Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON1057
2007-04-19 11:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
PORTUGAL ON THE APRIL 19 EC STANDING COMMITTEE
how-toVZCZCXRO0517 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHLI #1057 1091129 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191129Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5791 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES IMMEDIATE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001057
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
PASS TO USDA/FAS (ELIZABETH JONES),USTR (D.VETTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2017
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EU PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON THE APRIL 19 EC STANDING COMMITTEE
REF: A. A) SECSTATE 50150
B. B) LISBON 438
Classified By: Inga Heemink, Pol/Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon,
Reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001057
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
PASS TO USDA/FAS (ELIZABETH JONES),USTR (D.VETTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2017
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EU PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON THE APRIL 19 EC STANDING COMMITTEE
REF: A. A) SECSTATE 50150
B. B) LISBON 438
Classified By: Inga Heemink, Pol/Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon,
Reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(d).
1. (C) On April 18, Ambassador Hoffman sent a letter
incorporating reftel A talking points to Luis Caiano,
Assistant to the Ministry of Agriculture's Deputy State
Secretary of Agriculture and Fishes, urging Portugal to vote
SIPDIS
favorably at the April 19 Standing Committee of the Food
Chain and Public Health. Pol/Econ officer followed up with
Rui Noronho of the Ministry of Agriculture Office of Planning
and Policies (GPPAA),who stated that there were some
questions regarding the analysis of the stacks under
consideration, but that Portugal would "not vote against" the
varieties if the Portuguese concerns could be addressed.
2. (C/NF) However, a reliable Embassy contact and biotech
expert in Portugal reported in confidence that Portugal was
inclined to vote favorably on the sugarbeet variety but not
on the two corn varieties. He added that Lurdes Camilo and
Paula Bico, also from the GPPAA, believe that neither
Monsanto nor Pioneer have ever presented suitable control
methods for the maize stacks and would recommend to the
Commission not to conduct a vote on these stacks.
3. (C) Comment: While Portugal is one of the few European
countries to plant biotech corn and both the farmers and
animal feed industry have repeatedly expressed their desire
for greater access to biotech crops, the GOP's position on
these issues is unclear. In the past, the Portuguese
representatives voting in the EU have decided to vote against
the advice and recommendations of their technical staff
(reftel B). Our contact also reports that many at the
Ministry of Agriculture are unhappy due to reorganization and
layoffs, which has created difficulty in extracting clarity
on some important policy positions. We have found our
contact to be the most accurate indicator of Portugal's
biotech voting.
Hoffman
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
PASS TO USDA/FAS (ELIZABETH JONES),USTR (D.VETTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2017
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EU PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON THE APRIL 19 EC STANDING COMMITTEE
REF: A. A) SECSTATE 50150
B. B) LISBON 438
Classified By: Inga Heemink, Pol/Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon,
Reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(d).
1. (C) On April 18, Ambassador Hoffman sent a letter
incorporating reftel A talking points to Luis Caiano,
Assistant to the Ministry of Agriculture's Deputy State
Secretary of Agriculture and Fishes, urging Portugal to vote
SIPDIS
favorably at the April 19 Standing Committee of the Food
Chain and Public Health. Pol/Econ officer followed up with
Rui Noronho of the Ministry of Agriculture Office of Planning
and Policies (GPPAA),who stated that there were some
questions regarding the analysis of the stacks under
consideration, but that Portugal would "not vote against" the
varieties if the Portuguese concerns could be addressed.
2. (C/NF) However, a reliable Embassy contact and biotech
expert in Portugal reported in confidence that Portugal was
inclined to vote favorably on the sugarbeet variety but not
on the two corn varieties. He added that Lurdes Camilo and
Paula Bico, also from the GPPAA, believe that neither
Monsanto nor Pioneer have ever presented suitable control
methods for the maize stacks and would recommend to the
Commission not to conduct a vote on these stacks.
3. (C) Comment: While Portugal is one of the few European
countries to plant biotech corn and both the farmers and
animal feed industry have repeatedly expressed their desire
for greater access to biotech crops, the GOP's position on
these issues is unclear. In the past, the Portuguese
representatives voting in the EU have decided to vote against
the advice and recommendations of their technical staff
(reftel B). Our contact also reports that many at the
Ministry of Agriculture are unhappy due to reorganization and
layoffs, which has created difficulty in extracting clarity
on some important policy positions. We have found our
contact to be the most accurate indicator of Portugal's
biotech voting.
Hoffman