There has been a great deal of discussion in farming circles in recent months concerning the CAP review proposals which were published by the European Commission last July. The Government has made it known that it will vigorously oppose the European Commission's plans for the operational framework for the CAP for the period 2003-06. Ten countries in Europe, including France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Austria, Luxembourg, Greece and Ireland, have objected to these specific CAP review proposals. We are, therefore, in a strong position to join forces with the Governments of these states when the mid-term CAP review negotiations get under way later this year.