EU Commission head should lead trade talks

The European Commission president should represent Europe at global trade talks and not an "unknown" commissioner, French presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy said.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, a former British politician, speaks for the 27-nation bloc at World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, but has faced constant pressure from France not to offer Washington any more farm concessions.

Taking a swipe at Mr Mandelson, Mr Sarkozy said that Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was better placed to lead the complex talks.

"Today, the WTO negotiations are led by a European commissioner... who no one knows," Mr Sarkozy said during a campaign visit to central France.

"I would like in future for this task to be entrusted to the commission president who can speak in the name of all the (bloc's) 500 million inhabitants and can bang his fist on the table when necessary."

The WTO launched its Doha round of negotiations to boost trade in 2001 after the September 11 attacks jolted the world.

The talks were suspended last year due to differences, mainly over agriculture, and were only revived last month after signs there was new flexibility.

But France, which says it is supported by more than half EU member states, suspects Mr Mandelson is keen to offer more farm concessions to make it easier for the United States to move and has told him repeatedly not to give any further ground.

Mr Sarkozy, the interior minister, is lying just ahead of Socialist candidate Segolene Royal in the opinion polls and is looking to shore up support in key constituencies - including the powerful farming lobby.