Statement by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman on the European Union's Agenda
2000
March 11, 1999
                                
                                
                                
                                           Release No. 00099.99

Statement
                               by
               Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
              on the European Union's Agenda 2000
                         March 11, 1999
                                
                                

     "This morning's vote in Brussels on reforming the European Union's
Common Agricultural Policy was a disappointment not only to the United States,
but to all other agricultural producing nations as well.

     "EU Agriculture Ministers had an opportunity to make much-needed reforms
to their farm policy.  Failing to do so makes it even more important that we
strive for genuine reform in the upcoming round of multilateral trade
negotiations under the World Trade Organization.

     "What the Ministers agreed upon is not much more than maintaining the
status quo.  For example, it appears that there will be no reform of dairy
policies for several years and intervention price cuts are modest at best.  
The failure to act boldly raises serious concerns that the EU will continue to
use export subsidies to compete unfairly in world markets.

     "The EU still has the opportunity to embrace a more market-oriented farm
policy, which will better will serve Europe and the world.  The key to
restoring farm income is not by maintaining distorting subsidies and the
accompanying trade barriers, but creating productive, competitive farm sectors
with access to foreign markets."
     
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