Brussels, 02/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in informal session under the presidency of their Italian colleague, Adolfo Urso, on Tuesday in Brussels, the Trade Ministers of the enlarged Union approved, for the most part, the rebalancing that the European Commission plans to operate in the Community stance on the Doha Development Agenda in order to reactivate talks which have been at a standstill since the failed talks in Cancun. The 25, who all took part in the broad debate, nonetheless wished to state their differences over the Communication that the negotiator in chief, Pascal Lamy, had presented to them.
Above all, the northern countries, including the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, feel the Singapore issues remain perilous. The British consider the Union should give up the idea of continuing talks on investment and competition, even if this is an important objective, and the multilateral approach proposed for each of these subjects (such as transparency of public procurement and trade facilitation) is of no interest. It is considered in London that it is better to lose the Singapore issues than the Doha Agenda. This position is approved by the Swedes, followed quite closely by the Dutch, being in agreement with the Commission that there should be proof of flexibility, diplomatic sources say. The French consider for their part that it is not necessary to give more signs of flexibility (as this was already done in Cancun) whereas Germany is mainly in favour of trade facilitation and transparency of public markets and, for the other two subjects, is in favour of the flexibility proposed.
On geographical indications and the environment, the positions of ministers were also particularly contrasted. For Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark and Estonia, one should not be too firm on these points for fear of reawakening Cancun tensions and having to go back to the drawing board. On the other hand, those who show a more marked interest in these areas (mainly Spain and Italy) insist on a high level of ambition. Everyone, however, agrees in saying that negotiations must become more ambitious in the fields of services and access to industrial markets.
The northern countries, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, insist, moreover, with slight differences, that the role of Member Sates in the Round, and more generally common trade policy, should be more visible and perceptible in order to give more weight to the common position, conjuring up the picture of a powerful "megaphone" of twenty-five voices.
On the role of Union leadership in talks, ministers approve what the Commission said but still with the same difference, that is, this should not make the other countries believe they are exempted from the flexibility needed to make progress. Concerning the differentiation sought between the emerging countries and the least advanced countries, they convened that this must not give the impression that the transatlantic tandem wants to "divide to reign better". One must be more subtle to avoid nurturing the fears of developing countries that would then react as a united block, Pascal Lamy said.