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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Statement on what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 20th-21st January; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Jim Hood (Labour)

Answering body

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

21 January 2003

For answer on

4 February 2003

Answered on

4 February 2003

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 20-21 January; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [93155] Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 27 to 28 January; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [95003] Margaret Beckett: My hon. Friends the Parliamentary Under Secretary (Lords) and (Commons) and I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 27-28 January 2003. Ministers with agriculture and fisheries responsibilities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales also attended. The Greek Presidency outlined its priorities and planned work programme for the period ahead. The Commission formally presented draft legislative proposals that would give effect to the Common Agricultural Policy reforms outlined in its paper of July 2002; member states gave their initial reactions. I emphasised the need for a sustainable CAP and welcomed the general direction of the proposals and the benefits they would bring EU farmers. I noted, however, that the current proposals for modulation of direct payments to farmers put a disproportionate burden on larger and more efficient farms. I argued for a simpler and more equitable model. I also urged a faster and more substantial transfer of funds to rural development spending than the Commission had proposed. Detailed consideration of the proposals will now take place at official level. Over dinner, Ministers discussed the WTO agriculture negotiations. I welcomed the agreement that had been reached on a modalities paper for submission to the negotiations in Geneva and supported the Commission in stressing that the EU would need to be flexible if it were to reach a satisfactory outcome. The Commission presented a proposal for revision of EU measures to control and eradicate foot and mouth disease. We welcomed the opportunity to update the rules, while recognising that careful consideration would be needed in many areas before new strategies could be put in place. The Commission presented a proposal for the individual identification of sheep and goats. We stressed the need for practical requirements that took account of the structure of the UK industry and the high number of animal movements associated with it. The Council unanimously agreed to ban the import of eggs and poultry from three US states where an outbreak of Newcastle disease has occurred. The Commission gave its regular report on BSE- related developments. It was noteworthy that there had been a significant increase in testing in 2002 but the total of cases identified was similar to that in 2001. Under other business, several delegations urged the Commission to keep the case of processed poultry imports under review to ensure that there was no unfair exploitation of the discounted duty rates that apply. On GMOs, there was an exchange of views regarding the co-existence of GM and non-GM agriculture. We supported the case for fuller discussion but warned against attempts to impose a de facto moratorium on GM approvals. Separately the Commission indicated that existing rules would continue to govern the approval of new GM products. New rules, following Council agreement of principle last November, were still under preparation and could not apply immediately. On fisheries, the Council adopted conclusions welcoming the Commission's communication on the integration of environmental protection with the common fisheries policy and the future actions envisaged in it. We underlined in particular the importance of taking forward action to minimise the by- catch of cetaceans in fishing nets. The Council similarly adopted conclusions welcoming the Commission's strategy for the sustainable development of aquaculture. The Commissioner gave initial presentations on his communication on an integrated framework for fisheries partnerships with third countries, and his proposed draft regulation on the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (which would consolidate and update the Community's technical conservation requirements). Work will continue on these in coming weeks. Under any other business, Ireland expressed concerns about the Commission's proposals concerning access rules in western Community waters (which are for discussion in coming months) and the Commission expressed its determination to dispel legal uncertainty.

Date

4 February 2003

Reference

93155; 399 c145-6W

House

House of Commons

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