Chairman of the EU Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, David McAllister estimates that the solution to Indonesia's oil palm polemic could be completed by the end of 2018.
mcAllister also explained that the EU will have a special discussion at the EU headquarters in Brussels over the continuation of palm oil commodity imports from supplying countries entering the Blue Continent market - such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Colombia and others - are experiencing barriers.
"The Formal Trilogue involving the Council of the European Union, the EU Parliament and the EU Commission to discuss palm oil imports will be implemented so that we can consider a favorable solution for each side, including Indonesia," McAllister said on the sidelines of the European Union Dayin Jakarta, May 9, 2018."Given this important issue, we can not be sure when the solution will be completed, but I expect it can be completed by the end of 2018," said McAllister.
the German politician did not elaborate in detail about the continuation of the fate of oil palm after the Formal Trilogue is completed later. McAllister just said, "It's an important and sensitive issue, but certainly we have discussed the details."
mcAllister understands the Indonesian government's concern about the fate of palm oil in the European market. Termination of imports will have a crucial impact, given that millions of people of the country depend on their economic earnings from these commodities.
Moreover, Indonesia is one of the world's top countries for oil palm production and is reliant on the export of the commodity to increase the coffers of the state treasury.
"But Indonesia should also understand our concerns about oil palm, such as, the issue of the lack of environmental sustainability, deforestation, sustainable goals and the quality of the palm itself," said the EU Member of Parliament.
Met the European Parliament, JK Struggles the Fate of Palm Oil RI
The opening of Jambi Palm Land
The statement was expressed by David McAllister after he met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta, Wednesday, May 9, 2018.
Vice President JK received a visit from McAllister and Warner Langen, Chairman of Delegations for Relations with the Countries of Southeast Asia and ASEAN (DASE) to discuss the export of crude palm oil or Indonesian CPO.
in the meeting, JK hopes to work together well with the EU. JK explained, there are some problems that are less precise. One of them is the limitation of Indonesian CPO exports by the EU so it should be avoided.
"Like the issue of palm oil (CPO), it should not be considered a commodity, but it should employ millions of people, if that happens (the cessation of exports), poverty," JK said in his office on Wednesday (9/5/2018).
not only that, JK also hopes to the European Union for CPO exports can be seen from different sides, namely the welfare of all people in the world. That's because JK says it depends on the palm oil trade.
"Whereas all countries want SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), it will damage the SDGs program," said JK