McGuinness warns Ashton not to adopt Mandelson’s flawed policies

THE new European Trade Commissioner Baroness Ashton has been warned by Mairead McGuinness, MEP, not to take over the flawed policies of her predecessor, Peter Mandelson.

One of Baroness Ashton’s first tasks following her confirmation by the European Parliament this week was to travel to Geneva for a meeting about the global trade talks.

She met with World Trade Organisation director general Pascal Lamy and other key officials about the prospects for a successful and balanced conclusion to the talks which collapsed earlier this year.

Ashton said her meetings in Geneva confirmed to her that Doha Round is still very much alive.

“If this deal is to be concluded soon we all need to tackle the outstanding issues with urgency and determination.

“Europe will continue to play a central role in pushing these talks forward,” she said.

“EU member states reiterated to me their commitment to an ambitious and balanced outcome. It is clear that negotiators and the chairmen of the various working groups would welcome a strong political push.

“The current financial crisis requires us to lock in the openness that has generated so much growth and economic prosperity in recent years.

“A strong signal from political leaders soon after the US presidential election would reinforce our efforts,” she said

Mairead McGuinness said European farmers and producers would have been sacrificed under the policies pursued by Mr Mandelson, while farmers in emerging countries such as South America, who farm in a very non-European ranch scale, were to be facilitated

“Such an approach, had it succeeded, would have decimated European farming as we know it and, in particular, robbed Irish beef farmers of their markets and livelihoods,” she said.

Ms McGuinness said Baroness Ashton must ensure that her agenda for free and just trade involves being fair to European farmers.

She urged the new commissioner to ensure that there is a deeper analysis and understanding of the role of agriculture and food production across the globe.