Irish funding secure despite enlargement

THE Government will continue to defend Ireland’s broad interests in the CAP mid-term reviews and particularly in the discussions on the future of the milk quota regime.

Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh gave the assurance to the ICOS annual conference in Limerick as plans went ahead for a visit to Dublin next Monday by EU Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler.

Despite the agreement in the European Council on the funding of enlargement, the examination in the Council of Agriculture Ministers of the Commission’s CAP mid-term review proposals will continue.

Minister Walsh said that following the decisions in Brussels, policy changes are unlikely, at least before 2007.

“While Commissioner Fischler has indicated that he will pursue his proposals, he has acknowledged the changed circumstances and has admitted, for instance, that the proposals on modulation could not now take effect until 2007,” he said.

Minister Walsh said the European Council agreement means that funding for the period to 2006 for the Union of 15 will remain as decided by the Berlin European Council in 1999 and the funding needed in that period for the new Member States is also secure.