Vol. 497 No. 5
96 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the proposals, if any, he will make to the EU Council of Ministers in the context of the reform of CAP to prevent the undermining of food production in the third world. [25338/98]
101 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by development agencies that the dumping of EU products onto African markets has been pushing producers out of their home markets leading to serious job losses; if his attention has further been drawn to the particular concern that subsidised canned tomatoes from the EU is having a serious impact on the South African canning industry; if he will raise this matter at the next meeting of EU Agricultural Ministers with a view to reviewing subsidies to the European canning industry that cause problems in the Third World and an easing of the tariff regime imposed on South African canned fruit and vegetables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25373/98]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 96 and 101 together.
I am aware of these concerns. The EU, with 128 other Members of the World Trade Organisation, is bound by WTO agreements and rules on trade. The payment of refunds on exports to third countries has been part of EU agricultural policy for many years and is permissible under WTO rules. Occasionally, the level of export refunds may adversely affect markets in developing countries. In such circumstances, the EU normally takes appropriate action.
