Conclusies Raad Landbouw en Visserij 29 juni 2011 (en)
COUNCIL OF
EN
THE EUROPEAN UNION
11835/11
PROVISIONAL VERSION PRESSE 186 PR CO 46
PRESS RELEASE
3104th Council meeting
Agriculture and Fisheries
Luxembourg, 28 June 2011
President Mr Sándor FAZEKAS Minister for Rural development of Hungary
Finally, ministers were briefed on the fishing of mackerel by Iceland and Faroe Islands, on a conference on future of the Common fisheries policy, on the EU funding for the fishery sector after 2013, on the future of the aid for the most deprived persons in the EU, on the output of the G20 ministerial meeting, on a conference on the European animal sector and on a conference on organic farming. -
CONTENTS
PARTICIPANTS ...............................................................................................................................5
ITEMS DEBATED
FISHERIES ..........................................................................................................................................7
Consultation on fishing opportunities ..................................................................................................7
AGRICULTURE..................................................................................................................................9
Follow-up of the E. coli outbreak.........................................................................................................9
OTHER BUSINESS...........................................................................................................................11
Fishing of mackerel by Iceland and Faroe Islands .............................................................................11
Conference on the future of the Common fisheries policy ................................................................12
European funding for the fisheries sector post-2013..........................................................................12
Aid programme for the most deprived persons ..................................................................................13
NGO conference on the European animal sector ...............................................................................14
G20 - Outcome of the ministerial meeting on agriculture..................................................................15
NGO congress on organic farming.....................................................................................................16
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
AGRICULTURE
-
-Greenland and EU - Simplified sanitary controls ..................................................................................................17
-
-Agreement between EU and Chile - Sanitary and phytosanitary issues ................................................................17
FISHERIES
ENVIRONMENT
-
-Conservation of migratory species.........................................................................................................................18
JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
-
-Automated data exchange by Slovenia ..................................................................................................................18
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
-
-Contribution to the European development fund ...................................................................................................19
-
-Management of EU external assistance .................................................................................................................19
TRADE POLICY
-
-Anti-dumping - Coumarin - Asian countries .........................................................................................................19
RESEARCH
-
-Euratom framework programme for nuclear research (2012-2013) ......................................................................19
ENERGY
-
-Energy labelling of air conditioners.......................................................................................................................20
-
-Energy Community Treaty - amendments .............................................................................................................20
EDUCATION
-
-Early school leaving...............................................................................................................................................21
PARTICIPANTS
Belgium:
Ms Sabine LARUELLE Minister for SMEs, the Self-Employed, Agriculture and Science Policy
Bulgaria:
Mr Tzvetan DIMITROV Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Czech Republic:
Mr Ivan FUKSA Minister for Agriculture
Denmark:
Mr Henrik HØEGH Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Germany:
Mr Ilse AIGNER Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection
Estonia:
Mr Helir-Valdor SEEDER Minister of Agriculture
Ms Rita ANNUS Secretary General, Ministry of the Environment
Mr Gert ANTSU Deputy Permanent Representative
Ireland:
Mr Simon COVENEY Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food
Greece:
Ms Georgia BAZOTI-MITSONI Secretary General for Food and Agriculture
Mr Andreas PAPASTAVROU Deputy Permanent Representative
Spain:
Mr Josep PUXEU ROCAMORA State Secretary for the Rural Environment and Water
Ms Alicia VILLAURIZ Secretary General for Marine Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Marine Environment
Ms Rosa María QUINTANA CARBALLO Minister for the Sea of the Autonomous Community of Galicia
Mr Samuel JUAREZ CASADO Minister for Rural Environment of the Autonomous Community of Galicia
France:
Mr Philippe LEGLISE-COSTA Deputy Permanent Representative Italy
Mr Roberto ROSSO Secretary of State for Agricultural Policy
Cyprus:
Mr George ZODIATES Deputy Permanent Representative
Latvia:
Mr Jnis DKLAVS Minister for Agriculture
Lithuania:
Mr Mindaugas KUKLIERIUS Deputy Minister for Agriculture
Luxembourg:
Mr Romain SCHNEIDER Minister for Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development
Hungary:
Mr Sándor FAZEKAS Minister for Rural Development
Mr György CZERVÁN State Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development
Malta:
Mr Patrick R. MIFSUD Deputy Permanent Representative
Netherlands:
Mr Derk OLDENBURG Deputy Permanent Representative
Austria:
M. Harald GÜNTHER Deputy Permanent Representative Mrs Edith KLAUSER Director General, Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management
Poland:
Mr Marek SAWICKI Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development
Portugal:
Ms Assunção CRISTAS Minister for Agriculture, Marine, Environment and Planning
Romania:
Mr Adrian RDULESCU State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Slovenia:
Ms Tanja STRNISA State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
Slovakia:
Mr Zsolt SIMON Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Regional Development
Finland:
Ms Marja RISLAKKI Deputy Permanent Representative
Sweden:
Mr Eskil ERLANDSSON Minister for Rural Affairs United Kingdom:
Mr Richard BENYON Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries
Mr Richard LOCHHEAD Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Commission:
Mr Dacian CIOLO Member
Mr John DALLI Member
ITEMS DEBATED
FISHERIES
Consultation on fishing opportunities
The Council was briefed and had an exchange of views on a Commission communication concerning a consultation on fishing opportunities ( 10836/11).
