European Apparel and Textile Organisation
24 rue Montoyer – B – 1000  Brussels
phone: + 32.2.285.48.81 – Fax : +32.2.230.60.54
e:mail : william.lakin@euratex.org
Web-site : www.euratex.org

Conference of Ministers of Countries of the Mediterranean basin on Trade Issues - Palermo, Monday 7th July 2003.

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PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, July 3rd 2003

" Conference of Ministers of Countries of the Mediterranean basin on Trade Issues”
Palermo, Monday 7th July 2003

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On the eve of the Euro Mediterranean Ministers’ Conference in Palermo on Monday 7th July 2003, Euratex, representing the European textile and clothing industry including new member states and major Mediterranean countries, believes that it must stress the importance of the completion of the Euro-Med area for the textile and clothing industry throughout the region. A positive signal must now be sent from Ministers by finally accepting proposals in respect of the cumulation of origin.

It is vital that Trade Ministers, particularly from the major Mediterranean rim countries, agree on the Commission’s compromise, without further delay or negotiation. This will send a clear and positive signal to the business community and particularly to the Textile and Clothing industry that this area should become an attractive region for Foreign Direct Investment.
The compromise on the table is the result of a lengthy negotiation process since the launch of the Action Plan in Toledo (2002) that follows the results of the working group initialled in Brussels on May 2001. For companies active in the Textile and Clothing industry, only the acceptance of the compromise concerning the cumulation of origin in the area and the very rapid implementation of the proposed changes would pave the way for Euromed companies to fully exploit the natural advantages of this area, well in advance of the end of the Barcelona Process.
This is all the more important for the textile and clothing industry in the light of the disappearance of the quota system on 31st December 2004 which will increase competitive pressures for all players in the area.
In illustrating the importance of this area for textiles and clothing, Francesco Marchi, Director of Economic Affairs at Euratex stated: “It must be remembered that this wider Paneuromed region involves a total population of more than 750 million, employing in 2002 more than 6,1 million people in textiles and clothing alone. They are involved in the production, manufacture and consumption of the widest possible range of end products, early processing and semi-manufacture all of which are available within the zone. Globally the textile and clothing industries of the wider Paneuromed area achieved a turnover of in excess of 230 billion Euros in 2002.”
These figures clearly demonstrate the continuing importance for the EU and its future members of a soundly based and prosperous textile and clothing industry, offering stability of employment and growth opportunities, an issue of particular concern in those regions which are more heavily dependent upon the industry.



Euratex also urges Euromed Trade Ministers to support the EU position in the context of market access for non-agricultural products within the Doha Development Agenda. Only a coordinated and mutually supportive action from the Euromed partners in favour of a sectoral approach as described by the EU Commission in this context will prove to textile and clothing manufacturers that Euromed trade ministers are fully committed to the achievement of an effective and competitive Euromed area in an industry which will, as a result, obtain a framework within which it can finally realise its full potential on world markets.


For further information, contact:

W.H. LAKIN Phone : +32/2/285.48.81EURATEX Fax : +32/2/230.60.54Rue Montoyer, 24 website: www.euratex.orgBox 10 1000 - Brussels

Francesco MARCHI Phone : +32/2/285.48.92EURATEX Fax : +32/2/230.60.54Rue Montoyer, 24 website: www.euratex.orgBox 101000 - Brussels





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Press Release July 3rd 2003

About Euratex

Euratex, the European Apparel and Textile Organisation, represents the interests of Europe's textile and clothing industry. It expresses the views of that industry to the European Commission and to the European Parliament on behalf of 114,000 companies in the European Union which employed close to 2.2 million workers in 2001. Today, Euratex concerns itself principally with external trade, intellectual property, the environment and R & D. In addition to its members in the EU, Euratex also has members in Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and a majority of CEEC candidate countries. The current President of Euratex is Filiep Libeert (Belgium).

For further information, contact:

William LAKIN                                                            Francesco MARCHI
Director General                                                         Director Economic Affairs
Phone : 32.2.285.48.82                                                32.2.285.48.92
William.lakin@euratex.org                                       Francesco.marchi@euratex.org