§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 31 March; and if he will make a statement. [37595]
Dr. John CunninghamI chaired the fourth meeting under the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union Council of Agriculture Ministers on 31 March in Brussels. My noble Friend the Lord Donoughue, Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the farming and food industry, represented the United Kingdom. The Under-Secretary of State for Wales, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths), was also present.
I convened the Council expressly to consider the Commission's proposals, published on 18 March, for changes to the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the framework of Agenda 2000. The Council debate on this vital issue was held in open session, and was thus available in full to the media and to other interested parties. There was also an important political dimension to the debate: reforming the CAP in tandem with changes to the EU' s future financing provisions and to its regional and structural policies are essential steps to prepare for further enlargement of the European Union. It is significant that the formal opening of the enlargement negotiations with six applicant countries took place in Brussels on the same day.
A wide range of views on the Commission's CAP reform proposals was expressed in the Council. No Minister denied that there was a need for reform to take place, or that the process should begin forthwith. I was able to conclude that the UK Presidency would now begin an intensive programme of technical examination of the Commission's proposals, leading to a further discussion in the Agriculture Council in late May.
I was also able to establish, as President of the Council, that there was unanimous agreement amongst Member States to defer until 1 January 1999 implementation of last July's Commission Decision on Specified Risk Materials. During this period measures taken by Member States on a national basis to protect the health of their populations will be maintained.