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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| EU trade chief lambasts Sarkozy | EU trade chief lambasts Sarkozy |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of undermining him and Europe's position at world trade talks. | EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of undermining him and Europe's position at world trade talks. |
| Mr Sarkozy has accused Mr Mandelson of trying to force a trade deal on the EU that would destroy European jobs. | Mr Sarkozy has accused Mr Mandelson of trying to force a trade deal on the EU that would destroy European jobs. |
| France took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU on Tuesday. | France took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU on Tuesday. |
| Mr Sarkozy's comments came just days after he said Mr Mandelson had been a factor in Ireland's referendum rejection of the EU's Lisbon Treaty. | Mr Sarkozy's comments came just days after he said Mr Mandelson had been a factor in Ireland's referendum rejection of the EU's Lisbon Treaty. |
| Mr Mandelson told the BBC's Newsnight programme he was "mystified" that the French president had blamed him over the Irish 'no' vote. | Mr Mandelson told the BBC's Newsnight programme he was "mystified" that the French president had blamed him over the Irish 'no' vote. |
| "I am being undermined and Europe's negotiating position in the world trade talks is being weakened and I regret that," he said. | "I am being undermined and Europe's negotiating position in the world trade talks is being weakened and I regret that," he said. |
| It is very disappointing because the mandate on which I am negotiating in the world trade talks... has been agreed by all the member states Peter Mandelson Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markmardell/">Mark Mardell's EuropeCan French flair beat EU blues? "It is very disappointing because the mandate on which I am negotiating in the world trade talks... has been agreed by all the member states." | |
| The British commissioner added: "I regret that Mr Sarkozy's intervention last night will make it harder for me." | The British commissioner added: "I regret that Mr Sarkozy's intervention last night will make it harder for me." |
| Mr Sarkozy has accused Mr Mandelson and the head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Pascal Lamy, of preparing to sell out European farmers in the name of free trade in the so-called Doha Round of trade talks. | Mr Sarkozy has accused Mr Mandelson and the head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Pascal Lamy, of preparing to sell out European farmers in the name of free trade in the so-called Doha Round of trade talks. |
| The talks, which began in 2001, have repeatedly stalled over the amount of state aid given to key industries in Western countries. | The talks, which began in 2001, have repeatedly stalled over the amount of state aid given to key industries in Western countries. |
| Speaking on French TV on Monday, Mr Sarkozy said Mr Mandelson and Mr Lamy "want to make us accept a deal under which Europe would commit to cutting farm output by 20% and reduce farm exports by 10%". | Speaking on French TV on Monday, Mr Sarkozy said Mr Mandelson and Mr Lamy "want to make us accept a deal under which Europe would commit to cutting farm output by 20% and reduce farm exports by 10%". |
| France's EU presidency is off to a bumpy start"That would be 100,000 jobs lost, I won't let it happen," he said. | France's EU presidency is off to a bumpy start"That would be 100,000 jobs lost, I won't let it happen," he said. |
| The French presidency of the EU was already off to a bumpy start even before Mr Mandelson's rebuke. | The French presidency of the EU was already off to a bumpy start even before Mr Mandelson's rebuke. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Sarkozy criticised Polish President Lech Kaczynski when he said he would not ratify the EU reform treaty. | On Tuesday, Mr Sarkozy criticised Polish President Lech Kaczynski when he said he would not ratify the EU reform treaty. |
| Mr Kaczynski said that to do so would be "pointless" after its rejection by the Irish. | Mr Kaczynski said that to do so would be "pointless" after its rejection by the Irish. |
| The French have set out ambitious plans on immigration, the environment and defence for their presidency. | The French have set out ambitious plans on immigration, the environment and defence for their presidency. |