I welcome members of the joint committee to this meeting. Those of us who were in Brussels from Monday until Wednesday attending a seminar on the workings of the EU machinery were suitably impressed by the programme organised by committee staff, the European Parliament and the European Commission. The permanent representatives and their briefs with whom we spent a large amount of time also attended. It was a useful experience. I thank my colleagues who worked long days, from early morning until late at night. That few questions remained outstanding at the end of the seminar demonstrates the level of participation by all involved. It is fair to say even those of us who have been involved in European affairs for some time learned a great deal. It might be good if those who could not attend this week's briefing were able to go at a future date - perhaps we should be involved in such seminars at least once a year. It was very worthwhile. I express my appreciation to all those who participated.
The minutes of the last meeting have been circulated. As a member of the joint committee will not be able to attend before about 11 a.m., I propose that we deal with other business before Mr. Bobby McDonagh of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Mr. John Cushnahan, MEP of the external actions working group are invited to speak. A letter has been received by the Ceann Comhairle from Mr. Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, seeking submissions in connection with the establishment of a working group on the Euromed forum which is being set up to consider the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly. Submissions are sought on the future representation of national parliaments in any such assembly. The deadline for the receipt of submissions was 16 January, the day on which the correspondence was received by the secretariat. I propose to note the request. If our policy advisers make suggestions on input, we may write in response to the request, even though the deadline has elapsed.
There will be a COSAC meeting in Brussels on Monday followed by a meeting for chairmen on Tuesday. As no joint committee members have put forward their names, I do not know if anyone wishes to attend the Monday session. They should, please, inform the secretariat if they wish to do so.
The Department of Agriculture and Food has submitted for urgent consideration a draft proposal, which has been circulated, on the modalities in the WTO agriculture negotiations. The document sets out the proposed position of the European Commission on modalities which the European Union should submit to the WTO in the context of the current negotiations on a new round of agreements. Modalities refer to the rules under which the new round will be concluded. In accordance with the Doha ministerial declaration under which negotiations are taking place, the Commission is seeking early agreement on its proposal by the end of January 2003 in order to submit the EU position to the WTO. The intention is to influence the decision making process on modalities. The WTO deadline for agreeing modalities is the end of March 2003. In view of the tight deadline, I propose to formally refer the proposal to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food. The matter can also be raised at the next meeting of the sub-committee on EU scrutiny. Is that agreed?
