Brussels, 03/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - Despite efforts at clarification and conviction on the part of Commissioner Pascal Lamy in Brazil last week, the country - which is one of the protagonists and instigators of negotiations over access to medicines - refuses to accept the solution proposed by the Europeans in view of overcoming the ultimate problem on this issue in suspense in Geneva. Mr. Lamy, moreover emerged from his talks with members of the new government with the feeling that Brazil had hardened its stance on the plan for free-trade between the Union and Mercosur.
With the aim of facilitating access of third world populations to essential medicines, "we are prepared to dialogue, but there are limits beyond which we cannot go", said Foreign minister Celson Amorim, at a joint press conference with Mr. Lamy on Friday last. His counterpart for health, Humberto Costa, reiterated the fear of interference in the State's sovereign prerogatives, after talks with the Commissioner. According to Brazil, the idea of handing a role - even consultative - to the World Health Organisation in identifying devastating illnesses "does not preserve the spirit of the Doha Declaration", said Costa, insisting: - this undertaking "must not be altered" and that "it must be the prerogative of each country to determine those illnesses considered a serious". "What's more", he added, "it gives no guarantee that the American Government (whose veto prevented the conclusion of talks in December 2002: Ed.) will accept this type of proposal".
On negotiations with Mercosur, Commissioner Lamy recognised that the Lula Government had hardened its tone, considering that this new posture was not surprising, nor necessarily negative. "During negotiations, there are always times when things harden and times when the seem to flow more easily", and "when they harden a little, it's rather a positive sign as that means that negotiators take these issues seriously". He then added that "the European Union will make concessions proportionate to those Mercosur makes", which is currently trying to improve its initial offer. But, he hoped, Mercosur's offer should grant market opening for 90% of European products.
Japan said to make better proposal over access to medicines
In talks over access to medicines that are briefly resuming in Geneva on Tuesday before the Tokyo rendezvous, negotiators are said to be contemplating a period of reflection the time it takes to get to know the new proposal Japan intends making to the 25 protagonists of the Doha Round, of which it will be the host, on 14 and 15 February, say official Indian sources, quoted by the press. This information has not, however, been confirmed in Brussels, or Geneva. EUROPE however recalls that India is among the countries that have proven to be the most reserved, in their initial official reactions, faced with the solution put forward by the Europeans to break the deadlock these negotiations have found themselves in since end-2002.