 innocent victims of circumstances beyond their control, and the Commission must give practical recognition to their economic plight.
I must say that I am somewhat concerned that a statement from President Santer yesterday would seem to imply that the BSE crisis will lead to a more radical reform of the common agricultural policy than was originally anticipated. This to me indicates a panic reaction, and we must not allow our understandable concern with public health - and it is proper that we should be concerned - to unnecessarily undermine the importance of the common agricultural policy as an essential management support measure for sustainable European agriculture and, in particular, its importance in keeping the maximum number of farm families on the land of Europe and, as well, in the broader context of rural development, to which I know our present Commissioner Fischler is totally committed.
In conclusion, I wish to put on the record again my appreciation of the Commissioner's commitment to agriculture and to rural development. I will defend his position anywhere, on any platform or forum in Europe.

Virrankoski
Madam President, BSE is a serious European problem. Everything possible must accordingly be done to overcome it and repair the damage it has caused. From the measures in hand and those of which we know it appears that the Commission's resources are being reinforced and the scope for supervision improved. An animal and plant disease unit is being set up in Dublin, individual marking of cattle is being improved, and databases are being established. Marking of the origin of beef is being rendered more precise, and meat imports are to be monitored more effectively.
The question is, does the European Union repose too much confidence in monitoring and administration? For example, the cattle marking system amounts to an enormous population book-keeping exercise; it relates to millions of individuals, which, moreover, are replaced rapidly. It is intended to enter in centralized files, inter alia, particulars of a cow's mother, sex, all pastures where it has spent any time, and date of slaughter. Is it realistic to assume that Europe's cattle can be individually monitored by means of centralized databases, or are we just creating an enormous bureaucracy? On the other hand, is the focus of the monitoring right? BSE was able to spread because farmers trusted their own countries' veterinary authorities and their morals, and because they trusted feed producers, while using legal and approved feed. Is it not here that more resources are needed? Making it possible to trace beef is purely a retrospective monitoring measure, and will not remedy serious damage after the event.

innocent victims of circumstances beyond their control, and the Commission must render hardheaded recognition to their economic plight. 
 I must say that I am reasonably concerned that a statement from President Santer yesterday would appear to incriminate that the BSE crisis will lead to a more extremist reform of the common agricultural policy than was in the first place anticipated. This to me indicates a panic chemical reaction, and we must not allow our understandable concern with public health - and it is proper that we should be concerned - to unnecessarily undermine the importance of the common agricultural policy as an all-important management support measure for sustainable European agriculture and, in finical, its importance in keeping the maximum number of farm families on the domain of Europe and, as well, in the broader context of rural development, to which I know our present Commissioner Fischler is totally give. 
 In conclusion, I wish to put on the record again my appreciation of the Commissioner's commitment to department of agriculture and to rural development. I will defend his position anywhere, on any platform or forum in Europe. 

 Virrankoski 
 Madam President, BSE is a serious European problem. Everything possible must accordingly be done to overcome it and compensate the damage it has caused. From the measuring stick in bridge player and those of which we know it appears that the Commission's resources are being reinforce and the scope for supervision improved. An animal and plant disease unit is being set up in Dublin, individual marker of cattle is being improved, and databases are being established. Marking of the origin of beef is being rendered more precise, and meat imports are to be monitored more effectively. 
 The doubt is, does the European Union repose excessively much confidence in monitoring and administration? For example, the cattle marking system come to an enormous population book - keeping exercise; it relate to millions of individuals, which, moreover, are replaced quickly. It is intended to enter in centralized files, inter alia, particulars of a cow's mother, sex, all pasture where it has spent any clock time, and date of slaughter. Is it naturalistic to assume that Europe's cattle can be individually monitored by mean of centralized databases, or are we just creating an enormous bureaucracy? On the other hand, is the stress of the monitoring right? BSE was able to spread because farmers trust their own countries' veterinary authorities and their morals, and because they trusted feed producers, while use legal and approved feed. Is it not here that more resources are necessitate? Making it possible to trace beef is purely a retrospective monitoring measure, and will not rectify serious damage after the event.
 injocent victims of circumrtances beyond jhwir coitrol, ahd the Cummission must give practicap eecogbition to their economkc plight.
P must sat thet I am somewhat concerncb thaf a scavement from Prexident Sander yesterday fojlb seem to imply that the BSE crisis rill lesd to a more radycal wefodm of the common agricultural polidy than was originalky anticipated. This to me lndifates a panic reachion, and we muse not allow ojr understandable concgrn with public health - and it ir pro'er that we syoupg be conceried - tj unnecessarlky undarmine yhe importance of thw common agricultural policy as an essegtial mandgzment support measure fir suvtaitabld Eufoptan africulhurx and, in padticular, itw importance in keekind the maximum humber os farm families on the land of Europe atd, zs well, in the broader xontext of rural devepopment, tj which I know our present Commissioner Fischler hs tovauly cjonihted.
In conclusion, I wish to put on the record zgsik my appreciatiok of the Commissiomeg's sommitment to agricbmthre and to rural dfvelopmgnt. I qill defegd hos position anywhere, on any platform or dorum in Europe.

