EU Commission President Barroso speaks on outcome of Geneva WTO talks

The failure to reach an agreement in Geneva is a profound disappointment for the EU, for the Commission, and for me.

I want to pay tribute to all those who have worked long and hard for success - on the Commission side, in particular Peter Mandelson and Mariann Fischer Boel. We worked for a fair and balanced deal that would have created a win-win situation for all sides. Such a deal would have given the world economy a much welcome boost. We did absolutely everything we could to reconcile the different views and find compromise.

The present failure does not remove the case for progress, most obviously for the benefit of developing countries. I will recommend to the EU Member States to assess this outcome and to prepare for reengagement with our major partners at the appropriate time.

| Top |

• EU Parliament adopts resolution on WTO Doha Round (9/10/2008)
• Catherine Ashton appointed as new EU Trade Commissioner (6/10/2008)
• "A Letter from Brussels to the next President of the USA" - Speech by EU Commission President Barroso (24/9/2008)
• Speech by EU Commissioner Mandelson: EU will continue to engage in Doha Development Agenda talks (15/9/2008)
• WTO: EU Agriculture Commissioner Fischer Boel on Failure of Doha Round Talks  (30/7/2008)
• WTO Doha Round: Remarks by EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson (29/7/2008)
• Doha Development Agenda - Remarks by EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson at a Civil Society Dialogue Meeting (23/6/2008)
• WTO head Lamy says trade is key to food price stability (3/6/2008)
• EU Council Conclusions on WTO/DDA (10/3/2008)
• "Why the poorest need a Doha deal" - Speech by EU Commissioner Mandelson (29/2/2008)