Vol. 456 No. 7
60 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the Government has recommended to the President of the EU Commission and other EU Heads of Government that the EU Inter-Governmental Conference should consider further CAP reform in order that farm incomes and rural development in existing member states can be sustained in the event of enlargement. [11742/95]
The Government has not recommended to the President of the EU Commission or to other EU Heads of Government that the further reform of the CAP should be considered at the EU Inter-Governmental Conference.
A study is currently being undertaken by the Commission, at the request of the European Council, on appropriate strategies for the development of agricultural relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in preparation for their accession to the Union. A study is also being carried out at national level, with the support of my Department, on the possible implications for Irish agriculture of accession of those countries to the Union. The Government's strategy for dealing with the agricultural implications of enlargement will be determined, inter alia, in the light of both these studies. In any event, further changes in the CAP would not necessarily be the correct response to those implications.
