The EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Franz Fischler, was told yesterday that Ireland did not expect fundamental changes in the Common Agricultural Policy before 2006.
At a bilateral meeting with the commissioner in Brussels yesterday, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Mr Walsh, outlined his views on the issues surrounding the mid-term review of the CAP.
The main purpose of the meeting was to outline Ireland's position on the review of Agenda 2000 (the name given to the last reform of CAP) before the commission finalises its own proposals on changes to the policy.
The commission is expected to bring forward its proposals later in the year and already there is debate among the member states about possible changes in the system.
Overhanging the debate is the future of the CAP with the proposed EU enlargement in 2006.
Mr Walsh has already stated he agrees with the broad thrust of the enlargement plan which will see phased payments from the CAP to the new member states.
Yesterday morning, the Minister said he was anxious to outline his views to the commissioner on the broad policy issues which were being debated.
These, he said, included the decoupling of CAP payments from production, degressivity and the modulation of direct payments as well as issues relating to the milk, beef and cereal regimes and the simplification of the policy.
The statement added the Minister's overall approach was that while adjustments to the CAP may be necessary in order to respond to changing circumstances, Agenda 2000 was intended to last until 2006 and "fundamental changes should not be contemplated at this stage". Mr Walsh said he would also take the opportunity to exchange views on the current state of the beef market and to impress on the commissioner the need for active support from the commission for the market as it continues to recover.