Vol. 505 No. 3
51 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he plans to take to ensure that Irish agriculture produce is not disadvantaged in the context of forthcoming World Trade Agreement negotiations; if his attention has been drawn to any indications which might mitigate against Irish producer interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13643/99]
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. The initial phase of the discussions is scheduled to commence later this year.
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.
I am not aware of any factors which would adversely affect Irish agriculture specifically. I will, of course, remain alert to that possibility and will take whatever counter-measures are appropriate.
