Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 6

Written Answers. - European Union Imports.

Austin Deasy

Question:

74 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the imports of beef, both live and dead, milk and milk products, lamb, both live and dead and cereals from Central and Eastern Europe into the EU; and the future plans, if any, for such imports. [11241/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I assume the Deputy is referring to imports into the European Union from Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.

The latest statistics available for such imports are for the calendar year 1993. Total tonnage, and its value, imported from these six countries for the products concerned was as follows:

	Volume (Tonnes)	Value (million ECUs)
Live Bovine Animals	84,028	116
Beef	5,581	14
Milk and Milk Products	29,607	31
Live Sheep	33,436	60
Sheepmeat	1,758	6
Cereals	63,245	29

Broadranging European agreements covering political and economic matters and providing for improved trading conditions have been concluded by the European Union with these countries. The agreements provide for limited concessions in the agriculture sector to be phased in over the five year period 1994 to 1998 for Hungary and Poland, and 1995 to 1999 for Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

I am supporting an economic study, in conjunction with theFarmers' Journal and the ACC Bank, on the possible implications of the accessions of the Central and Eastern European countries for the Irish agricultural economy.

In the light of the results of this study and of all the other relevant factors, I will formulate an approach to the future development of relations between the EU and the Central and Eastern European countries which will meet the needs of Irish and Union agriculture.