(BRUSSELS) - French criticism of EU trade chief Peter Mandelson only makes the British commissioner stronger, French state secretary for trade Anne-Marie Idrac said on Tuesday.

"I think that the (European) Commission and the commissioner are all the more stronger since there has been political clarification," Idrac told the European Parliament.

Since France took over the European Union's presidency at the start of July, Mandelson has come under repeated fire from French President Nicolas Sarkozy accused of offering too generous concessions in negotiations at the World Trade Organisation.

Mandelson, a former British cabinet minister, has accused Sarkozy in return of trying to undermine him and ultimately weaken Europe's hand in the negotiations.

The so-called Doha Round of global free-trade talks, launched in the Qatari capital in 2001, face a series of a make-or-break meetings from July 21 when ministers from 30 key economies will meet in Geneva in a last-ditch attempt to strike a deal.

The round aims to boost international commerce by removing trade barriers and subsidies, but a deal has so far proved elusive as countries are reluctant to open up their markets or reduce financial support to farmers.

EU ministers in charge of trade are due to hold a meeting on July 18 to hammer out the 27 nation bloc's position ahead of the Geneva talks.

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