Vol. 505 No. 3
123 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to ensure the protection of Ireland's position as a food producer within the EU with particular reference to the World Trade Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13818/99]
As in trade negotiations generally, the EU will participate in the next round of World Trade Organisation negotiations as a single entity and will be represented by the European Commission, which will conduct the negotiations in accordance with a mandate given to it by the Council of Ministers.
In the formulation of the Commission's mandate, I will seek to ensure that the CAP, as reformed under the Agenda 2000 decisions, will be defended vigorously within the WTO negotiations and, in particular, that the environmental, food safety and animal welfare burdens that have been placed on EU farmers are taken into account by our WTO partners, either by adopting similar objectives themselves or by acknowledging that the support system adopted by the Union is necessary to offset these burdens.
