Brussels, 08/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - The joint organisers on an international conference in Paris, on Wednesday - the European Commission and the EU Council Presidency - invited developing countries to intensify dialogue "to promote a balanced and equitable development of trade in agricultural products, which respects the diversity of the farming systems in the WTO (World Trade Organisation) countries". The conference, opened by Commissioner Franz Fischler, French Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany and Secretary of State for External Trade François Huwart, met the authorities of 21 developing countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as WTO Director General Mike Moore. The conference came at a time when the now 140 WTO member countries (with accession by Croatia) are specifying their approaches for the continuation of agricultural talks begun early this year in Geneva in the wake of the Marrakech agreements. The Union considers the aim has been reached, namely that of strengthening dialogue which is "vital to the progress of multilateral trade negotiations in agriculture and to promoting a more harmonious and equitable development of world trade in agricultural products which respects the diversity of agricultural systems". "I think this conference has been useful in showing that in the negotiations on agriculture, there are no 'developed country' issues as opposed to 'developing country' issues but rather various issues on which both developed and developing countries can have common interests", said Commissioner Fischler.
The meeting allowed ministers to discuss their main concerns which comprise the two essential stakes of negotiations underway in Geneva: a) recognition of the multifunctional nature of agriculture; b) the need to take into account the specific problems of developing countries. The latter said they awaited an increased effort for opening the industrialised country markets to their farm produce and a strengthening of the special and differentiated treatment they enjoy at the WTO. The Union resolves to implement specific proposals" in their favour, regarding both market access and market support, said Commissioner Fischler. He recalled that the Union is "by far the largest importer of agricultural products originating in developing countries" with over 36 billion dollars worth of imports in 1998, "whereas the United States, which ranked second, imported only 19 billion dollars worth". Therefore, "it is of particular interest for us to discuss with you the agricultural trade negotiations underway in Geneva", he said, stating that the question of special and differentiated treatment is also on the agenda in Geneva. Mr Fischler believes the WTO members should tackle this issue seriously in order to improve the participation of developing countries in world trade. French Minister Jean Glavany added that Europe wants to make solidarity the principle of the next multilateral trade talks. He felt that agriculture would not be an obstacle to negotiation with developing countries.