains the global engine of prosperity. 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 industrial subsidies. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, The recent deal on tariff reduction represents the first step of this renewed cooperation. However, if the US continues to disengage from multilateralism and pursue unilateral actions, the EU will not hesitate to defend its interests and respond in a proportionate way. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Let me now turn from the United States to China. We need to pursue a results oriented engagement with Beijing. I co-chair a High-Level Economic Dialogue with China in my current role. This gives me a clear understanding of the political and economic reality. We will work to enhance our trade and investment relationship with China, notably by concluding the Comprehensive Agreement on investment. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, However, our partnership must be restructured to be reciprocal, balanced and fair. European companies in China need fair treatment and real market access. Closer to home 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. By 2050, Africa will represent around 75 percent of the global growth workforce. I am committed to reinforcing our economic partnership agreements with Africa building resilient value chains and boosting sustainable public and private investment in sectors of mutual interest.Our long term objective is to achieve a continent to continent agreement. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Moving still a little closer, we need to enhance our cooperation with our neighbourhood region. These relationships are important aspect of our trade policy with a strong geopolitical dimension. Likewise, we must continue to support EU candidates and potential candidates, including through the extension of our autonomous trade measures. I count on the co- legislators to have a new regulation in place in time, and I very much welcome the recent vote in the committee in this regard. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, I would like to say a few words on our negotiations with the United Kingdom. It is in 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. Both the commission and the Parliament have been very clear on this point. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, To conclude honourable members. All the steps I have outlined will feed into the ongoing review of our trade policy. This will help us to design a new direction for EU trade based on the concept of open strategic autonomy. If confirmed, I will come back to this house regularly to engage with you on all these issues and I will maintain an active outreach to civil society. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, As a proof of my commitment to avoid an inclusive approach a series of dedicated civil society dialogues will start already next month. I pledge to maintain a high degree of transparency in my dealings with the European Parliament. I will ensure that you have all the information you need in good time. I want to reassure the group coordinators that I have taken a good note of the expectations you expressed in the context of my predecessors hearing last year. I hope you recognise that this has inspired the programme I have put forward today. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade, Let me conclude by saying that we live in unprecedented times&gt; We face increased challenges at home and abroad. Working together, we can design a strong European plan to address these challenges. Working together, we can future proof Europe's trade policy. Thank you. 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Bernd LANGE, INTA Chair, Thanks a lot, Vice-President Dombrovskis, for this comprehensive overview. And thanks a lot for some commitments you made and thirdly as a chair thanks for being exactly in the time. So that's a good starting point. 

Hearing of Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Executive Vice-President for An Economy that Works for People, designated to assume responsibility for trade: opening statement

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