Sarkozy-Mandelson tensions flare as WTO talks loom
EU trade chief Peter Mandelson has accused French President of "undermining" the European Union's position in world trade talks, with a major WTO meeting looming.
By Agencies |
BRUSSELS: With a major WTO meeting looming, EU trade chief Peter Mandelson has accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of "undermining" the European Union's position in world trade talks.
The very public spat between the French leader and Europe's British trade commissioner cast a cloud over the debut of France's presidency of the European Union on Tuesday.
It also exposed a lack of unanimity in the European Union on trade issues as the bloc prepares for crunch negotiations on July 21 in Geneva at the World Trade Organisation, where the bloc will be represented by Mandelson.
Hitting back at Sarkozy's most recent criticism of his handling of negotiations, Mandelson told the BBC: "I am being undermined and Europe's negotiating position in the world trade talks is being weakened."
"I regret the undermining of my own position at what is a very very crucial time in the world trade talks," Mandelson said.
"This is going to succeed or fail in the coming weeks ... Our negotiating strength in Europe comes from our unity."
Sarkozy, who hosted EU commissioners in Paris to mark the start of the French EU presidency, said earlier that the media-savvy Mandelson would be loving the publicity stirred up by their disagreement.
"This is someone I have known for a long time and (he) must certainly be delighted with (the) publicity, which I don't hesitate to give him when I don't agree with him," Sarkozy said.
The French leader has long been fiercely critical of Mandelson, accusing him of offering excessively generous concessions on farming in fraught global negotiations at the World Trade Organisation.
The European Union is a heavy hitter in the WTO, accounting for nearly 20 percent of world trade, and Mandelson -- a cabinet minister in his native Britain when Tony Blair was prime minister -- negotiates on behalf of all its 27 member states.
The very public spat between the French leader and Europe's British trade commissioner cast a cloud over the debut of France's presidency of the European Union on Tuesday.
It also exposed a lack of unanimity in the European Union on trade issues as the bloc prepares for crunch negotiations on July 21 in Geneva at the World Trade Organisation, where the bloc will be represented by Mandelson.
Hitting back at Sarkozy's most recent criticism of his handling of negotiations, Mandelson told the BBC: "I am being undermined and Europe's negotiating position in the world trade talks is being weakened."
"I regret the undermining of my own position at what is a very very crucial time in the world trade talks," Mandelson said.
"This is going to succeed or fail in the coming weeks ... Our negotiating strength in Europe comes from our unity."
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Sarkozy, who hosted EU commissioners in Paris to mark the start of the French EU presidency, said earlier that the media-savvy Mandelson would be loving the publicity stirred up by their disagreement.
"This is someone I have known for a long time and (he) must certainly be delighted with (the) publicity, which I don't hesitate to give him when I don't agree with him," Sarkozy said.
The French leader has long been fiercely critical of Mandelson, accusing him of offering excessively generous concessions on farming in fraught global negotiations at the World Trade Organisation.
The European Union is a heavy hitter in the WTO, accounting for nearly 20 percent of world trade, and Mandelson -- a cabinet minister in his native Britain when Tony Blair was prime minister -- negotiates on behalf of all its 27 member states.
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