Farmers’ group slam EU negotiations

THE European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has apparently learned nothing from the collapse of the world trade talks in Geneva, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association leader Jackie Cahill claimed yesterday.

Mr Cahill, responding to statements made by Mr Mandelson at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, said the Commissioner still seems intent on the destruction of Europe’s agriculture sector.

He said Mr Mandelson had predicted that European agriculture would be down-sized by as much as 10% annually if the negotiations were brought back on track and a deal was concluded cutting EU farm supports in lines with the demands from the G-20 group of developing countries.

The ICMSA president said Mr Mandelson seemed not to have grasped the central lesson of the Geneva negotiations which was that no European agriculture minister worthy of the name could permit an un-elected functionary to systematically dismantle Europe’s agriculture sector.

Mr Cahill said Mr Mandelson seemed unable to grasp the fundamental point that he was to be negotiate in the interests of European citizens and not merely facilitate those countries wishing to export into our markets.

Ireland East MEP Ms Máiréad McGuinness said Mr Mandelson has conceded that the EU world trade offer would see it pull back from global agriculture markets at a cost of some $20 billion annually.

Ms McGuinness said the EU stance is in contrast to that adopted by the US.