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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 1

Written Answers. - World Trade Negotiations.

John Moloney

Ceist:

23 Mr. Moloney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the negotiating mandate which has been given to the European Commission for the next World Trade Organisation round; when he expects substantive negotiations to commence in relation to export refunds and blue box direct payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18494/01]

The mandate given to the European Commission in respect of the World Trade Organisation agriculture negotiations was adopted by the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers on 27 September 1999 and subsequently endorsed by the General Affairs Council. It was based largely on the Agenda 2000 agreement adopted by the European Council in Berlin in March 1999. On 21 November 2000 the Council of Agriculture Ministers approved a comprehensive negotiating proposal, based on this mandate, which was then forwarded to the WTO in Geneva.

The WTO negotiations on agriculture began in March 2000 under Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture reached as part of the Uruguay Round. The period to March 2001 involved the submission of position papers, analysis and debate on issues raised by WTO member countries. In March 2001, a work programme for a further 12 months, involving an in-depth examination of issues and proposals presented in the first phase, was agreed. I expect substantive negotiations on all issues to begin when this work programme has been completed. Agriculture may, however, be included in the launch of a broad round of multilateral trade negotiations at the WTO ministerial conference which will be held in Qatar in November.

I am fully aware of the importance of export refunds and direct payments for Irish agriculture and I believe that the Commission's negotiating mandate provides a satisfactory basis for protecting our interests.

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