While praising the general approach proposed by the Commission in its communication, most of the member states stressed that the objective of maximum sustainable level (MSY) by 2015 should be assessed on a case by case basis. Furthermore, a majority of delegations expressed concerns about the Commission intention to apply a reduction of 25% of the TAC in the absence of scientific advice or when only poor information is available. They highlighted that such a systematic reduction does not take into account the specificity of each stock and the socio-economic aspects. They would like to improve instead the availability of scientific advice. Finally, concerning the suggestion to split the current negociation on "TAC and quotas" proposal in two proposals, most of the member states noted that an early discussion on this package could provide a diplomatic advantage to Norway for negociations later in the year with this country.
The communication from the Commission explains the progress achieved in the Common fisheries policy (CFP) over the last years and sets out a way forward for the next years. The purpose is to initiate a large public consultation until to have the views of the European citizens and the other stakeholders involved on the ways in which total allowable catches (TACs) should be fixed for fisheries in European waters and for European fishermen.
TACs are catch limits set for most significant commercial fish stocks. TACs are decided on by the Council on a proposal drafted by the Commission on the basis of scientific advice on the state of the stocks concerned. TACs are set annually for most stocks and every two years for deep sea species. For an increasing number of stocks, TACs are set in line with multi-annual plans setting clear goals for sustainable management of specific stocks on the long term. The TACs are shared between EU countries under a system known as 'relative stability' which keeps national quotas stable in relation to each other, even when the total quantity of fish that can be caught varies with the productivity of the fish stocks.
This communications recalls that the aim of setting levels of TACs and quotas and the fishing effort levels for European fisheries for 2012 should be to phase out overfishing.The scientific advice on which the TACs and quotas are established should be put more in line with the aim to reach the objective of maximum sustainable level (MSY) by 2015 as the Commission and the member states have committed themselves.
The communication explains that fish stocks in European waters are generally improving thanks to the setting of TACs and quotas which remains an essential conservation tool. However, the state of some stocks in the Mediterranean Sea and deep-sea resources is still worrying.
The communication offers a state of resources based on the current knowledge on the state of fish stocks and an economic analysis indicating that the economic profitability of the EU catching sector is weak and has been slowly deteriorating over the last few years. Potential future policy directions are suggested:
· The absence of appropriate scientific information on overfishing concerns about two-thirds of the TACs. This should incitate to set more cautious TACs, for example to apply a 25% reduction in TAC when no or incomplete scientific advice is available.
· Fishing effort (i.e. limits on time at sea for fishing vessels) has been managed alongside TACs to reduce discards and reduce the opportunity for illegal catches. However, this management tool is still complicated to implement and would need a careful assessment.
· Several of the current management by multi-annual plans were developed to recover stocks from depleted conditions rather than with the objective of managing them towards good stock conditions. This should be reviewed to improve the efficiency of these plans.
· Where long-term plans exist governing the TACs or effort levels exist, these have to be followed. This is the best approach to sustainability in the long-term.
