SCOTTISH and Irish farmers' leaders have been meeting in Edinburgh to

discuss future agricultural policy. They identified and reached

agreement on a number of key points stemming from reforms to the Common

Agricultural Policy and the recent Gatt world trade deal.

In a joint statement, they emphasised that the principles of the CAP

reform and Gatt must be used to bring long-term stability, so that

farmers could plan ahead with confidence.

While competitive pressures would increase as a result of Gatt,

Europe's family farms and food industries must not be forced out of

business by unequal market forces, said the two leaders -- Mr John Ross,

president of the Scottish National Farmers' Union, and his counterpart

at the Irish Farmers' Association, Mr J Donnelly.

Gatt rules allowed support measures to continue, and there was a

particular need to sustain the less favoured areas and to promote

environmental measures. However, they warned that EU farmers must not be

landed with trading disadvantages, because of stricter environment and

other farm production rules.