Raad van Ministers van landbouw en visserij over hervorming landbouwbeleid (en)
In the course of the session, European Union ministers responsible for agriculture and fisheries discussed a package of draft legislation concerning the Common Agricultural Policy reform presented to the Member States on October 12th 2011 .
The Common Agricultural Policy reform is a lead priority of the Polish Presidency. A tight meeting schedule has been planned. General debates concerning the direct payment system and rural areas development proposals will take place in November and December respectively.
The Polish Presidency joined forces with the President of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament and the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development to organise a series of debates concerning the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, with European Union agriculture ministers, Members of the European Parliament, and representatives of academia and the agricultural community in attendance. “The purpose of the planned debates is to hold a discussion enabling a better understanding of the needs and priorities of as large as possible a group of entities who have been and shall be involved in the process of implementing the Common Agricultural Policy in the course of the subsequent financial perspective,” said Minister Sawicki.
The first meeting in the series shall take the form of a political debate on November 7th. The Presidency plans the next European Parliament debate with the participation of agricultural organisations for November 23rd. The next meeting (to be attended by representatives of science) shall take place on December 7th, whereas all Common Agricultural Policy meetings are to be summarised on December 15th-16thin the course of the EU Council session for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Ministers participating in Council debates listened to the European Commission’s proposal concerning the Common Agricultural Policy reform. This contains a number of new components requiring further work in the European Union forum. The Commission’s proposal includes numerous suggestions meeting Member State expectations, as well as others which (following primary assessment) have evoked certain doubts and will require changes. The proposal will affect European Union farmers as well as European consumers and citizens resident in rural areas.
The European Union Council of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries also discussed fishery-related matters. The debate focused on 2012 Baltic Sea fishing rights, pelagic resources, and reduction of salmon and European plaice fishing quotas.
As per its autumn tradition, the Council also debated the issue of consultations with Norway concerning the year 2012. Minister Sawicki declared that the Presidency attached great importance to sound EU-Norwegian relations, and to favourable results of annual consultations.
Under miscellaneous, ministers were presented with European Commission information concerning the use of unimproved cages for laying hens, in the light of the ban on the raising of hens in unimproved cages, to come into force as of January 1st 2012.
The issue of a food assistance programme for the most needy in the European Union was another matter discussed during the session of the European Union Council of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries. “The Polish Presidency believes that in the light of high unemployment rates and the widespread social exclusion throughout Europe, we ought to show solidarity with the most needy, and ensure efficient assistance programme implementation, at least in 2012 and 2013,” said Minister Sawicki in the course of the debate. The proposal tabled by the European Commission contains two major amendments when compared with its earlier version: an option of market sourcing of commodities needed to implement the programme, and withdrawal from the co-funding requirement. Given the lack of consensus among ministers attending the Council session, the issue is to be discussed in the future in greater detail. Six Member States (the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) oppose the concept of extending the programme for further two years, forming a so-called blocking minority. “The community spirit allowing programme continuation during the transition period was not present among our ministers today. The Council did not approve the proposal to resolve such a period. This proves the presence of selfishness in Europe, where today we need a sense of solidarity with those suffering from the crisis and its effects,” declared Commissioner Dacian Ciolos during a press conference.
The European Union Council of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries also focused on the matter of the European Union’s position concerning draft resolutions to be adopted in the course of the 2011 General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.
(-) Anna Pieniazek
Spokesperson for the Polish Presidency
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development