Agriculture Joint Communiqué 26 July 2011
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NORTH SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
AGRICULTURE SECTORAL FORMAT
CAFRE, LOUGHRY CAMPUS
26 JULY 2011
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1. The fifteenth North South Ministerial Council Agriculture meeting was held in CAFRE, Loughry Campus on 26 July 2011.
2. The meeting was attended by Michelle O’Neill, MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, and Edwin Poots, MLA, Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Minister O’Neill chaired the meeting.
COMMON AGRICULTURE POLICY (CAP) AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ISSUES
3. The Council noted developments on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform process including publication by the EU Commission of its communication on the future of the CAP and its proposals for the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework.
4. Ministers noted that due to lack of progress on the World Trade Organisation, Doha, round of trade talks, attempts are being made to conclude a deal on a limited range of issues by the end of 2011. Trade negotiations with the MERCOSUR group of South American countries continue.
5. The Council welcomed a presentation by the two Agriculture departments on Greenhouse Gas Research and Co-operation and other collaborative work on research.
CO-OPERATION ON ANIMAL HEALTH
6. The Council welcomed progress on the delivery of the All-Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Action Plan for 2010/11, including:
2. The meeting was attended by Michelle O’Neill, MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, and Edwin Poots, MLA, Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Minister O’Neill chaired the meeting.
COMMON AGRICULTURE POLICY (CAP) AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE ISSUES
3. The Council noted developments on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform process including publication by the EU Commission of its communication on the future of the CAP and its proposals for the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework.
4. Ministers noted that due to lack of progress on the World Trade Organisation, Doha, round of trade talks, attempts are being made to conclude a deal on a limited range of issues by the end of 2011. Trade negotiations with the MERCOSUR group of South American countries continue.
5. The Council welcomed a presentation by the two Agriculture departments on Greenhouse Gas Research and Co-operation and other collaborative work on research.
CO-OPERATION ON ANIMAL HEALTH
6. The Council welcomed progress on the delivery of the All-Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Action Plan for 2010/11, including:
- joint co-operation to ensure the aims of the Strategy are considered in Commission discussions about the proposals for a new EU Animal Health law; and
- agreement on a methodology for future information sharing on Aujesky’s disease programmes.
7. Ministers noted the Strategy Action plan for 2011/12, including plans to scope the potential for co-operation between official laboratories in carrying out research, surveillance and testing.
CO-OPERATION ON PLANT HEALTH
8. The Plant Health and Pesticides Group made a presentation on their work programme which was approved by the Council. The Council also noted ongoing co-operation in dealing with a number of outbreaks of Phytophthora ramorum in Japanese larch forests and the action taken to control these outbreaks was welcomed.
LOUGHS AGENCY CORPORATE PLAN 2011-2013 AND BUSINESS PLAN 2011
9. The Council approved The Loughs Agency Corporate Plan 2011-13 and the Business Plan for 2011 and recommended the budget provision for 2011 of £4.5387m (€5.535m). They noted indicative budgets of £4.3957m (€5.3606m) for 2012 and £4.2527m (€5.1862m) for 2013.
10. The key objectives for the Loughs Agency in 2011-2013 will be to conserve and protect the fisheries, licence and develop aquaculture, develop Marine Tourism and Angling and effectively and efficiently deliver on its statutory mandate and responsibilities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
11. The Council agreed to hold its next Agriculture meeting in October 2011.
Joint Secretariat
26 July 2011
CO-OPERATION ON PLANT HEALTH
8. The Plant Health and Pesticides Group made a presentation on their work programme which was approved by the Council. The Council also noted ongoing co-operation in dealing with a number of outbreaks of Phytophthora ramorum in Japanese larch forests and the action taken to control these outbreaks was welcomed.
LOUGHS AGENCY CORPORATE PLAN 2011-2013 AND BUSINESS PLAN 2011
9. The Council approved The Loughs Agency Corporate Plan 2011-13 and the Business Plan for 2011 and recommended the budget provision for 2011 of £4.5387m (€5.535m). They noted indicative budgets of £4.3957m (€5.3606m) for 2012 and £4.2527m (€5.1862m) for 2013.
10. The key objectives for the Loughs Agency in 2011-2013 will be to conserve and protect the fisheries, licence and develop aquaculture, develop Marine Tourism and Angling and effectively and efficiently deliver on its statutory mandate and responsibilities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
11. The Council agreed to hold its next Agriculture meeting in October 2011.
Joint Secretariat
26 July 2011