· In recent years TAC decisions for most EU stocks have been taken in December on the basis of proposals published in mid to late October. For some areas an earlier proposal and an earlier decision could be possible. The Commission offers to present this year two proposals based on the split of the current "TAC and quotas" proposal: one on internal stocks to be submitted to the Council in September and the second one on shared and international stocks to be submitted in November.
The Commission will present its proposals for the reform of the CFP at the next Council on 19 July 2011 under Polish presidency.
AGRICULTURE
Follow-up of the E. coli outbreak
Ministers were briefed on the follow-up to the extraordinary Council on the E. coli outbreak.
Most of the delegations deplored the high level of fatalities observed in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) outbreak. They also praised the Commission for its rapid intervention to compensate the producers of vegetables impacted by the outbreak. They regretted that specific situations such as the one where producers sold their production at a very low price were not taken into account in the measure. Several delegation insisted that lessons should be drawn from the current crisis and that the future proposals on the reform of CAP should take into account such catastrophic event. Concerning the rapid alert system some member states noted that there is a need to provide sound information to the public to avoid catastrophic impact on the market. The majority of member states would like a rapid promotion campaign to help restoring confidence in vegetables and fruits. Finally, most of affected exporting countries supported the Commission in its discussion with Russia to remove its ban on fruits and vegetables.
During the extraordinary agriculture Council convened by the Presidency on 7 June 2011 ministers debated the EU food safety and market implications of the recent outbreak of E. coli in northern Germany.
All existing EU mechanisms for information sharing and response coordination on food safety and human health have been triggered as soon as the first cases were reported on 22 May. However, considering the high level of fatalities, problems in the dissemination of information submitted by member states through these systems, the Commission intends to review the system at the light of the current crisis and improve these information mechanisms if needed.
Some days after this extraordinary meeting, the source of the E. coli outbreak has been finally identified by the German authorities in vegetable sprouts originating from a farm in the north of the country. The warning on other fresh vegetables has been lifted, enabling to restore consumer confidence in these products. The Commission raised the budget for the promotion of these products and will initiate a large information campaign as soon as possible.
As another E. coli outbreaks recently occurred France which could have a link with the German outbreak, it raises the concerns about food safety of vegetable sprouts possibly also involved. The investigation on the outbreak is still going on.
As regards the market implications, the situation of the fruits and vegetables sector at the national and EU level was described during the extraordinary meeting as catastrophic. In the following days after the extraordinary Council meeting, emergency measures were actually adopted for a global budget envelope of 210 million euro partially compensating for the losses undergone by producers of cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce courgettes and sweet peppers in the EU. The Commission intends to assess the national demands for compensation from the members states in the days to come and have a first overview of the complete situation at the end of July 2011.
The Commission noted that the prices of vegetables are partially recovering from the low levels they reached during the crisis.
Finally, concerning the implications of the crisis on international trade, the ban adopted by Russia on EU exports of vegetables and fruits causes major economic losses to farmers and traders. It was rejected as scientifically unjustified and disproportionate.
Since the extraordinary meeting, the Commission has sent a delegation in Russia to try to solve this issue. It has come to an agreement with the Russian authorities which will accept a certification of the food safety of the products. the Russian ban was lifted for some member states exporting to this country.
OTHER BUSINESS
Fishing of mackerel by Iceland and Faroe Islands
The Council was briefed by the Irish delegation on the current state of play and the possible options concerning the unrestricted fishing of mackerel by Iceland and Faroe Islands.
Ireland considers that despite numerous attempts, Iceland and the Faroe islands have refused to enter into an appropriate management framework and exploit recklessly the mackerel stock in the North East Atlantic, putting at risk the long term sustainability of the stock and the viability of the EU industry dependant on it. The Irish delegation believe that the EU should impose sanctions impacting significantly on the economics of this unilateral fishing.
The North East Atlantic stock of mackerel has a wide distribution area from waters off the north coast of Spain to waters around the Faroe Islands and Norway. Recently it is also to be found in Icelandic waters. This fishing resource is a hugely important fishery for Ireland and many other member states.
With the setting of huge unilateral TACs by Iceland and the Faroe islands 2011 the outtake of mackerel is now expected to approach 1,000,000 tonnes in the context of a scientifically advised TAC of 646,000t. If continued, this level of fishing will have a detrimental impact on the stock and potentially catastrophic impacts on the industry dependent on this fishing.
