The outline proposals which were published by the European Commission on 10 July 2002 as a communication on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy were discussed at the Council of Ministers in July, September and October.
At the Brussels European Council on 24 and 25 October, the EU Heads of State and Government decided on the funding for agriculture in a Union of 25 until 2013. This decision was without prejudice to the results of the mid-term review. The examination of the Commission's communication will, accordingly, continue in the Council of Ministers and the Commission's detailed proposals will be published in the coming months. However, there is unlikely to be a qualified majority in the Council for the implementation of significant change in the CAP before 2007.
I have already stated in the Council that I will not agree to changes in the Agenda 2000 agreement which will impact negatively on the Irish agriculture and food industry. In these circumstances, I do not expect that these proposals will have adverse impact on the number of farm families in Ireland.