. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/ST/5
10 November 2001
(01-5581)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth SessionDoha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  English
BELGIUM
ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENCY OF
THE EUROPEAN UNION
Statement by H.E. Mrs. Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Let me first of all thank His Highness the Emir Hamad Al Khalifa Al Thani and the people of
Qatar for their hospitality on the occasion of the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the WTO.
I am very glad that this meeting takes place in Doha.  Indeed, since the early times of
humanity, the Middle East has played a pivotal role in the exchange between civilizations.  Trade has
been essential to this process through mutual respect and recognition, and still is.
At a time when international understanding is more than ever necessary and on the
background of a looming recession, this Conference has to give a clear signal to the world:  we should
work together and react to economic slowdown not by  protectionism but by further stimulating trade
flows.
I strongly believe that the launching of a broad and balanced trade round will meet the
pressing challenge of building a mo re equitable and prosperous world.
Indeed, trade is about more than just exchanging goods and services.  Trade is a contribution
to stability and peace, when it takes into account the special needs of the developing countries and
when the legitimate aspirations and concerns of our societies are being addressed.
The multilateral framework of the WTO is a guarantee that the interests of all the participants
in international trade, whatever their sized, are taken into account.
As we intend to take on board the needs of our  partners, especially those of the developing
countries, we also expect our concerns to be considered in a spirit of mutual trust and benefit.
We attach great importance for the developing countries, stricken by epidemics, to benefit
from the flexibility existing in the TRIPS Agreemen t as regards the access to medicines essential to
the treatment of those diseases.
We support further preferential and enhanced market access for our developing partners,
accompanied with strengthened capacity building measures.
Without restating what has just been expres sed by Commissioner Lamy, I want to emphasize
the European Union's strong interest to both the social and environmental dimensions of trade;
without impinging on the work done by other organizations, we cannot ignore the wider implicationsof the exchange of goods and services;  the European Union therefore supports the work in the ILO onWT/MIN(01)/ST/5
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social aspects of globalization and feels it necessary to associate the WTO to that process in the view
of a better understanding of the issues involved.
We all want to ensure that an open and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system and the
promotion of sustainable development are indeed mutually supportive;  we therefore think there is aneed to clarify WTO rules, while providing adequate safeguard against protectionism.
We also believe that further market access should be accompanied by clarifying, updating and
developing the rules.  We believe now is the time to initiate a process leading to negotiations on sound
rules in investment and competition.
As for Agriculture, you know that this activity is of great importance and sensitivity to the
European Union as well as to many other countries.  I refer to our position clearly stated by the
Commissioner.
The European Union welcomes the accession of China and Chinese Taipei to the WTO as a
major step in reinforcing the universal character of the Organization.  The world as a whole willbenefit from these accessions.
Together, we must all assess our priorities and show the necessary flexibility to make sure
that every one can return home at the end of this meeting with a result reflecting the mutual gains of
fruitful negotiations.
More than ever, this Conference that brings us together in Doha must contribute to a closer
world community.
It is with this spirit that the European Union has come to Doha.
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