Brussels, 26/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - As foreseen, the Commission finalised on Wednesday a strategy document recommending re-balancing of the Community stance in negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda. Negotiations have been standing still since the failure of talks in Cancun. This comes after two months of reflection and intense discussion with Member States, the European Parliament, the civil society and a number of third countries. After a final test of convergence, next Tuesday, with the Trade Ministers and the relevant parliamentary committee, the Economic and Social Committee, then the General Affairs Council on 8 December, the European team will be ready to resume its place at the negotiating table and contribute to rekindling the round of talks, on 15 December. It will confirm its preference for what is multilateral, its willingness to let go of the Singapore issues which may now partly or wholly depart from the DDA if no-one wants them, and its firmness on agriculture, where it expects the other major actors to also end up moving from their entrenched positions. It may also be open to the compromise on geographic names and call on the WTO to trigger inevitable reform in its method of functioning.
Commissioner Pascal Lamy said their ideas were now clear. He presented to the press the document whereby the Union puts itself in a position to take part in resumed negotiations if they take place as Cancun clearly illustrated that no isolated player, or even an isolated group of players, can, alone, make the negotiating round and the multilateral system function. Mr Lamy said that, what is needed, is a major effort on the part of all parties involved if the Round is to be reactivated this year. From Brussels, he said, they have carefully listened to all points of view and they consider there is now sufficient support for putting negotiations back on track. One proof of this is the strong opinion expressed within the Commission that the multilateral system must be a top priority for controlling globalisation, achieving the aims of the EU and guaranteeing a round of talks in favour of development. He insisted that they are now able and ready to make indepth changes to their position and need for this a round of talks in which all take part and make adjustments, developed countries and developing countries alike, each according to their possibility, so that all members, even the poorest, may play an effective role in the system.
The communication, which "provides a good balance between firmness (…) in some areas and possible concessions in others", recommends that the Community position be reviewed and adjusted, Mr Lamy said.
1. Union may show flexibility on: - the Singapore issues (investment, competition, transparency of public markets and trade facilitation) to which it remains "attached", and it will agree to negotiate (no longer within the multilateral round framework but still at the WTO) according to a voluntary, multilateral formula with "variable geometry", that "we are ready to explore with a 'critical mass' of interlocutors: - the environment, as "although our aim is still sustainable development, we are ready to make our position more flexible", rallying to a declaration of principle on coherence between trade rules and international agreements on the environment; - geographical indications which "remain a priority", but Europeans should take position half way between their departure goal which "seems out of reach" (a multilateral and legally binding register "urbi et orbi") and the minimalist positions defended by others (a register but binding only for those who want it to be); - raw materials, on which the Commission supports the launching of an initiative in order to give more relief to the issue which has not been seriously discussed at the WTO and that it is ready to relaunch adopting an action plan early 2004.
2. The Union expect negotiations to "begin seriously" on: - agriculture: the "large exporter countries must also do their bit" and "it is essential to differentiate between the policies which have a negative impact on trade and those which do not", Commissioner Franz Fischler stressed; - cotton: a specific solution is to be sought in the framework of negotiations on agriculture, including an accelerated timetable, the offer of market access without customs duties or quotas for imports from the least developed countries, substantial reduction in domestic subsidies with a trade distortionary effect and the elimination of export subsidies; - trade defence (anti-dumping, subsidies) where stronger rules are needed.
3. Union expects its partners to make their stances more flexible on: - industrial tariffs: "more ambition" is needed as the project presented in Cancun looks too much like "gruyère" with "too many holes (Ed.: exceptions and exclusions) and not enough cheese"; - services: WTO members and mainly the developing countries must take part in negotiations more actively by putting their offers of access forward; - the WTO: must improve the way it works, beginning with a package of reforms that is "relatively modest but feasible" allowing short term improvements to the preparation and conducting of ministerial conferences, and also strengthening participation by the smallest developing countries' in the process.