Deal marks major reform of CAP

Luxembourg: The EU Council of Farm Ministers agreed early yesterday to compromise proposals tabled by the Irish presidency for reform of the cotton, olive oil, tobacco and hops support regimes.

Joe Walsh said the agreement marks the completion of a major process of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. The conclusion of the negotiations on this dossier was one of the priorities of the Irish presidency.

The agreement reached at a special meeting of the EU Farm Council here, chaired by Mr Walsh, followed several months of negotiations.