APEC, WTO not to affect EU's single market
APEC, WTO not to affect EU's single market
JAKARTA (JP): The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
forum and the upcoming establishment of the new World Trade
Organization (WTO) will not spur negative competition with the
European Union's single market, German Ambassador Karl Walter
Lewalter predicts.
Germany considers APEC a positive accomplishment because it
can encourage competitive partnerships between the EU and Asia-
Pacific countries, Lewalter told reporters yesterday.
"Through partnerships, European countries can obtain opinions
and input ... on the situation in Asia from Asian eyes."
He was discussing Germany's position on various issues in the
context of his country's taking over the European Union's
presidency from Greece as of July 1.
As EU president, Germany will put forth efforts to expand the
union's external relations through the common foreign and
security policy.
Lewalter said this would be done by encouraging and preserving
foreign relations, in particular with Eastern and Central
European states: Slovenia, the Baltic states, Russia, Ukraine and
other former states of the Soviet Union.
Germany also plans to work at expanding trade relations with
developing East Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
Commenting on the trade opportunities in Asia, Lewalter said
he regarded Indonesia as having more potential than China,
"judging from the reality of the circumstances and from practical
reasons".
He pointed out that Indonesia "has always basically been,
since as early as the 16th century, a free market," whereas China
had only recently opened itself. "Protection and monopoly may
hamper the free market ... this is your choice, but basically you
have always abided by a free economy."
Mechanism
Lewalter said Germany would also strive to develop the EU's
internal mechanisms.
"If EU becomes bigger, we have to strengthen its mechanisms,"
he said.
The membership of the organization is expected to expand from
12 countries at present to at least 20 within the next few years.
Germany has also pledged to deal with major problems faced by
almost all European countries, which include underemployment and
unemployment.
A stable and growing economy does not always mean a cutback in
employment problems, he said. To resolve this under Germany's
presidency, the EU will encourage more training and improve
mechanisms of mediation so those who are unemployed can have more
employment opportunities.
"I think the EU is a success story... Don't always think in
terms of the critical voices, but think of the objectives
achieved," Lewalter said.
He explained that Germany is eager to "do away with the fear
of our neighbors" in the political, economic and security sense.
He admitted that Germany, with Hitler ruling what seemed a
malicious and almost unforgivable regime to some people, did
indeed have a gloomy history.
"But we have accepted it... It is a part of our past that we
will have to live with," he said.
Lewalter said Germany would encourage integration among
European countries in every way under the EU.
Currently, most EU countries are in unity when they are
exposed to major issues such as human rights, he said.
"You can count on it now ... you won't see Europe split up,"
he assured.
He added, however, that this unity does not indicate the
forming of a new superpower.
"As the EU becomes stronger, each member country will continue
to maintain its identity because it is a composite of many
countries," Lewalter pointed out.
In this regard, therefore, anything coming from Europe will be
"relatively slow", he said. (pwn)