The request of Ireland of envisaging sanctions against Iceland and Faroe Islands was supported by several other member states. Some member states pointed out that this particular dossier should not impede the current accession negotiations with Iceland.
At the agriculture and fisheries Council on June 2010, member states had already asked for strong actions to be taken against both Iceland and the Faroe islands ( 11428/10).
The Commission is currently examining all the possibilities to negotiate an agreement for 2012 with these coastal third countries but does not exclude sanctions if necessary.
Conference on the future of the Common fisheries policy
The Netherlands briefed the ministers about the report of the high level conference on the future of the Common fisheries policy (CFP), which was held in Noordwijk from 9 to 11 March 2011 ( 11866/11).
The aim of the conference was to discuss important questions about the future of the CFP amongst representatives from the member states and the Commission, with input from experts from the policy field.
The conference enabled the participants to reflect on three topics that are fundamental to the CFP:
· The role of the market in the new CFP and how it can contribute to sustainability and profitability,
· Financing the new CFP,
· The way forward with regard to regionalisation.
No formal conclusions were drawn at the end of this meeting. The report of the conference was made available as a hard copy booklet during the Council meeting. It contains the major considerations raised during the discussion.
European funding for the fisheries sector post-2013
The Council was informed about a joint declaration of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania concerning the European funding for the fisheries sector post-2013 ( 11904/11).
These delegations acknowledge the role of European fisheries in providing food safety while ensuring sustainable management of natural resources and its potential to contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy. They pointed out the need for an appropriate funding of the fisheries policy. Furthermore, they consider the need for reform of CFP in order to secure sustainable management of the natural resources but insist on the necessity to keep a sufficient funding available for the support measures of the future CFP. Some specific sectors such as marine or freshwater aquaculture should be supported by such funding. The declaration points out the needs of the "new" member states which were not able to fully benefit from the EU funds available before that date.
Six member states (Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Ireland and Portugal) had already submitted to the Commission a common declaration in May 2011 highlighting the importance of the future financial instrument of the PCP.
Aid programme for the most deprived persons
Ministers were briefed by the Presidency and the Italian delegation on the future for a regulation concerning distribution of food products to the most deprived persons in the Union ( 11681/11http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/10/st13/st13435.en10.pdf).
Considering the importance of this support scheme, (i.e. in 2008, more than 13 million people living in 18 member states benefited from this programme), the Presidency and the Italian delegation ask the Commission to submit, as soon as possible, proposals to amend the current system to ensure its future continuity. This request has the support of the Belgian, Bulgarian, Estonian, Spanish, French, Latvian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovene and Slovak delegations and some others.
The original rules provide that the EU can supply food from agricultural intervention stocks to the most deprived persons. However, the fade-out of intervention stocks, due to the reframing of the CAP has made this framework obsolete: the current scheme's reliance on market purchases for the provision of food has significantly increased while this was normally limited to situations of temporary unavailability of intervention stocks. Consequently, on April 2011, The European Court of Justice stated that the current legal framework of this programme provides that volumes used for the scheme should come from intervention stocks and only marginal amounts should come from the open market.
The Commission presented already a proposal on this subject to the Council in September 2010 ( 13435/10) but some delegations expressed a reservation on this text, as was the case for the first proposal presented by the Commission in 2008, as regards the legal basis for this text, which in their view should be drawn from social policy rather than agricultural policy. The Commission indicated its willingness to present a slightly amended version of its proposal as soon as possible in order to limit the impact of the judicial decision on this program.
The current regulation as regards distribution of food to the most deprived persons was laid down by a regulation in 1987 and finally incorporated into the Single Common Market Organisation regulation in 2007.
