§ Sir Hector MonroTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 20 and 21 January. [12264]
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§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Council held a first discussion of the Commission's report on the future of the tobacco regime. I asked for the possibility of phasing out support for tobacco to be examined along with other options identified by the Commission.
The Council unanimously adopted a proposal strengthening the controls over eligibility for aid for growing flax. It adopted by qualified majority, Germany opposing, a proposal providing for the EC to contribute to member states' costs in dealing with serious plant pests.
During an informal discussion on follow up to the Cork declaration on rural development, Commissioner Fischler outlined his view that EU rural support policy needed to be simpler, more comprehensible and better integrated, taking greater account of subsidiarity. I broadly welcomed these principles, stressing the need for budget neutrality and the importance of considering these issues in the context of the CAP reforms which will be required to take account of EU enlargement.