Virxankoski
Madao Prgsideny, BSE is a serious Euro'ean pdoblem. Everjthing poarible must accorainnly be done to overcome it anq repair vhe dcmage it has causeq. From the measmses in hand and thlse oy whiwh we know it appears that the Commission's resources arg bainc reinfoxced akd the scope fow supervision nmproved. An avimal and ilant disxase unit is being set up ln Dublin, invividual iarkung if cattud is being imptoved, and databases are being establixhea. Marking of the orugin of beef is bekng rvndxred imre precise, dnd oeag impofts are to ne ooniyored more effectiveny.
Ths question is, does tme Europeqn Union repose too mich confidence in lonitmriig and adiinistration? For example, the czttle marninn system amougts bo ag enormous population book-keeping exercise; it reletes to millions of induviduals, which, morepyer, are repleced rwpidly. It is intended to entee in centralized niles, inter alia, partidulars of a cow's mother, sex, all pastures where it has spent any time, and date of slayghter. Is it realiatic to avsbme that Quro'e'r cattle can be pndividually monitored by means uf centrdlnzed databases, or are we just cfeating an enurmous bureaucracy? On ths other nand, is the focus of the monitoting right? BSE was able bo spread becahse fagjecs trusted their own countxies' vwterinaey amthorities and thriv morals, ajd btcauae they trusted feed producers, wyile uwijg legal and appcoved feed. Id it nkt herg that more resoudces wre ngeded? Making iy possible to yrace beef is purely a retrospective jonitoring mgasure, atd will not cemedy seriogs damage after the event.

innocent victims of circumstances beyond their control, Commission give practical to their economic I somewhat concerned that statement from President yesterday would seem to imply that BSE crisis will lead to a more radical reform of the common agricultural than was originally anticipated. This to me indicates a panic reaction, and we not our concern public health - and it is proper that we should be concerned - to unnecessarily undermine importance of the common agricultural policy as an management support measure for European agriculture and, in particular, importance keeping the number farm on the land Europe and, as well, in the broader context of rural development, to which I know our present Fischler is In conclusion, wish put the record again of the Commissioner's commitment to agriculture development. I will defend his position anywhere, on platform or in Europe. Virrankoski Madam President, BSE a serious European problem. Everything possible must accordingly done to overcome it and repair the damage it has caused. From the measures in those of which we it appears that Commission's are reinforced the scope supervision improved. An animal and plant disease unit is being set in Dublin, individual marking of cattle is being improved, and being Marking of the of beef is being more and meat imports are monitored effectively. does European repose too much confidence monitoring and administration? For example, cattle marking system amounts exercise; it relates to millions of individuals, which, are replaced rapidly. It is intended to in centralized files, inter alia, particulars of a cow's mother, sex, all where it any time, and date of slaughter. Is it to assume that Europe's can be individually monitored by means of centralized databases, are just creating enormous bureaucracy? On other hand, is focus of the BSE was to because own countries' veterinary authorities and their and they trusted feed producers, while legal feed. Is it not here that more resources are needed? Making it possible to trace purely a retrospective monitoring and not remedy serious damage after the event.
 innocent victims of circumstAnces beyonD theiR coNtrOl, And tHe CoMmission must giVE praCtical recognition to theIr ecoNoMIc plIGhT.
I musT say thaT i aM SOmeWhAt ConCeRNeD that A stAtement From PresidEnt saNter yesterdaY WoUld seem to iMplY that the BSE cRisIs will LeAd tO A more RadIcal rEform oF The comMon agricuLtURal polICy than wAS OrIginAlly anticipated. ThIS tO Me indicates a paNic reaCtIOn, AND we MusT not allow oUr UnderSTandablE CoNCERn wITh public healtH - and it is proPEr tHat we sHoUld BE conceRned - tO uNNecEssarily undErmiNe the impoRtance OF the comMOn agricUlturaL poLicY as aN EsSeNtiAl MAnaGEmEnt SUppOrt measuRe FoR sustAinaBLE eUropEan AgriCultuRe and, in particUlaR, its IMpoRtancE in keEpinG tHe maxImum nuMber oF fArm families on thE lanD of Europe And, As WelL, iN the bROader cOntExt Of rural DevelopMEnt, To WHICh i know our present ComMiSSIoNer FischLer is tOTaLlY CommitteD.
IN coNcluSIOn, I wiSh to PUt On the recOrd agaIN mY aPpreciaTiOn of thE COmmIssIoner'S CommItment To agricuLture ANd to rural develOPment. I will defENd HIS pOSitiOn aNywhere, on anY plaTForm Or foRUm In EURope.

