WTO farm talks: Commission presents info pack for Cancún
Today, the European Commission presented an agriculture information pack for the upcoming WTO Ministerial meeting in
Cancún, Mexico from 10 to 14 September 2003.
The information material contains facts and figures about the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and its history of
reforms, the EU's approach for Cancún, especially regarding developing countries and non-trade concerns and a glossary
which helps to decipher WTO- and euro-speak. The press pack is available in English, French and Spanish on paper and on
the internet at:
Commenting on the info pack, EU Farm Commissioner Fischler said "This info pack lays out the EU's negotiating position
for Cancún, explains the reasoning behind Europe's farm policy, and how it has been constantly reformed to make it more
trade friendly and, maybe most importantly, debunks certain myths about the CAP. We are ready to make the necessary
concessions and sacrifices in order to help to make the Doha Development Agenda a success. But this will only happen if
our trading partners also show their willingness to contribute. Just camping on extreme positions, asking for everything
and offering nothing will not be good enough. Europe for its part has already moved substantially."
The press pack contains the following chapters:
Preface by Commissioner Fischler
The CAP - finding the right policy balance
The EU's approach for Cancún
Developing countries
Glossary of WTO and EU farm terms
The info pack is also available on the internet at : http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/external/wto/backgrou/cancun_en.pdf More information on agriculture and the WTO at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/external/wto/index_en.htm More information on other WTO issues at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/newround/index_en.htm