Call for Mandelson to resign
He claimed Mr Mandelson was trying to dismantle the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) by the back door.
Mr Markey said Mr Mandelson had exceeded his negotiating mandate from EU member states by offering to reduce average tariffs on agricultural imports by 46% in a bid to secure a deal in the WTO talks.
He said Mr Mandelson appeared determined to pursue a cavalier strategy to maximise market access for European companies involved in industry and services, while at the same time selling out the EU agricultural sector.
“It is unbelievable that Mr Mandelson has offered so much at this stage, while the Americans are ploughing on regardless with their current policies and planning a new Farm Bill to run from 2007,” he said.
Mr Markey said Peter Mandelson’s open door policy will mean a race to the bottom on production standards as the market will ultimately be left to imports.
“It is absolutely vital that the EU retains its own clean, safe food supply produced under conditions acceptable to EU citizens.
“One only has to look at recent developments such as foot and mouth in South America and bird flu, to see the importance of being self sufficient when it comes to food,” he said.
Mr Markey said Mr Mandelson was failing to recognise that the EU was a democracy and that the views of all of its elected ministers and heads of state had to be taken into account.
