Brussels, 06/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Ullensvang Conference, that recognised the right of all countries to pursue non-commercial objectives in agriculture (see EUROPE of 3 / 4July) "clearly demonstrated that the Union is not isolated in its stance", European Commissioner Franz Fischler was pleased to point out. "Goals such as food safety and environmental protection cannot only be achieved through market forces", he stressed, commenting on the outcome of that Conference that brought together some forty countries members of the World Trade Organisation earlier this week, on the initiative of European Commission and the governments of Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Mauritius and Republic of Korea.
While reaffirming the Union's commitment to contributing positively to the ongoing agricultural negotiations in Geneva, in view of "moving towards a fair trading system, directed towards the market", the Commissioner for Agriculture recalled that "we place emphasis on this process not being allowed to endanger the many contributions agriculture provides our societies". The participants, representing developed countries and some thirty developing countries (including market economy countries, the least advanced countries and small insular States) together stressed that these negotiations had "to take account and secure the continued existence of various types of agriculture based on each country's specific production conditions and potential as well as their historic and cultural backgrounds". The declaration that they published at the end of the discussions relates to the specific and multifunctional characteristics of agriculture, its contribution to rural development, food security, environment and cultural diversity, and the need for flexibility in national policy designed to address non-trade concerns, both from a developed and developing country perspective. It recognises that all "countries have the sovereign right to pursue non-trade objectives that cannot be achieved by market forces alone, such as strengthening the economic viability and development of its regions, food security and environmental protection". This demand was initiated by the group of the "Friends of multifunctionality", that was formed in Seattle during the last WTO ministerial. The Ullensvang Conference allowed for the circle and the debate to be broadened. It covered not only the specific and multifunctional characteristics of agriculture, its contribution to rural development, to food security, to the environment and to cultural diversity, but also the need to show flexibility towards national policies that deal with non-trade concerns. Participants agreed to meet again in Geneva during the WTO negotiations.