§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the measures which he has taken to ensure there is equality of enforcement and implementation of the common agricultural policy in all EC member states.
§ Mr. GummerAt the United Kingdom's instigation a declaration was agreed by member states at Maastricht stressing the need to ensure that Community law is properly implemented and enforced, and changes to the treaty were agreed giving the European Court the power to impose financial penalties on member states that persistently fail to comply with their Community obligations.
We, of course, are still ready to draw to the Commission's attention any failures by other member states to implement and enforce the CAP. For example I 816W recently pressed the Commissioner responsible for agricultural policy and the French Minister of Agriculture on the apparent failure by the French Government to impose charges for poultrymeat inspection at the level required by Community legislation. I will continue to seek an urgent solution.