Voorbereiding op Raad Landbouw en visserij op 17 mei 2010 (en)

The Agriculture & Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels on Monday 17 May (starting at 11 a.m.), under the Presidency of Mrs Elena Espinosa, Spanish Minister for Agriculture. Commissioner Dacian Ciolo? will represent the Commission at the meeting, apart from one AOB point on forest protection for Environment Commissioner Janez Poto?nik.

The points on the agenda are:

Agriculture

International Competitiveness of the European agri-food model

On 15-16 April 2010, under the auspices of the Spanish Presidency, the Spanish Federation of Food and Drink Industries organised in Seville a seminar on "External competitiveness of the European agri-food model" with the broad and varied participation of experts representing European industry and production as well as national and Community administrations.

The discussions held at the meeting focused on three issues:

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  Affirmation of the model in the global context
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  The regulatory framework governing our external trade
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  The EU's agri-food promotion policy

The conclusions and policy proposals of the seminar are set out in the "Seville Declaration".

The Spanish Presidency will present the "Seville Declaration" and, based on a questionnaire, ministers will have an exchange of views on this subject.

Gender equality in rural areas

On 27-29 April 2010, the Spanish Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, in the framework of the Spanish Presidency, held a Forum on Women in the Sustainable Development of the Rural World.

One of the most important conclusions reached was the recognition that gender equality is essential to keeping the rural environment alive.

Women constitute over 50% of the rural population in the European Union. Although these women play a fundamental role in the development of the environment in which they live and which they build, often their contribution is invisible and goes unnoticed.

Furthermore, women’s continued presence in the rural environment is the best way to keep agricultural and cattle production active and to fight the threat of depopulation, which undermines the cultural and natural heritage in many Member States.

The Spanish Presidency will present the conclusions of the Forum and, based on a questionnaire, Ministers will have a discussion on gender equality in rural areas.

Any Other Business

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  Preparing forests for climate change: Forest protection and information in the EU - Follow up on the Valsaín Conference and Council conclusions (Information from the Presidency).
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  27th Conference of EU Paying Agencies - general conclusions (Information from the Presidency)
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  EU trade negotiations with Mercosur countries (document submitted by the Irish, Greek, French, Hungarian, Austrian, Luxembourg, Polish and Finnish delegations)