merrion street

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD met on Saturday with Lithuanian Agriculture Minister, Kazys Starkevicius in Dublin for talks on the ongoing CAP Reform proposals currently before the Agriculture Council. The meeting is part of an ongoing series of consultations and discussions which Minister Coveney is having with other Member States on the proposals for the CAP post 2013.

The discussion covered likely course of the negotiations which are very important for both countries given that Lithuania takes over the Presidency immediately after Ireland in 2013. It also covered the details of the proposals relating to CAP financing, direct payments, market supports and the process leading up to the end of milk quotas. The importance of flexibility for Member States in applying the Single Payment system after 2013 was emphasised by Minister Coveney as a key point in the negotiations.

Both Ministers agreed to work closely over the coming year and to keep in close touch as the negotiations progress during 2012 prior to Ireland’s assuming the Presidency.