Pádraic McCormack
Question:23 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the recent discussions he has had with respect to the WTO modalities paper; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9084/03]
Written Answers - World Trade Organisation.
John Gormley
Question:63 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position of the Government regarding the WTO talks. [9212/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:79 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps to be pursued by his Department in the context of the WTO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9206/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:105 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures he proposes to take to offset negative forces for Ireland in the context of the World Trade Organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9413/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 63, 79 and 105 together.
The Doha ministerial declaration, under which the current round of WTO negotiations was launched in December 2001, provided for agreement on modalities in agriculture to be reached by 31 March 2003. The EU position paper on modalities was discussed in both the General Affairs and External Relations Council and the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 27 January 2003 and agreed in the former Council. In response to concerns expressed by some member states, including Ireland, the Commission entered a declaration in the minutes of the Council to the effect that it would submit the detailed proposals on market access to the Council, would remain vigilant in the negotiations in relation to products which are exposed to international competition and would take particular account of sensitive products. Ireland entered a declaration in the minutes that our acceptance of the Commission's proposal on modalities was on the basis that, at most, minimal tariff reductions will be applied to sensitive sectors, especially beef and butter.
The EU position paper on modalities, which was forwarded to the WTO on 29 January 2003, is in accordance with the mandate for the negotiations which the Council gave the Commission in September 1999. The mandate is based largely on the terms of the Agenda 2000 Agreement.
The draft paper on modalities, which was presented by the chairman, Mr. Stuart Harbison, of the WTO Committee on Agriculture on 12 February, was discussed by the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers on 20 February 2003. There was broad agreement that the draft paper was unbalanced and unacceptable from the EUs point of view. The Commission reported on further developments in the WTO negotiations to the Council on 17 March. A revised paper was presented by the chairman of the WTO Committee on Agriculture on 18 March 2003. The WTO Committee on Agriculture met in special session in Geneva from 25-31 March and failed to reach agreement on the basis of the revised draft paper. The discussions will now continue with a view to reaching agreement before or at the next WTO ministerial conference which will be held in Cancun, Mexico, in September.
In addition to participation in the discussions in the Council of Ministers, I have had discussions on the WTO negotiations with Commissioner Fischler and with ministerial colleagues from the existing and prospective member states. In October 2002, I discussed the negotiations with the US Secretary for Agriculture.
Ireland's broad approach to the negotiations is set out in the mandate given by the Council to the Commission in September 1999.