Vol. 530 No. 5
66 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to plans in the new EU Commission to change the shift in agricultural subsidies from supporting quantity to supporting quality; his views on this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4245/01]
Proposals relating to the beef sector which were published on 13 February by the Commission are intended to support the market price, to balance the market in the medium term and to encourage more extensive production methods. These proposals are being examined in detail in preparation for a discussion on them at the meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers on 26-27 February. It is my objective to ensure the measures ultimately decided by the Council will be effective in dealing with the current difficulties and that they will be fair as between member states and between different production systems.
I am not aware of any other proposals by the European Commission of the kind referred to by the Deputy. Commissioner Fischler recently indicated that the various reviews provided for under Agenda 2000 would be presented next year as a single package and he urged all concerned in the meantime to engage in debate on the future direction of the CAP, including the issue of quality.
