WTO a replica of EU budget talks

12.00.00am GMT Tue 20th Dec 2005

Last-minute brinkmanship, too many conflicting interests, public squabbling, lack of solidarity, low level of ambition - these were some of the characteristics summarising the EU budget talks last Friday but they also characterise the WTO discussions in Hong Kong which concluded yesterday on a decidedly mixed note.

Graham Watson MEP, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, declared: "As with the face-saving agreement last Friday on the EU budget, the Hong Kong ministerial has achieved just enough to avoid a crisis of confidence in the World Trade body. The fundamental problem is that the EU has not yet decided which way to jump when faced with the challenges of globalisation. Some still want a Europe with the drawbridge pulled up. Liberals and Democrats want the drawbridge firmly down. An open, outward looking Europe would produce greater wealth for itself and LDCs this Round seeks to help."

"I welcome the fact that there has been an extension of duty-free and quota-free access to most goods from LDCs by 2007 and a commitment by the EU to give up export subsidies by 2013 which mirrors the commitment in Brussels to embark on a review of the CAP. This Round is moving in the direction of a successful conclusion but is yet some way off", he concluded.