In a televised briefing for reporters based in Britain, Lamy was asked repeatedly whether the European Union was prepared to give way on agriculture - an area where its policies will come under attack in the new World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.

"I have the authority, with (EU leaders') decisions and with what has been done already, to go a long way in this negotiation ... How much, how long is something which a negotiator will never say," the French commissioner said, speaking in English.