Brussels, 10/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commissioner Franz Fischler has welcomed the new direction taken in multilateral agriculture negotiations at a meeting of Non-Governmental Organisations and trade organisations at the weekend. Reporting on the work programme and list of topics covered in Geneva last month, he said the results had been "satisfactory" for the European Community (see EUROPE of 31 March, p. 9).
Mr Fischler stressed that the work programme decided for the 140 members of the World Trade Organisation for the next twelve months left options open in terms of incorporating industry-wide negotiations into a wider round of talks, in terms of decisions which might be discussed at Qatar in November 2001. He also expressed satisfaction with the scope of the second phase which will concentrate on issues and options raised in member countries' proposals. Moreover, he welcomed the fact that it is now clear that discussions will focus on Article 20 of the Uruguay round of the agricultural agreement, adding that they had avoided reopening discussions on non-trade issues, which some partners want to be taken into account. He explained that this meant that non-trade issues, which Europeans see as being inseparable from agriculture in modern society (Ed: such as food safety, rural development, animal welfare, etc) will each be discussed separately.
Mr Fischler explained that the Friends of Multifunctionality (Amis de la Multifonctionnalité) would be holding their next meeting (i.e. after then Ullensvang meeting) in Mauritius at the end of May.