Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2004
189 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position on the impact CAP reforms which benefit farmers here will have on other countries, especially in Africa, and Caribbean and Pacific countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7170/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recent reform of the CAP, which provides for the replacement of production-related supports with decoupled payments, will be of benefit to developing countries since the potential distortion effect of these measures will be reduced.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council and the European Union generally are acutely aware of the needs of developing countries and of the implications for them of policy decisions taken at EU level. The EU has provided over many years for preferential access to EU markets for exports from developing countries through the EU-ACP Agreement, the Generalised System of Preferences and other preferential trade agreements. More recently, the EU has offered duty-free and quota-free access to all imports except arms from the least developed countries. In the context of the current WTO round of trade negotiations, the EU has offered generous arrangements under the heading of special and differential treatment for developing countries.
