Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Reviews of the operation of milk quotas and implementation of single payment scheme due in 2008 will be amalgamated into an overall "Health Check" of the Common Agricultural Policy. A Commission communication in preparation for the Health Check is expected to be tabled towards the end of this month and formal legislative proposals are expected to be published in May 2008. Agreement on the proposals is anticipated for the latter half of 2008 during the French Presidency of the EU. I await with interest the Commission communication due later this month and I will participate actively in the ensuing negotiations. I have urged the Commission to take this opportunity to consider further possibilities for the simplification of the single payment and cross-compliance requirements to reduce the administrative burden on farmers. The Health Check will have a particular focus on dairy aspects, given the Commissioner has intimated that the opportunity will be taken to secure a "soft landing" towards the ending of the quota regime in 2015. I want to ensure, in the negotiating position I adopt, that I have direct access to the broadest views, particularly those of key stakeholders in the industry to assist me in that process. I, therefore, recently established a broadly representative dairy consultative committee, which will advise me on this key aspect of the Health Check.

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