Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a meeting scheduled for October 2006 was held in which the European Commission's draft of the community guidelines for state aid in the agriculture sector for 2007 to 2013 was discussed; if so, if she will provide a summary of the views therein expressed on the draft guidelines; if the threshold of 30% production loss to trigger compensation is in respect of losses caused by animal disease and a reduction of aid to 75% is still likely to be included in the eventually adopted guidelines. [40536/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that my Department was represented at a meeting of the EU Working Group and Advisory Committee on State Aids which took place on 25 October to discuss the proposed Community Guidelines for State Aid in the Agriculture Sector, 2007-2013. Prior to the meeting, I, together with several of my EU Ministerial colleagues, had strongly opposed many of the original proposals brought forward by the Commission. I had taken the matter up bilaterally with the Commissioner as well as raising it in the Council of Ministers meeting. Following these representations, the Commission published revised proposals on 21 October and these were the subject of discussion at the meeting on 25 October.

The Commission's revised proposals addressed most of the concerns that I had raised. Insofar as compensation for animal disease is concerned, the proposed 30% threshold of loss for entitlement was dropped and, as in the past, aid up to 100% will be permitted.

Important changes were also introduced by the Commission in relation to other issues which I raised including the relaxation of proposed rules on advertising, the withdrawal of a proposed tendering system for on-farm investment schemes and the restoration of aid for breeding in the livestock sector.

My Department and all other Member States welcomed the revised proposals at the meeting on 25 October. In addition to seeking clarification on specific points, Member States also raised a number of remaining detailed points of concern. The Commission indicated that it would consider the further comments of Member States before reaching a final decision. The decision on the State Aid rules which will apply for the period 2007-2013 is a matter for the Commission. I understand that a final decision will be made on 6 December.