NGO conference on the European animal sector
The Hungarian delegation briefed the Council about the output of the NGO conference: "Creating coherence on trade, development and sustainability: the European animal sector in focus"
The conference studied how the future CAP can contribute to a sustainable animal husbandry sector in Europe with a special attention on the CAP's connection with the European trade policy agenda and the coherence of both with European development goals. This conference was held in Debrecen (Hungary) between 26 and 28 May 2011 as a side event to the informal "Agriculture and Fisheries" meeting. The three main agenda points of the ministerial meeting were discussed at this occasion under a new angle:
· Effects of the lifting of the dairy quota regime
· Increasing feed prices
· Environmental and animal welfare standards
The event was organised by "Create Coherence on trade and development" which is a consortium of European NGOs and fair trade organizations. This consortium would like to initiate public debate on the impacts of EU trade and aid for trade policies on development and on the environment and local communities. This means to engage a broad range of European civil society groups in awareness raising in particular by building capacity on these issues in Eastern Europe.
G20 - Outcome of the ministerial meeting on agriculture
The Council was briefed by France on the outcome of a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers held in Paris on 22 and 23 June to discuss the price volatility affecting agricultural commodities.
The June meeting proposed an action plan on the volatility of agricultural prices to be endorsed by the G20 Heads of State Summit scheduled for 3 and 4 November 2011 in Cannes.
France, which currently holds the presidency of the G20, presented the main output of the action plan agreed by the G20 agriculture ministers.
· developing agricultural production in the long run in order to match the increasing demand and
to limit shortages;
· improving market information and transparency in the interests of governments and economic operators by creating a joint database on stocks and production;
· improving international coordination in order to enhance confidence in international markets and to prevent and manage food crisis more efficiently, e.g. by setting up a specific world forum able to respond quickly in the event of a crisis;
· develop risk management tools for the most vulnerable in order to cope with excessive food volatility; and,
· better organise the agricultural markets.
NGO congress on organic farming
Ministers were briefed by Hungary about a NGO congress "Organic farming as opportunity for European agriculture" ( 12160/11).
The congress proposed many opportunities for debates about the future of food and farming in the EU, organic action plans and the development of organic markets in new member states. The event was organised by the Presidency in cooperation with the IFOAM EU Group (International federation of organic agricultural movements) and Hungarian organic sector organisations and took place on 31 May in Gödöllö (Hungary).
The participants draw several conclusions during the congress:
· Organic farming can be considered a an engine for rural economies in new member states.
· In the framework of the future CAP, organic farming is a precious element with a view to develop a sustainable agriculture.
· A consistent policy framework should accompany the development of organic farming.
· In the future food and farming can benefit of local supply chains where organic farming plays a key role. It was also established that organic farming is now ready to face new challenges that the agriculture will have to overcome, in particular sustainability. Organic farming should be protected against GMO contamination in order to stay a low input and sustainable farm system.
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
AGRICULTURE
Greenland and EU - Simplified sanitary controls
The Council adopted a decision laying down simplified rules and procedures on sanitary controls of fishery products, live bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates, marine gastropods, by-products thereof and products derived from these by-products coming from Greenland ( 11240/11).
In the perspective of a sanitary arrangement between Greenland and the EU on several fishery and seafood products which would facilitate the trade of this commodities coming from Greenland, this country has to transpose EU sanitary and, where appropriate, animal health rules on these products
As Greenland is one of the overseas countries and territories (OCT) of the EU, the strengthening of the relationship and cooperation between this country and the EU implied by this arrangement involves the EU, on the one hand, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark on the other.
Agreement between EU and Chile - Sanitary and phytosanitary issues
The Council adopted a decision on a EU position on decision 1/2011 of the joint management committee for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) matters regarding the amendment of annex IV to the agreement establishing an association between the EU and Chile ( 11091/11)
The decision aims at defining the position to be taken by the EU on the introduction of "fish products" sector and the "bivalve molluscs" sub-sector in the list of priorities of the annex IV for which equivalence may be recognised. This introduction would allow to assess the equivalence of processing treatments for fish or molluscs applied in Chile and currently not recognised by EU law.
Annex IV to the agreement establishing an association between the EU and Chile lays down the SPS measures applicable to trade in animals and animal products, plants, plant products and other goods and animal welfare.
FISHERIES
Partnership agreement between EU and Gabon - Negociations on renewal
The Council adopted a decision to authorize the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the European Union for the renewal of the protocol to the fisheries partnership agreement with Gabon.
The current protocol, which entered into force on 3 December 2005, will expire on 2 December 2011.
