Vol. 556 No. 5
14 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the ongoing discussions at EU level regarding reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; if he has had bilateral or multilateral talks with his counterparts in the EU on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20811/02]
The outline proposals which were published by the Commission on 10 July as a communication on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy were discussed at meetings of the Council of Ministers in July, September and October. At its meeting in Brussels on 24 and 25 October, the European Council decided on the funding for agriculture in a Union of 25 member states until 2013. This decision was without prejudice, inter alia, to the results of the mid-term reviews. 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.
Apart from the ongoing discussions in the Council, I discussed the Commission's proposals bilaterally with Commissioner Fischler twice prior to their publication and with the French Minister for Agriculture and Food in September. I will meet Commissioner Fischler on 11 November and further bilateral meetings with my ministerial colleagues are also planned. I have 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.
