During the EP plenary session (15-18 May 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on harnessing globalisation by 2025. Statements by Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Fran&ccedil;oise GROSSETETE (EPP, FR), Jeppe KOFOD (S&amp;D, DK), Hans-Olaf HENKEL (ECR, DE), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) and Yannick JADOT (Greens/EFA, FR).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

KOFOD, Jeppe (S&D, DK)

HENKEL, Hans-Olaf (ECR, DE)

KATAINEN, Jyrki (FI, EC)

JADOT, Yannick (Greens/EFA, FR)

SCHAAKE, Marietje (ALDE, NL)

harnessing globalisation (T)

GROSSETÊTE, Françoise (EPP, FR)

Harnessing globalisation by 2025: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, The fact is that even if the EU has straight benefit from globalization this means little to our citizens if these benefits are not shared fairly and more evenly . The benefits of globalization are numerous: people travel work learn and live in different countries, they interact with each other on the web syringe their ideas, countries and experiences; students have online access to courses run by leading universities across the world; countries can produce more for less by specializing in what they do best and exploiting economies of scale. International competition and scientific cooperation have accelerated Innovation; European export have grown as customers worldwide demand high-quality goods and services we supply; 80% of our exporters are small and medium size companies so the benefit of the global value chains are both European SMEs and their workers.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fran&#231;oise GROSSET&#202;TE (EPP, FR), Europe has to live with the globalisation but it needs to try and control globalisation and is important that we don't simply turn in ourselves. The EU has to defend itself actively so it doesn't suffer adverse affects due to what is sometimes unbridled organization. I think that the point that you made are very valid Commissioner.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jeppe KOFOD (S&amp;D, DK), Globalisation has created in enormous wealth, however does not been fairly shared. Instead it has been enjoyed by the privileged few. Globalisation has spread industries trade and services but is also put established rights ,standard values features and even jobs under enormous pressure. When 45% of Europeans feel threatened by globalization, this is not a challenge that's a problem.

SOUNDBITE (German), Hans-Olaf HENKEL (ECR, DE), Let's not forget that globalization isn&rsquo;t only about goods capital services, is also about values ideals, democracy and moving those to the world.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), In recent years trade agreements have been hotly debated, and I remain convinced that the EU should lead in promoting rules-based trade as a frame around globalization. This frame of rules must always be based on our fundamental principles and high standards and take off the sharp edges that globalization can indeed exacerbate.

SOUNDBITE (French), Yannick JADOT (Greens/EFA, FR), You&rsquo;ve just discovered on you expenses and thanks to the Court of Justice that you cannot have a trade policy which is against the interest of the citizens. They mobilised against CETA that TTIP. You find out that you cannot conduct policy against the wishes of the national parliaments , but you keep proposing the same thing, continue with globalization, we will try to do it a bit better, will try to communicate a bit better, but will continue to have different countries competing against each other . That is going to feed in the far right. You say that it is a choice between isolationism and far right. There are a lot of people in the UK who don&rsquo;t want a free trade. You have to ensure that the trade policy is subject to the policy included in climate change policy, to democracy and social rights.