Mandelson cancels visit to Dublin

THE EU’s chief negotiator at the world trade talks, Peter Mandelson, has cancelled a visit to Dublin next week for celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of the Treaty of Rome.

A spokesperson for the European Commission representation in Dublin said Mr Mandelson had received an urgent invitation to attend a meeting of the G33 countries (developing nations) in Indonesia, in a bid to get the trade talks back on track. All the key players are attending to ensure the progress made to date on the Doha Round doesn’t unravel.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said the cancellation avoids marring what can now be a universally celebrated milestone for Ireland.

He said article 33 of the Treaty of Rome established a Common Agricultural Policy to ensure a reasonable standard of living for farm families commensurate with other sectors and professions.

“Since his appointment three years ago, Mr Mandelson has been hell bent on tearing up the treaty commitments and destroying the European family farm model, an important tenet of the treaty,” he said.

Describing the invitation to Mr Mandelson in the first place as a political misjudgment, he said he welcomed the realisation that it was a mistake.

“We can now move on and IFA and farmers can wholeheartedly celebrate Europe’s many achievements since the founding fathers set out their goals and objectives for the reconstruction of post-war Europe in the Treaty signed in Rome on March 25, 1957.”