Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON1251
2007-05-10 07:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
PORTUGAL WILL NOT BLOCK MAY 10 BIOTECH VOTE
how-toVZCZCXRO0850 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHLI #1251 1300712 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 100712Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5844 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001251
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS TO USTR, USDA/FAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EU PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL WILL NOT BLOCK MAY 10 BIOTECH VOTE
REF: A. A) SECSTATE 58647
¶B. B) LISBON 1057
Classified By: Inga Heemink, Pol/Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon,
Reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(d).
(C/NF) On May 4, PolEconOff delivered reftel talking points
to Rui Noronho from the Ministry of Agriculture Office of
Planning and Policies (GPPAA),urging Portugal to vote
favorably at the May 10 Standing Committee of the Food Chain
and Public Health. Noronho stated that Portugal would not
block the vote on the two stacked biotech corn varieties. On
May 8, a close Embassy contact/Portuguese biotech expert
elaborated on the Minister of Agriculture's voting
instructions. He reported in confidence that Portugal plans
to vote favorably only if there is a qualified majority. If
there is no qualified majority, Portugal plans to abstain.
(Note: While not a member of government, we have found our
contact to be the most accurate indicator of Portugal's
biotech voting (reftel B)).
Hoffman