Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON2591
2007-10-09 16:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:
PORTUGAL ON OCTOBER 10 BIOTECH VOTE
how-toVZCZCXRO4727 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHLI #2591 2821633 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091633Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6340 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/USDA FAS WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002591
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS TO USTR, USDA/FAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD EUN PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON OCTOBER 10 BIOTECH VOTE
REF: STATE 140452
Classified By: Pol/Econ Off Jenifer Neidhart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)
(C) On October 9, Pol/EconOff delivered reftel points to
Isabel Sarmento from the Ministry of Agriculture, urging
Portugal to vote favorably at the October 10 EU Regulatory
Committee. Sarmento stated that Portugal would not block the
three biotech corn votes or the one biotech potato vote, but
neither would it commit to voting in favor. A close Embassy
contact and Portuguese biotech expert elaborated further on
Agriculture Minister Jaime Silva'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. Our Embassy
contact does not expect that a qualified majority will be
reached. (Note: While not a member of government, we have
found our contact to be the most accurate indicator of
Portugal,s biotech voting.)
Hoffman