On 18 – 19 June 2015 in Brussels, the General Assembly of EUROCOTON Members was held. As usual, the Assembly was accompanied by an Open Debate in the course of which the situation on the European yarn market, and most essential issues of the EU trade and textile industry were presented. The meetings were attended by a GCA representative.
In the course of the Debate, the following issues were presented.
Opportunities for EU textiles In Canada with CETA agrement & the EU negotiations with the US (TTIP)
– presented by Ignacio Garcia Bercero, Director DG Trade E, EU chief negotiator (TTIP), EC
FTA negotiations between EU and Vietnam
– presented by Frauke Sommer, Policy Co-ordinator DG Trade C2
Do we have to grant the market Economy Status to China (and Vietnam). The views from EU Industry’s sectors – Review by a EC official
presented by Ines Van Lierde – Secretary General of Euroalliages – Chair of Bussiness Europe TPI Task Force – Chair of EU Sectors’ Alliance on TDI;
commented by Gerhard Hannes Welge, Hearing Officer for Trade proceedings EC – WTO Chairman of Technical Group on AD, Geneva
Update on negotiations In the textile sector for the revision of the panEuromediterranean Convention on preferential rules of origin
presented by Peter Kovacs, Head of Unit TAXUD B3 Trade facilitation, rules of origin ad international coordination: Europe and neighbouring countries
In a vivid discussion, representatives of industry sharply criticised the EU policy – pointing out that it promotes interests of exporters and importers, at the cost of the processing sector.
During the evening Gala, Mr Slawomir TOKARSKI, Director (as from 1st June) of the Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing Directorate, DG GROW, European Commission,
Brussels, Belgium presented the Commission’s actions for re-industrialisation and promotion of European interests.