The French farm minister, Dominique Bussereau, who arrives in Ireland today to review progress in the World Trade Talks, said France would welcome young Irish people who want to farm and live in rural France.
He said France had always tried to develop schemes to keep farming activity on all of the land and specifically in less favoured areas.
"In order to remain viable from a farming point of view, these areas need new young farmers. To support them, we have created enhanced installation aids in mountain areas, and loans at subsidised rates, " he told The Irish Times yesterday.
"We hope to create a more stable environment for farmers in Europe to encourage people to live in the countryside. We welcome all young European farmers, and the Irish are naturally welcome," adding they would be particularly welcome in the southwest in French rugby clubs.
Mr Bussereau said the main purpose of his visit involved an exchange of views with the Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, because France and Ireland shared very close views on the agricultural aspects of the WTO negotiations and had laid out what both deemed to be the maximum concessions which should be made in them.
"Following the ministerial conference in Hong Kong last December, it is useful for us to discuss together the best strategy to ensure that the WTO negotiation is not limited to agriculture, rather, it must be a balanced negotiation on all of the aspects concerned," he said.
"As far as agriculture is concerned, we will be very attentive to market access, which is at the heart of the community preference to which both our countries are very attached," added Mr Bussereau.
On converging views in the future, he said France and Ireland both wanted an economically strong agriculture which was environmentally responsible, produced safe food and met the expectations of society both in home and international trade.
He said he was pleased with the outcome of negotiations on the EU budget for agriculture and rural development.