Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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474. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects to maximise the advantage for the agri-food sector arising out of the Common Agricultural Policy and leading into the WTO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39831/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The agriculture and food sector is vital to the European Economy, with an EU agriculture trade surplus of €7 billion in 2011. I believe that Europe needs to continue to ensure that the food that it produces is safe and that agricultural methods are environmentally sustainable. But it is also necessary to ensure that the Union’s agriculture sector is competitive, particularly given the importance of the sector as a major exporter and the strong links between the sector and rural development in Europe.

The CAP provides the framework within which the sustainable development of a competitive and efficient agriculture sector is pursued, as well as the resources to assist in its achievement. In providing this framework the CAP has underpinned the modernisation of the European agriculture sector, making a vital contribution not only to economic growth in the EU, but also to sustainable, long-term global food security. The CAP also underpins the socio-economic development of rural areas. The most recent reform of the CAP is marked by three major advances:

- First there is a greater emphasis on environmental sustainability through the greening of direct payments and the requirement to support agri-environment measures in rural development programmes.

- Second, concerted efforts are being made to tackle the problem of generation renewal through new and enhanced supports for young farmers;

- Third, the phasing out of production quotas for key products such as sugar and milk, backed up by safety-net provisions in cases of severe market disturbance, continues the increased orientation towards the market.

Overarching these changes is the flexibility that has been allowed to Member States to adapt the policy measures under both the first and second pillar to deal with their own specific challenges within the common policy. It is my firm belief that these changes amount to a useful and progressive reform of the CAP making it fit for purpose to 2020. They are consistent with the smart, green, growth objectives of Food Harvest 2020 and provide farmers and the agri-food sector with policy certainty for the years to come.