Brussels, 24/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - At a meeting, on Monday, between Commissioner Franz Fischler and a delegation from the American Senate headed by Trent Lott, both sides welcomed recent progress towards resolving the dispute over the Community banana import regime. "This should considerably improve the transatlantic atmosphere. And I do not see any reason why progress should not be made on other areas of disagreement between us", Fischler commented. During the exchange of views over their respective agricultural policies, the two sides recognised that they had to face the same challenges, i.e., assure the future of farmers and rural areas, but that they had opted for very different strategies to achieve this. Mr. Fischler stressed that the Community had done its best undertake radical transformations in the CAP, like uncoupling aid in relation to production. "This is far less trade-distorting than deficiency payments or other production linked to compensation", he said, adding that he already looked forward to pursuing this discussion with the American Senate, when he visits the United States from 16 to 21 May.
"Negotiations over the agricultural chapter within the WTO are a top priority for both sides of the Atlantic. In addition, our positions on many important subjects are not so far apart. There are points of convergence on principles, whereas positions differ as to technical modalities, for which there is, however, a margin for negotiations", the Commission concluded.