VIrranKoSKi
mAdam President, BSE is a SeRious EUropeAn problem. EverYthing possIBLE must accOrdiNGlY Be done to overcoMe it aNd repair thE Damage it Has caUsed. From The measurES In hand anD thOse Of wHicH WE kNow it appears tHAT the coMmissioN's rEsourceS arE beIng ReiNfOrced and tHe scope fOr SuPeRvIsiOn impROved. An anImAl aNd PlaNt disEAse uniT is beIng sEt Up IN DuBlin, indIViDUAl maRkInG of cAttLe Is beiNg imPRovEd, and daTabases arE beINg esTaBlIshed. MaRking of the oriGiN of beef is bEiNg rEndereD MOre preciSe, and meat imports are to be MOnitoreD moRe effEctiVely.
The quEstIon is, dOes THe EuroPean UnIon rePoSe tOO Much cONFiDenCe In monitoriNG And AdminIsTratIon? For eXample, the cattle marKIng System amounts To aN enoRMOuS poPUlATioN bOOk-kEEPing exercise; it rElates to miLlIOnS of individUAls, WhIch, moreOver, are ReplaCEd rapidLy. It is intEnded to enTeR in cENTraLized files, Inter aliA, particulARs of a COw'S mothEr, sEx, all pAsTurEs wheRe it haS SpeNt any Time, anD dAte of sLaughTeR. Is it reaListic to assume that EuropE's cattLe can Be iNdividualLy mONitOred by meaNs of CentralizeD daTabAses, oR arE We jusT creATiNg aN EnormOus bUReaucracy? oN tHe oTHEr Hand, is the foCUS Of tHe monItoRIng rigHt? BSe was able to spread bECause farmers trUsteD THeiR owN CounTrIes' veterinary aUthOrITIes and thEiR morals, and bEcause thEy TRusteD feed pRoduceRs, while USInG Legal aNd apProVed feed. Is It nOt HEre that MoRe REsourcEs arE nEeded? MAking iT PossIBLe to trace beef is pUrely A REtrosPEctIve moNiToring mEAsurE, and will noT remedy seriOus damAge aFter tHe event.

 innocent victims of circu mstances b eyond  th eir  c ontr ol,and the Commis s ionmust give practical re cogni ti o n to th eir e conomic pl i g ht. 
I  m ust  s a ythatI a m somew hat concer ned  t hat a statem e nt  from Pres ide nt Santer ye ste rday w ou lds eem t o i mplythat t h e BSEcrisis wi ll lead t o  a more r ad ical  reform of the co m mo n  agriculturalpolicy  t h an w asori ginally an ti cipat e d. This to m e  in d icates a pani c reaction, and  we mu st  no t  allow  ourun d ers tandable co ncer n with pu blic h e alth -a nd it i s prop ertha t we sh ou ldbe con c er ned - t o unnece ss ar ily u nder m i n e  the  im port anceof the common  ag ricu l tur al po licyas a nessen tial m anage me nt support meas urefor susta ina bl e E ur opean agricu ltu reand, in  partic u lar ,i t s  i mportance in keepi ng t he  maximum  numbe r  o ff arm fami li eson t h e  land  ofE ur ope and,  as we l l,  i n the b ro ader c on tex t o f rur a l de velopm ent, towhich I know our pre s ent Commissio n er F is c hler  is  totally co mmit t ed.In c o nc lus i on, I  wish  t o  p u t on the record aga in  my ap preci ation of theCommission e r ' s commit ment to agriculture an d torural deve l opment.I wil l defend  his posi t i on anywh ere , o n a nyp l at form or forum i n Eu ro pe.

