Incoming EU trade commissioner sets out priorities for trade policy
The European Union’s trade commissioner designate, Karel De Gucht, pledged to take an "open and flexible approach" to the EPA negotiations, and said concluding the negotiations with the ACP countries should be a top priority for the EU. The remarks came during a three-hour confirmation hearing before Members of the European Parliament.
While noting that the EPAs "have come under a lot of criticism, from partner countries as well as civil society in Europe", he expressed confidence that the agreements "can foster development". De Gucht, the former Belgium foreign affairs minister, also told EU parliamentarians that he is "quite confident" that a Doha Round trade deal can be struck this year or next. De Gucht added that WTO members have agreed on "90 percent of the topics under negotiation," and blamed the United States, China and India for the most recent major setback in the talks.
Link to: http://acp-eu-trade.org/library/files/TNI_FEB10_ENG_WEB.pdf
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