The European Commission staved off a French-led coup to cut short its mandate on international trade negotiations, but did make concessions on greater transparency in its handling of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.
"Nothing has changed", trade commissioner Peter Mandelson claimed after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday (18 October). "If the council [member states] had wanted to change the mandate it could have done so today".
His remarks came after...
Back our independent journalism by becoming a supporting member
Already a member? Login hereAndrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.
Andrew Rettman is EUobserver's Foreign Affairs Editor. He has been writing about foreign and security affairs for EUobserver since 2005. He is Polish but grew up in the UK. He has also written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Times of London.