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Minister Coveney and Le Maire agree joint statement on CAP and Mescosur

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD met with his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire in Paris today.

They highlighted the strategic importance of agriculture in their own countries and for the future of Europe as a whole. They agreed to work together to ensure that the reform of the CAP delivers an ambitious policy, adequately funded to reinforce and develop the strategic importance of agriculture to the EU.

They agreed that the distribution of future direct income support within Member States should allow for the necessary flexibility of member states to take account of the agriculture and regional conditions which apply to that country.

Furthermore any future "greening" of the direct income support schemes should be simple to apply both for farmers and Member State administrations and should not entail additional costs for either.

Both ministers resolved to work diligently to ensure that the current commercial negotiations between the EU commission and the "Mercosur" countries did not damage or sacrifice beef production in Ireland and France.

Ministers Coveney and Le Maire agreed to launch a new open initiative to show the contribution that extensive beef production in Europe can make to the global fight against climate change and to continue to work together on issues of mutual concern.  

Note for Editors: See also attached is an english translation of a joint communiqué which the two ministers issued in paris this morning.  Accompanied by one photo.

Date Released: 18 March 2011