Vol. 514 No. 6
65 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans, if any, he has to defend the gains of Agenda 2000 in the World Trade Organisation negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4697/00]
Ireland participates in the World Trade Organisation negotiations on agriculture as a member of the European Union. The EU has been preparing its position for those negotiations for some time and I have been actively involved in that process. On 27 September 1999, the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers, in establishing the negotiating mandate for the European Commission for the WTO negotiations, reiterated the decision of the European Council in Berlin in March 1999 that the Agenda 2000 results would constitute essential elements of the EU's position for the negotiations. I will be working to ensure that that negotiating stance is upheld.
