March 17th 2001

EU Report

MEPs concern over foot and mouth

The European Parliament held an emergency debate on the growing foot and mouth crisis in the UK and its spread to France. Irish Meps Liam Hyland and Prionsias de Rossa stressed the importance of food exports, particularly beef exports, to the Irish economy. Avril Doyle argued that the situation in the UK was out of control. She said that no matter what the British Minister for Agriculture Nick Brown says about the situation being under control, there is cause for serious concern not just in Ireland but across Europe.

Green MEP Patricia McKenna used the opportunity to renew her call for live animal exports to end.

EU and US committed to resolving banana dispute

The European Commission has agreed to take another look at their banana regime, in an effort to resolve the 9 year old dispute between the EU and US over bananas.

The EU are introducing a tariff only system from 2006 which they believe to be WTO compliant. In the transition period, a first come, first serve system is being put in place, which the EU believes is WTO compliant but which the US are objecting to.

Following a meeting with the US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, the EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said that they will try to find a solution, either by adjusting the first come first served system or by looking at a country quota system. He said that if there is a chance to solve this problem and to get rid of the sanctions by moving to a system that is WTO compliant, then we must run with it.

Public to influence future CAP

The EU Agricultural Commissioner Franz Fischler has said that "society" should be setting the farming agenda. Speaking in Italy, Commissioner Fischler said that Agricultural policy in the future will have to place a stronger emphasis on quality instead of quantity.

He pointed out that since the early nineties, the EU has turned away from the race to produce more and more, by directing 70 per cent of the EU farm budget directly to farmers. He said that there will have to be clear and comprehensive rules on food labelling.

The Commissioner said that agriculture will have to be sustainable in terms of the environment, socially and economically.To achieve this, rural development, which is the second pillar of the CAP will play a greater role.

EU agreement with Turkey

The European Union has signed an Accession Partnership with Turkey. This is an important step in the implementation of that country's pre accession strategy for joining the EU. It effectively lays out a road map, which Turkey must comply with to meet the criteria for joining the union. It contains a broad range of priorities in the political and economic fields.

In the political field, far reaching reforms are outlined, including constitutional guarantees for freedom of opinion, assembly and religion, the abolition of the death penalty, the prevention of torture and guarantees for the cultural rights of all citizens irrespective of their origin.

Export ban on Portuguese beef eased

A gradual lifting of the ban on beef exports from Portugal has been agreed. Only de-boned beef, from animals born after the first of July 1999 and which are aged between 6 and 30 months will be allowed to be exported. The ban on exporting live animals from Portugal will remain in place.