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Farmers keep watchful eye on new EU Commissioner for Trade (23/10/08)

October 23, 2008 at 4:02 pm Leave a comment

The appointment of Baroness Catherine Ashton as EU Trade Commissioner has been welcomed by the Irish Farmers’ Association as ‘an opportunity for the European Commission to take a fresh approach to its stance on international trade’. The UK peer replaces Peter Mandelson, who has returned to British politics much to the delight of Irish farmers. Mandelson provoked widespread wrath from the farming community during his negotiations for the world trade agreement in Doha over his apparent willingness to sacrifice farming interests for the sake of a WTO deal. IFA President Padraig Walshe has rejoiced openly in the end of Mandelson’s tenure, claiming ‘He had nothing to show for his four years in Brussels except reckless concessions way beyond his mandate, with no signs of any gains coming from Europe’s trading partners in return.’
Catherine Ashton was approved for the post of Commissioner by more than 500 votes to 40 at the European Parliament this week, however her opening speech did little to indicate whether she would be following her predecessor’s policies. She stressed the importance of restarting the world trade talks (which collapsed in Geneva last July after seven years of on-off discussions), and claimed that her experience as a negotiator would help her set the agenda for ‘fair, just and sustainable trade’.
Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness was quick to pin down the new Commissioner on her comments. ‘The Commissioner-designate must ensure that her agenda for free and just trade involves being fair and just to European farmers,’ said the Fine Gael MEP. She warned Commissioner Ashton not to take over Mandelson’s ‘flawed policies’ which she said would have decimated Irish farmers, while facilitating farmers in emerging economies like South America who are not governed by strict EU food production standards.
IFA President Padraig Walshe echoed these sentiments, appealing to the new Commissioner to ‘focus on the new realities of European food security and equivalence in food standards and traceability.’ Mr Walshe said the IFA would be monitoring Ashton’s stance to ensure that she remains within any mandate set down by the Council of Ministers.

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