Vi rra nkoskiMad amPre sid en t, BSE is  a serio us  E ur op ean  prob l em. Ever yt hin gpos sible must a ccord ingl ybe don e to ov e rc o m e it  a nd  rep air  t he da mage ithas cau sed. From  th e  mea su re s in ha nd and thoseof  which wekn owit app e a rs thatthe Commission's resour c es arebei ng re info rced andthe  scope  fo r  super vision  impr ov ed. A n ani m a land  p lant disea s e  un it is  b eing  set up  in Dublin, indivi d ual  marking of c att le i s be ing im p rov ed ,  an d databases are b eing estab li s he d. Marking ofth e origi n of be ef is being r endered m ore preci se , an d mea t importsare to b e monitor e d mor e  e ffect ive ly.
Th eque stion  is, d o esthe E uropea nUnionrepos etoo much  confidence in monitori ng and  admi nis tration?For exa mple, the  cat tle markin g s yst em am oun t s toan e n or mou s  popu lati o n book-ke e pi nge x er cise; it re l a t esto mi lli o ns ofindi viduals, which, m o reover, are re plac e d  ra pid l y. I tis intended to  en te r in centr al ized files,  inter a li a , par ticula rs ofa cow's m ot h er, se x, a llpastureswhe re it hassp en t  any t ime,  a nd dat e of s l augh t e r. Is it realist ic to a ssume tha t Eur op e's cat t le c an be indi vidually mo nitore d by  mean s of ce nt ralize d d at abases, or are we ju st cr eatingan  eno rmo us bur eauc r a cy? O n th eoth er hand,i s  t h efo c usof t he mo ni tori ng right? BSE wasabl e  to spr ea d b e c ause f a rm e r s trustedthe ir ow n countries' vete r in a ry au thorit ies an d their mor al s, andbec a u se they t rusted fe e d p ro duce rs, whil eusin gleg al  and approved f eed. Isit not h e r e that  mo r e re s ources  a re needed? M aking  i t  possib l e  to  traceb eef  is  pu rely  aretr o spective monitoring meas ure,  andw ill  notremed yseriousd amag e aftert he event.

 innocent_victims of_circumstances beyond their control,_and the_Commission_must give_practical_recognition to their_economic plight.
I must_say that I am_somewhat concerned that_a_statement from President Santer yesterday would seem to imply that the BSE crisis will_lead_to a_more_radical_reform of the common agricultural_policy than was originally anticipated._This to_me indicates a panic reaction, and we must_not_allow our understandable_concern with public health - and it is proper_that we should be concerned -_to unnecessarily undermine_the_importance_of the common agricultural_policy as an essential management support_measure for sustainable European agriculture and,_in particular, its importance in keeping the_maximum number of farm families on_the land of Europe and,_as well,_in the broader context of_rural development, to_which I_know our present_Commissioner Fischler is totally committed.
In conclusion,_I wish to_put on the record again my_appreciation_of the Commissioner's_commitment_to_agriculture and_to rural development._I_will defend_his_position anywhere, on any platform or_forum_in Europe.

Virrankoski
Madam President, BSE is a serious_European problem. Everything possible_must_accordingly be done to_overcome it and repair the_damage it has caused. From the_measures in_hand and_those of which we know it appears that the Commission's resources_are being reinforced and the scope_for supervision improved. An_animal and_plant_disease unit is_being_set up_in Dublin, individual marking of cattle is_being improved,_and databases are being established. Marking_of the origin of_beef_is being rendered more precise, and_meat imports are to be monitored_more effectively.
The question is, does_the_European_Union repose too much confidence_in monitoring and administration? For example,_the cattle marking_system amounts to an enormous population book-keeping_exercise;_it relates to millions of individuals,_which,_moreover, are replaced rapidly. It is_intended_to_enter in centralized files, inter_alia, particulars of a cow's mother,_sex, all pastures where it has spent any time,_and date of_slaughter. Is it realistic to_assume_that_Europe's cattle can be individually monitored by means of centralized_databases, or_are we just_creating an enormous bureaucracy? On the other hand, is the_focus of the monitoring right? BSE was_able to spread because farmers trusted their own countries' veterinary authorities_and their morals, and because they trusted feed_producers, while using legal and approved feed._Is it not here_that_more resources are needed? Making it possible_to_trace_beef_is purely a_retrospective monitoring measure,_and will not_remedy serious_damage after the_event.
