Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to present to the House the outcome of the negotiations on the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy which were concluded in the council of Ministers in Luxembourg last week.

The Commission's proposals for the mid-term review of Agenda 2000 were the subject of negotiation for almost a year. Outline proposals were presented by the Commission in July 2002 and the more detailed proposals were published in January 2003. The proposals comprised the most radical reform of the Common Agricultural Policy since its foundation and have been the subject of detailed analysis and intense public debate both here and throughout the EU. The Council of Ministers has debated the proposals at each of its meetings this year. During the course of the negotiations, my officials and I had close consultations with all the farming, food processing and other representative bodies, mainly through consultative groups which I set up for this purpose. The issues and concerns have been identified and have been well known for some time. The fact that the negotiations in the Council continued for a full year is indicative of the complexity of the proposals but also of the difficulties facing Ministers in reaching a decision.