EU Proposal on Capital-Based Meetings

Geneva - European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson last Friday at the informal World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Mombasa called for more meetings of capital-based senior officials in addition to more mini-ministerials to help assure the success of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations.

During a special ministerial session on the "roadmap" for the Hong Kong ministerial meeting, the EU trade commissioner said unless the mini-ministerials are backed up with capital-based officials sessions, the negotiations would not gain the momentum intended at Mombasa for the talks.

Most trade ministers attending the Mombasa meeting were indifferent to Mr. Mandelson's proposal, sources told WTD.