Strasburg, 14/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - While presenting, Tuesday in Strasburg, a Commission declaration on the negotiations within the World Trade Organisation, Commissioner Pascal Lamy welcomed the recent letter sent to the WTO members by his American counterpart Robert Zoellick who recognises the need to restart multilateral trade negotiations after the failure in Cancun (see EUROPE of 13 January, p. 12). Mr Lamy hoped that the technical phase, covering one or two months, underway in Geneva may rapidly lead to a political phase. To do so, it will require, in the coming weeks, continuing the dialogue with the developing countries gathered in the G-20 or in the G-90, he noted while recalling that next week he will travel to India and Indonesia. This concerns moving forward rapidly and ensuring that 2004 catches up what Cancun was unable to do.
During a short debate, the Dutch Christian Democrat Wim Van Velzen brought the support of the EPP-ED group for the Commissioner and called for a restructuring of the WTO. He also called for details concerning cotton and rice, two important sectors for poor countries. The Dutch Socialist Max van den Berg agreed, while insisting over the need for equitable rules on the world markets and called for an opening-up of EU markets to poor countries. The appeal for multilateralism was developed by the Dutch Liberal Elly Plooij-van Gorsel who noted a large number of speakers from her country, recalling that the Netherlands is a 'nation of merchants.' She underlined the difficulties that could arise with the presidential elections in the United States. In this context she felt that it will be important to support the WTO and its Director General. Mrs Plooij-van Gorsel also called for the creation of a WTO parliamentary assembly. The Portuguese Communist Ilda Figueiredo insisted on the acknowledgment of the social and environmental dimension of the negotiations. The Belgian Green Paul Lannoye deplored the fact that the Commission's only reaction to the failure of Cancun was a tactical repositioning.
While calling for a strengthening of the dialogue with the Parliament as well as with NGOs, Commissioner Franz Fischler provided details concerning the agricultural aspects of the negotiations. With regards to cotton, he underlined that European production only represents 2% of world production and that it does not have any true impact on the world market. The Community market is completely open to imports from developing countries, he asserted while recalling that a proposals for a reform of the common market organisation is presently being tabled in the Council of Ministers. He underlined his desire to reach a decision on this reform next March. Concerning rice, Mr Fischler felt that Japan is currently more constructive in Geneva and, answering the German Social Democrat Erika Mann, he confirmed his intention to present a proposal on sugar in the middle of this year.
Our aim for 2004 is to make sure to complete, before the summer, what could not be done in Cancun, in other words cover the two thirds of this negotiation's path, said Pascal Lamy before adding: Compared to the present level of works and the pressure in the Geneva boiler, this supposes an acceleration and we will, as will the others, add coal to the boiler in order to push things forward. The letter my American counterpart recently circulated, and commented upon to the press yesterday, is good news to the extent that it notes the thesis that starts to spread and according to which 2004, election year in the United States, would be a wasted year. Well no! 2004 can easily not be a lost year and it is important that world trade heavy weights, the United States and Europe, support this idea, continued My Lamy. Answering a question from the Dutch Socialist Dorette Corbey on access to medicines for poor countries, the Commissioner added that the Commission is working on it, both in Geneva where it concerns transplanting last August's agreement into the TRIPS agreement, and within the EU where it concerns adjusting the compulsory licence provision.