Meeting with the European Union (EU) Trade Delegation

Meeting report

Mr Giles Chichester Member of the European Parliament (MEP), the Chairperson of the EU delegation introduced his delegation. The Committee Chairperson also introduced Committee Members and welcomed the European team.

Ms Sabine Verheyen MEP mentioned that Germany created about 100 000 jobs in South Africa through the German development entity.

Ms Sargentini Judith MEP said the EU had certain agricultural concerns that affected political decisions. She said that Britain was steadily integrating with the EU economy

Mr Chichester said that Britain was concerned about the different taxation levels and the invisible barriers such as cultural and legal among Members of the EU.

Mr Svenson Alf MEP explained that all EU countries were tied to each other, if one country left the monetary union then they would have to pay all their debts in euros because their individual currencies were no longer in use. When one country’s economy was suffering, then the EU was obliged to bail them out because if that particular country's economy collapsed then the whole EU would be affected.

Mr T Harris (DA) said that there has to be intra-EU trade and a balance between the North and South. Spain Portugal and Ireland were trapped in a monetary union with countries that had stronger economies.

Ms Fubbs mentioned that she was aware of the problems caused by the agriculture subsidies to EU farmers.

Ms C Kotsi (COPE) said that the Committee was looking at all trade agreements between South Africa and the EU, some of them were outdated. She said that “the playing field needed to be leveled”.

Ms S Van Der Merwe (ANC) mentioned that the SA Development Partnership was working very well in channeling funds to the correct programmes.

Mr S Njikelana (ANC) mentioned that green energy generation would be very helpful in transferring technology and skills to developing countries.

Mr B Rhadebe (ANC) said that the only weapon for fighting underdevelopment was through trade. He added that his home province had been devastated by the 2010 -2011 floods as a direct result of global warming/climate change.

Ms Fubbs said that the EU should know very clearly the reason that SA wants to win the Square Kilometre Array bid. She indicated that she was aware that the EU had its own problems such as unemployment and economic depression of Member States, which might affect the whole world.

Mr Giles said that Ireland Greece Spain and Portugal had an undiversified economy, Ireland’s economy was mostly concentrated on construction, and when money ran out, their economies collapsed.

Ms Fubbs mentioned that the EU SA partnership had to look at critical development issues; SA wanted development rather than dependency. Education and strategic skills were more important for South Africa than the EU. SA needed peace and stability in order to achieve sustainable growth.

Mr Giles enquired about the next joint meeting between the EU delegation and its SA counterpart.

Ms Fubbs said that November was out of the question, she suggested September and August. Mr Giles said that August and September were out. Suitable dates will be communicated at a later stage.

The meeting was adjourned