BRUSSELS, Oct 31: The European Commission, disappointed after global trade talks collapsed, has suggested giving the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) more powers to improve how the WTO works, diplomats said on Friday.

European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, who negotiates on behalf of EU states, called the WTO’s organization “medieval” after the talks fell apart in Cancun in September, criticizing a lack of organization and focus in the 146-member body.

EU diplomats said the Commission presented a paper raising the idea of giving the WTO director-general more power to organize ministerial meetings and oversee the negotiations with a view to helping avoid a repeat of the Cancun collapse.

“Should the director-general be more of a focal person in the WTO?” said one EU official, summarizing one of the Commission’s ideas.

Current WTO head Supachai Panitchpakdi has been criticized by some trade envoys for having too much of a softly-softly approach to deal with the tough negotiating that goes on at trade conferences. But under current WTO rules, the director-general has few powers. Key decision-making conferences like Cancun are chaired by the trade minister of the country hosting the meeting.—Reuters