Brussels, 12/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - “Two issues will be the focus of attention for our Presidency: the common agricultural policy after 2013 first, and the dairy sector,” Belgian Federal Minister for Agriculture Sabine Laruelle told the Agriculture Council in Brussels on Monday 12 July presenting the Belgian Presidency's work programme for agriculture.
“The objectives of the CAP (common agricultural policy) were re-affirmed by the Lisbon Treaty and, therefore, remain entirely relevant,” Laruelle told ministers. In Belgium's view, the CAP represents an “added value” and “plays a central role in the construction of the EU,” she went on. She stated that the European Council had acknowledged the key role of agriculture in implementing the EUROPE 2020 strategy.
At the informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers in La Hulpe on 19-21 September, there will be discussion of the outcome of the conference on 19-20 July on the future of the CAP after 2013. At the Agriculture Council in November, the Commission will present its communication on the future of the CAP post-2013. An “initial policy debate” on this issue will be held at December's Agriculture Council, Council President in office Laruelle said.
The reasons behind, and consequences of, the 2009 dairy crisis have brought sizeable expectations on the part of the sector, especially among primary producers, Laruelle said. Market regulation and relations between farmers and those further down the chain are the main issues, she indicated (young dairy farmers held a demonstration that same day in front of the EU Council building). “The Belgian Presidency intends to make sure the considerable work of the high-level milk group is brought to the attention of the Council, and I hope that, by September, consensus will have emerged on a number of key points so that the competent commissioner can bring forward a package of legislative proposals in December,” she said. Furthermore, the Commission will present a report on the soft-landing scenario ahead of the removal of milk quotas in 2015 (this report was scheduled by the 2008 decisions on the CAP health check).
At the end of the year, the Belgian Presidency will also launch a debate on a review of Europe's agricultural product quality policy (on the basis of a legislative initiative from the Commission). Among the other issues for inclusion on the agendas of the Agriculture Councils under the Belgian Presidency are: - the aid programme for the least well off in the Community; - the Commission report on the outermost regions; - the farm advisory system. Laruelle added: “Attention will be given to the development of trade negotiations, in relation, of course, to the WTO and also bilateral discussions between the Commission and third countries of groups of third countries” (a reference to the concerns raised in agricultural circles by the resumption of negotiations with the Mercosur countries).
In terms of veterinary, plant health and food security issues, the Belgian Presidency intends to encourage the implementation of coherent policies. “The management of health risks” related to the globalisation of trade, climate change in our regions and also high-density farming “require a health policy that is concerned more with prevention,” the minister said. Unpredictable weather patterns have also caused feed costs to soar. The 2007 food crisis clearly illustrated the consequences of the vagaries of the weather in some parts of the world.
The Belgian Presidency will focus particularly on three issues: - the TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy) roadmap; - funding the animal health strategy (scheduled for discussion by European agriculture ministers at a working lunch on 27 September); - the GMO (genetically modified organism) framework. The Belgian Presidency wants the Agriculture Council to make its contribution “because, while GMOs may raise environmental or public health questions, the reason for their existence is often found in a response by science to legitimate concerns, such as increasing yield to feed people or managing limited natural resources more effectively. In other words, the issues brought to the fore by agriculture,” the minister said. (L.C./transl.rt)