During the Strasbourg  plenary session today the European Parliament adopted by a large majority Marielle DE SARNEZ's (Modem, France) report on trade relations between the EU and China. Unbalanced relations, as the trade deficit more than tripled in the past 10 years; this demands a new partnership whose main lines are reciprocity rules, trade balance, and transparency in trade relations.

Marielle de Sarnez said: "The rise in influence of China is a challenge we are facing, because the European economy now appears stalled, and its decline has raised fears that it is no longer able to compete internationally with the assurance and determination of the past. If we want to remain a leading economic power, we should not opt for a confinement that would be a headlong rush towards decline, but rather build Euro-Chinese trade relations based on a more equal partnership. "

The report, which lends support to the proposals recently announced by the Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht, encourages China to further open its markets to European companies and to adhere to the Plurilateral Agreement on Public Procurement. The report also calls for moderation of the Chinese system of joint venture and the transfer of strategic technology. It proposes to increase the EU-China customs cooperation to fight against counterfeiting. It also recommends the EU to resort to trade defense instruments when necessary, especially to defend intellectual property rights.

Madame de Sarnez concluded: "All this would be pointless if the EU refused to implement a concerted policy of production, re-industrialization, and a research and innovation policy to meet the new global challenges. I also want to insist emphatically on the requirement for better coordination between Member States so that their bilateral relations with China do not weaken the position of the Union. On this issue Europe needs to speak with one voice and to have a common policy. "