HL Deb 25 January 1999 vol 596 cc126-7WA
Viscount Simon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 18 and 19 January. [HL640]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Donoughue)

My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food represented the United Kingdom at a meeting of the EU Agriculture Council in Brussels on 18 and 19 January 1999.

The German Presidency informed the Agriculture Council of the work programme for the coming six months, of which the principal focus would be completion of the negotiation for reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) in the framework of Agenda 2000. In addition, the Presidency made clear that the Council would discuss proposals on the annual CAP price fixing, animal welfare, consumer protection and organic livestock standards.

The Council resumed its discussions of the Agenda 2000 CAP reform proposals by conducting an in-depth debate on reform of the beef and milk sectors. On behalf of the UK, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food supported the Commission's proposal to reduce prices and abolish intervention buying in the beef sector, though with appropriate arrangements to safeguard the systems of extensively-reared beef production which is characteristic of the UK. On reform of the milk sector, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food pressed the case for a more thorough-going reform than that proposed by the Commission, referring specifically to the proposal made by the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy and Sweden for reform in this sector which would lead to the eventual abolition of milk quotas.

The German Presidency outlined a programme of work on the CAP aspects of Agenda 2000, leading up to the meeting of the Agriculture Council beginning on 22 February. They indicated their intention to try to draw the negotiation to a conclusion at that Council in view of the timetable laid down by Heads of Government in Cardiff and in Vienna for completion of the whole package of measures by end-March 1999. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food welcomed their commitment to reaching early agreement on these proposals.