Conservatives back Barroso's war on protectionism
Posted, March 12, 2008 @ 00:00
Europe needs to welcome globalisation, says Conservative leader
Strasbourg, 12th March 2008 -- This week's European Council summit must face down new threats to free trade and to the principles of free competition, said Giles Chichester MEP, Conservative Leader in the European Parliament.
Supporting Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso who has warned recently that some European leaders are backsliding towards economic nationalism, Mr Chichester said:
"Europe has much more to gain from globalisation than it has to lose. The reality is that European citizens are winners from globalisation with cheap imports, low inflation and low interest rates. And, notwithstanding the emergence of India and China, the EU's share of world exports rose between 2000 and 2006. In France, where protectionist rhetoric is perhaps most marked, a recent report stated that only 3.4% of jobs lost in 2005 could be blamed on so-called "off-shoring". So, we should get all this in perspective and back the Commission President in his strong stance on this matter."
Commenting that Europe can only succeed in international markets if it improves its competitiveness, radically reforms its labour markets and cracks down hard on bad business regulation both at EU and national level, Mr Chichester added:
"The 'Economist' asked the question - "Will today's politicians ever be frank enough to tell the people that globalisation is good for Europe and for them?" President Barroso has been been frank. It's time for EU leaders to back him."