Brussels, 31/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, Gerd Sonnleitner and Marcus Borgtröm the Presidents of COPA and COGECA respectively, declared that, "The new US proposals in the WTO on farm trade mean unprecedented hypocrisy". The two EU representatives point out that these measures, "are in total opposition to the farm bill signed by President Bush" (see EUROPE 27 July p 9 and 29-30 July p 5). In order to lay the ground work for "serious" trade negotiations, high-level political decision-makers in Europe and the USA will have to tone down the manoeuvring tactics of their diplomats in charge of trade issues, explained the two organisations.
COPA and COGECA also believe that US proposals, "demonstrate that the European Commission was completely wrong in its proposals on the mid-term review" and are asking the Danish Presidency, the Council of Ministers, as well as Heads of Government, "to recognise that the Commission's mid-term review proposals have now become dangerous, not only for Europeans in the WTO negotiations, but also for EU enlargement and for the level of confidence that is vested in the European institutions".