ENVIRONMENT
Conservation of migratory species
The Council authorised the EU to become a signatory to two memoranda of understanding under the Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals: one on the conservation of migratory sharks and one on the conservation of birds of prey.
By written procedure, concluded on 23 June, the Council also authorised the Commission to propose on behalf of the EU that falcon species Falco cherrug and Falco verspetinus be added to the list of endangered migratory species protected under the same convention.
JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
Automated data exchange by Slovenia
The Council adopted a decision on the launch of automated data exchange concerning Vehicle Registration Data (VRD) by Slovenia ( 11490/11). The evaluation procedure required by decision 2008/616/JHA (OJ L 210, 6.8.2008) concluded that the general provisions on data protection are fully implemented by the Republic of Slovenia and this country is therefore entitled to receive and supply personal data as from the date of the entry into force of this decision.
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
Contribution to the European development fund
The Council set the revised annual amount of member states' contributions to the European development fund for 2011 at 3.1 billion EUR. At the same time, it set the second instalment to be paid by individual member states to the Commission and the European Investment Bank this year ( 11689/11).
Management of EU external assistance
The Council adopted conclusions in response to the Court of Auditors' special report No 1/2011 "Has the devolution of the Commission's management of external assistance from its headquarters to its delegations led to improved aid delivery". The text welcomes the overall conclusion of the auditors that devolution has contributed to improving aid delivery as a key part of the Commission's wider reform of its management of external assistance over the last decade. The conclusions are set out in 11309/11.
TRADE POLICY
Anti-dumping - Coumarin - Asian countries
The Council adopted a regulation repealing the anti-dumping measures currently in force on imports of coumarin from China, India, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia ( 11546/11).
RESEARCH
Euratom framework programme for nuclear research (2012-2013)
The Council adopted a general approach for extending, for a two-year period, the current European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) framework programme for nuclear research ( 12009/11).
The new decision will extend the Euratom programme, which expires at the end of 2011, until end 2013.
For more information see press release 12161/11.
ENERGY
Energy labelling of air conditioners
The Council did not oppose a draft Commission delegated regulation of 4.5.2011 supplementing directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling
of air conditioners ( 9968/11+ ADD 1-19).
The aim of this delegated regulation is to introduce new, more ambitious, energy efficiency classes for air conditioners in order to adapt them to technological developments and introduce more dynamism into the labelling scheme.
Energy Community Treaty - amendments
The Council authorised the Commission to negotiate on behalf of the EU amendments to the Energy Community Treaty in order to adapt its acquis on energy to the recent changes in the EU law (third internal energy market package and directive 2009/28/EC on renewable energy sources).
The Treaty establishing the Energy Community entered into force in 2006. The Energy Community extends the EU internal energy market to South East Europe and beyond on the basis of a legally binding framework.
For more details see:
http://www.energy-community.org/
EDUCATION
Early school leaving
The Council adopted a recommendation on policies to reduce early school leaving (10544/11) which seeks to promote progress towards the Europe 2020 headline target of reducing school drop- out rates to less than 10% by 2020 (as compared with 14.4% in 2009). Reducing early school leaving addresses the Europe 2020 aims of both 'smart growth' - by improving education and training levels - and of 'inclusive growth' - by tackling one of the major risk factors for unemployment, poverty and social exclusion.
Member states are called upon to ensure that comprehensive strategies on early school leaving are in place by the end of 2012 and that these are implemented in line with national priorities and the Europe 2020 objectives. Comprehensive strategies should include prevention measures, intervention measures and compensation measures, the latter being aimed at re-engaging people who have dropped out of education. These strategies must address both education and social policy, should be `evidence-based' and be adaptable to local, regional and national conditions.
Learning mobility
The Council adopted a recommendation on promoting the learning mobility of young people ( 11327/11), which forms part of the Europe 2020 flagship initiative Youth on the Move (13726/10). Learning mobility, i.e. transnational mobility for the purpose of acquiring new skills, is one of the fundamental ways in which individuals, particularly young people, can strengthen their future employability, as well as their personal development.
The recommendation encourages member states to take appropriate steps in order to remove inter alia administrative and institutional obstacles which are still impeding progress in this area. At the same time, it fully respects member states' competences and responsibilities under national and European legislation.