Europese landbouwministers vormen een groene denktank (en)
The Danish agricultural minister, Mette Gjerskov, challenges her colleagues to develop new ideas for a greener agricultural policy when they meet in Kolding and Horsens 3-5 June. The Ministers will also visit the Wadden Sea and Gram Castle, with Denmark’s largest organically cultivated farmland.
There will not be any traditional ’tour de table’ when the EU agricultural Ministers gather in Forum Horsens on Tuesday 5 June. The Danish Minister Mette Gjerskov wishes things done differently. Not only within EU agricultural policy, which is to be greener, but also in the method of discussion in the Council.
”I have invited my colleagues to join a green think tank. With the agricultural policy as a joint fun-dament we will rack our brains in order to develop the best models for a green transition of agricul-tural policy and agricultural economy. Business as usual does not appear to be an option anymore,” states Mette Gjerskov and adds that the objective is that a greener and more innovative agriculture contributes to lifting Europe out of the financial crisis.
The meeting will take place in Forum Horsens on Tuesday 5 June. The agricultural Ministers will be warmed up by three international experts with good bids for green transition, namely: Director for OECD’s Environment Directorate, Simon Upton, Director for Conservation of WWF International, Lasse Gustavsson and Vice-President for Unilever Global External Affairs, Miguel Veiga-Pestana.
The Danish TV host and commentator Clement Kjersgaard will moderate the debate.
When the temporary think tank finishes its work at 1 p.m. there will be a press conference with the host, Minister Mette Gjerskov, Commissioner Dacin Cioloş and chair of the European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee, Paolo de Castro.
Visit to Mandoe and Gram Castle
On Monday 4 June the guests will have a chance to visit parts of green Denmark. The Danish agricultural Minister will take her colleges to the Wadden Sea and the island of Mandoe, where the guests will learn about the Wadden Sea and its importance i.a. as a larder for the 15 million migrating birds that rest here every year. Next stop is Gram Castle with Denmark’s largest organic farmlands.
”Organic production is an example of how to create green transition. In Denmark we have long tradition for organic production which we aim to strengthen and extend to the double of what it is today. Therefore I am pleased to take my colleagues to Gram Castle, which is an example of both largescale organic production and creation of new local jobs,” says Mette Gjerskov and continues:
”I have included a visit to the Wadden Sea because it is a unique natural area that feeds millions of birds and that we must take good care of. And the Common Agricultural Policy may play an important role doing so."