Mr. Mandelson chose to tell a leading Brazilian daily newspaper (on September 10) that any breakdown of the Doha round would be verging on a criminal and deeply irresponsible attitude.
The Board of Directors of ORAMA, which met yesterday, expressed alarm at this statement.
The assertions of the EU negotiator are quite improper. They show that he is prepared to conclude the Doha round negotiations under any conditions, regardless of the cost to European farmers and damage to the development of agriculture in the least developed countries.
Mr. Mandelson’s mandate for negotiation is not to support farming in emerging countries which do not bother with labour legislation or environmental regulations. The Council of Ministers of Agriculture and the EU General Affairs Council must remind him of this, both firmly and swiftly.
The ORAMA Board of Directors considers that negotiations concluded hastily and founded on concessions that sacrifice the interests of millions of farmers would be verging on a criminal and deeply irresponsible attitude.
WTO: Mr. Mandelson must be reminded of his duty