Agenda Landbouw- en Visserijraad op 15 juli (en)

The Minister of Agriculture Vigilijus Jukna will chair the first meeting of EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Monday 15 July. The main issues for the one day EU Council will be: the state of play of the Common Agricultural policy reform package, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the Communication on fishing opportunities for 2014.

The minister will open the meeting with a presentation of the for Agriculture and Fisheries work programme for the next 6 months and will highlight the main priorities ensuring the innovative and environmentally friendly development of agri-food and fisheries sectors in the EU.

“It is a big challenge and a historical event for Lithuania as this is the first time we will chair the EU Council. We are aware of this great responsibility and we will do our best to deal with these important tasks in agriculture, fisheries, veterinary, food safety and phytosanitary sectors as effectively as possible,” noted Jukna.

The proposal for a Regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) will be a significant focus of ministerial discussions during the EU Council meeting. This regulation will establish a new Fund for 2014-2020. It will replace the 2007-2013 European Fisheries Fund and other current financial measures for fisheries control, data collection and development of an Integrated Maritime Policy. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will help to deliver the ambitious objectives of the reformed Common Fisheries Policy.

The main issues to be agreed during the EU Council are articles on budgetary resources and on criteria for financial distribution for shared management, as well as provisions for the interruption of payment deadline in cases of non-compliance with Common fisheries policy rules.

“The main task for the Lithuanian Presidency i will be securing successful negotiations and political agreement with the European Parliament on the EMFF regulation. Our aim is to reach a full General Approach on this issue during the forthcoming Council meeting and to start negotiations with the European Parliament as soon as it is ready, so that the Fund could enter into force as of 1 January 2014,” pointed out minister Jukna.

During the EU Council the Commission will present the consultation document on fishing opportunities for 2014. On the basis of that document Member states will share their views on the principles for the setting of total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing effort (days at sea) for the following year.

“We intend to continue discussions on existing initiatives and legislative proposals as well as starting discussions on new initiatives which will aim at ensuring the efficiency of the agricultural and fisheries sector, further simplifying administrative and legal procedures,” Jukna highlighted the Presidency’s intentions.