Ireland and France vow to stand firm in WTO talks

FRANCE and Ireland are to work closely to ensure that the European Commission will not make any further concessions on agriculture in the world trade talks.

President Jacques Chirac referred to the long-standing cooperation between France and Ireland on agriculture when he met Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan at the International Agricultural Show in Paris over the weekend.

Mr Chirac, a former agriculture minister, and Ms Coughlan agreed that this level of co-operation would continue and that both countries would work closely in relation to World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks. Mr Chirac said France would show “rock-

hard firmness” in defending its interests in negotiations. He was “profoundly shocked by some of the attitudes” shown at the WTO by EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson due to visit Dublin this month. Mr Chirac claimed Mr Mandelson doesn’t stop wanting to give away more to the US and developing countries that have shown no intention to give the slightest concession in the trade negotiations. Ms Coughlan, attending the show at the invitation of French agriculture minister Dominique Bussereau, also warned she will not accept agriculture be sacrificed for the sake of achieving an agreement in the talks.

Ms Coughlan said that there is no evidence there has been any concession by the negotiating partners to justify further concession by the EU in agriculture. The EU should not make further concessions on agriculture beyond its offer in October 2005 and should not engage in discussions at this stage which suggest the EU is prepared to consider such concessions,” she said. Ms Coughlan also met German agriculture minister Horst Seehofer, the current EU Farm Council president, at the Paris show.