Agenda van het Pools Voorzitterschap op het gebied van landbouw en visserij (en)

On 12-14 July 2011 Marek Sawicki, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, as the President-in-Office of the Council, presented the Polish Presidency’s agenda in the area of agriculture and fisheries for the next six months to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development i of the European Parliament, Committee on Fisheries i of the European Parliament and the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety i of the PE. During the presentations, Minister Sawicki expressed his hope for fruitful cooperation between the Council and the European Parliament. “I look forward to our close cooperation, thanks to which work on the proposals negotiated now and in the future will be taken forward expeditiously,” said Minister Sawicki.

In the area of agriculture and rural development, the Polish Presidency will focus primarily on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy beyond 2013 and discussions on improving the competitiveness of the EU agriculture by diversifying agricultural income through the development of renewable energy sources in rural areas.

The future of the CAP is a matter of utmost importance to the Polish Presidency. The key problems defined by the EP in relation to the Communication of the European Commission The CAP towards 2020 are largely the same as those discussed by the Council.

In his speech, Minister Sawicki referred also to the EU’s internal agricultural policy, including the dairy sector, food quality policy, identification of cattle and animal welfare.

At the time of the Polish Presidency, the EC will present the Green Paper on promotion measures and information provision for agricultural products which, according to the Presidency, will initiate a public debate on changing the shape of the policy as it provides the opportunity for discussions aimed at working out a common concept of an effective instrument that allows making maximum use of funds earmarked for promotion and pursues coherent promotion policy objectives.

The main priorities of the Polish Presidency in the fisheries sector will be the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, updating total allowable catches and fishing quotas for 2012 and further work on the long-term management plans. Minister Sawicki also declared that the first policy discussion on the Common Agricultural Policy reform package would take place on 19 June, during the first session of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council under Poland’s Presidency.

During the presentation of the agenda to the Committee on Fisheries, Minister Sawicki emphasised that long-term stock management plans constitute one of the most important and well-functioning tools of the CFP.

In autumn, the Polish Presidency will start a preparatory debate for annual consultations with Norway. The presidency also counts on progress in relations with Faeroe Islands and Iceland. Minister Sawicki as the President-in-Office of the Council also announced that a firm stance would be taken against the unilateral fixing of fishing quotas by countries that set them at an unacceptable, irresponsibly high level. This autumn is also the time when the Polish Presidency will face the issues related to the three most important Fisheries Partnership Agreements.

The Polish Presidency’s agenda also covers a review of current phytosanitary regulations as well as modernisation and simplification of EU legislation on trade in seeds and propagating material. “The European Union needs a harmonised and competitive EU market of high quality seeds and propagating material. We must also protect the environment and take into account the progressing globalisation and international standards,” said Sawicki. The Presidency will also work to start trilateral talks with the EP on GMO.

The session agenda of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council also includes forestry matters. Minister Sawicki highlighted that a good condition and permanence of forests in Europe as well as better information on Europe’s forest resources would be key to enhancing the preparedness of forests for the challenges of climate change.

“In the months to come, the Polish Presidency will use its best efforts to conduct due dialogue between the Council and the European Parliament that should result in a solid basis for ambitious and balanced agreements in the second half of 2011 and beyond.”