Vol. 552 No. 2
14 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has had bilateral meetings or discussions with other EU member State agriculture Ministers since 14 February 2002; the contents of those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11905/02]
I have had no bilateral meetings or formal bilateral discussions with my EU ministerial colleagues since 14 February. Apart from meeting my colleagues at the Council of Ministers meetings on 18 February and 18 March, I discussed by telephone on 1 March the arrangements for a meeting of the agriculture Ministers of the existing and prospective member states with my Spanish colleague, who is the current President of the Agriculture Council. I also met Commissioner Fischler bilaterally on 27 Feb ruary, mainly for an exchange of views on the forthcoming mid-term review of the Agenda 2000 agreement. Support for the beef market, eligibility criteria for grant aid for small processing projects, animal welfare issues and disproportionate penalties in the direct payments regime were also discussed.
