EU farm ministers began meeting in Ostersund in Sweden to take stock of the foot-and-mouth epidemic and look at eventual changes in the common farm policy many say fosters the spread of animal disease.
Although not on the agenda, the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Britain - which had 1,164 reported cases today - seemed certain to take centre stage.
The Minister for Agriculture Mr Walsh is attending.
British Agriculture Minister Mr Nick Brown, who sent deputy Ms Joyce Quin in his stead, told the House of Commonslast night: "There are some encouraging signs."
But he added cautiously: "This is an exceptionally serious outbreak with a long phase-out and we cannot afford a moment's complacency."
"We're keeping our fingers crossed," said EU Health and Consumer Safety Commissioner Mr David Byrne of Ireland, who will brief ministers on the success of measures to contain the spread of the disease to the Continent.
"I think we're beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, at least on continental Europe," Mr Byrne said before the meeting.
France and the Netherlands have some reported foot-and-mouth cases and there are suspect but unconfirmed cases in Germany.
There was a suspect case in host country Sweden yesterday but an agriculture ministery spokesman here said it had been a "false alarm."
AFP