Agriculture Joint Communiqué 26 June 2000
Agriculture Sector
Dublin, 26 June 2000
Joint Communiqué
1. A meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in Sectoral Format was held in Dublin on 26th June 2000 to discuss enhanced co-operation in agricultural matters.
2. The Irish Government was represented by Mr. Joe Walsh, TD., Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, and the Northern Ireland Executive Committee Delegation comprised, Ms Bríd Rodgers, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Mr Dermot Nesbitt, MLA, a junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
3. Both sides acknowledged the significance of the occasion as the first meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in its Agriculture Sectoral Format.
4. The Council reviewed the high level of existing co-operation between the two Departments and discussed the matters for enhanced co-operation in Agriculture which were mandated by the Inaugural Plenary of the North/South Ministerial Council in Armagh on 13 December 1999 (see attached marked Appendix C).
Programme of Work
5. Both sides underlined the important contribution already being made to the development of Agriculture by the Departments and agencies involved and they looked forward to further significant progress arising from their co-operation in the Council. Specifically, they agreed that their respective officials would prepare a detailed proposed programme for joint action for consideration at the next Council meeting in sectoral format. They also agreed to reconstitute a Steering Committee on Cross-Border Rural Development. The terms of reference of this Committee, which comprises senior officials from both Departments, are to promote maximum co-operation in the implementation of rural development programmes and on EU programmes, to exchange information on experience and best practice in both jurisdictions in relation to rural development and to continue to develop common approaches to cross-border area based strategies and rural development research. The Committee will bring forward to the next Council specific proposals in regard to its remit.
Current Issues
6. The Council attached importance to developing a common response and approach to a number of issues crucial to the farming community at the present time. In this regard, they specifically considered the changes regarding payment to farmers in Less Favoured Areas under the new European Rural Development Regulations, and the issue of Low Incidence BSE status for Northern Ireland.
7. The Council noted with satisfaction the recent improvement in prices for the pig meat sector and that current forecasts for the future are positive. Both sides looked forward to examining the joint study on the pig industry due to be completed shortly.
8. Both sides acknowledged the ongoing work of the officials in their respective Departments and agencies to develop a scheme of collaboration on animal and plant health research, to identify those areas with greatest potential for enhanced co-operation and to produce a time-table for further work, which would be considered at the next Council meeting in this Sectoral Format.
Date of Next Meetings
9. The Council agreed that its next meeting in this Sectoral Format would take place in Northern Ireland in October, 2000.
Joint Secretariat
26 June 2000
EXTRACT FROM THE PLENARY MEETING OF THE NSMC - 13 DECEMBER 1999
APPENDIX C
PROPOSED NORTH/SOUTH CO-OPERATION ON AGRICULTURE
Discussion of CAP issues
- The annual price review, the World Trade Organisation, etc, in accordance with critical events in the CAP timetable and without prejudice to the UK and Irish negotiating positions.
- Liaison with the Commission and other EU institutions on issues of mutual interest.
- Common problems in the administration of CAP schemes and programmes and co-ordination of the implementation of support measures.
Animal and Plant Health, Policy & Research
- Policy on the range of animal and plant health and welfare issues
- (Where applicable) operational aspects of such policies and of associated research.
Rural Development
The role of the existing steering committee on cross-border rural development will be extended to
- Promote maximum co-operation in the implementation of rural development programmes and on EU programmes
- Exchange information on experience and best practice in both jurisdictions in relation to rural development.
- Examine the scope for a common approach to the feasibility of developing cross-border area based strategies and rural development research.
The steering committee will operate in consultation as appropriate with the North/South Implementation Body on Special EU programmes.
