Brussels, 16/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU agriculture ministers meet in Brussels on Tuesday 17 May, with Sándor Fazekas in the chair, with only one decision - on forests - in view and a considerable number of “AOB” points, some of which are of considerable importance, including on G20 cereals, drought, the welfare of farmed animals and the Codex Alimentarius.
The Council could decide on the participation of the EU and its member states in negotiations on a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe. Any agreement on forests in Europe falls within both EU and national areas of responsibility. This means that the opening for negotiations on a legally binding agreement (LBA) in this area would have to be concluded by both the EU and the member states in the form of: - either a decision authorising the Commission to participate, on behalf of the EU, in the negotiations on LBA on forests in Europe; - or a decision of the representatives of the member states, meeting within the Council, authorising the Presidency to negotiate a LBA on behalf of the member states.
Forest Europe is an intergovernmental policy process based on common strategies, which started in 1990 and is aimed at ensuring the sustainable management of Europe's forests. This process includes 46 European member countries (including Norway, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine) and the EU. Priorities of Forest Europe include: strengthening the role of forests in mitigating climate change, securing the supply of good-quality fresh water, enhancing and preserving forest biodiversity, providing forest products, developing a framework for future forest collaboration and exploring the possibility for a legally binding agreement on forests in Europe.
To date, there have been five ministerial conferences of the Forest Europe process. At the last ministerial conference in 2007, in Warsaw, it was decided to start a process for exploring the possibility to establish a legally binding instrument on forests in the pan-European region. The decision on launching negotiations on a LBA on forests in Europe should be taken at the next Forest Europe ministerial conference, which will take place in Oslo, on 14-16 June 2011. After the signing of the ministerial mandate, negotiations are expected to begin no later than 31 December 2011. They are to be concluded by 30 June 2013.
Protection of animals during transport. The Swedish delegation will brief the Council about the Commission's report on the protection of animals during transport. Regulation 1/2005 makes provision for the Commission's drawing up a report by 2011 on the impact of the regulation on the welfare of animals being transported and on the trade flows of live animals within the EU. Sweden hopes that the publication of this report will be accompanied by legislative proposals on long journeys, rest periods and space allowances.
The Lithuanian delegation will brief ministers on the outcome of the “First international Conference on animal welfare in the Baltic region” which took place in Vilnius on 5-6 May 2011. The conference discussed issues of relating to responsible ownership.
Codex Alimentarius. The Presidency will report to the Council on progress and prospects in Codex Alimentarius negotiations. Eight different Codex Alimentarius Committee (CAC) meetings have already taken place during the Presidency period. Many achievements have been obtained during this period, such as the settings of maximum levels for melamine, a chemical substance fraudulently introduced in infant formula, the promotion of the EU approach on food additives and pesticide residues, the preservation of characteristics of natural mineral waters, including microbiological criteria and contaminants and the setting of several other food standards. Sensitive issues will be discussed in the forthcoming CAC sessions before the end of this Presidency, in particular: - guidelines on GM labelling over which the US and the EU have been in disagreement since 1996; - the setting of maximum residue levels for ractopamine, a chemical used to promote growth in pigs and cattle in certain third countries but which is not authorised by the EU.
Ministers will be briefed by the Presidency on the results of a conference on “Transition towards sustainable food consumption and production in a resource constrained world” which took place in Budapest on 4-5 May 2011.
Pig meat, cereals and sugar. The Presidency will brief the Council on the conclusions of the enlarged advisory group on pig meat. The Council will be briefed by the Polish delegation on its request to increase the intervention price of cereals to €130 per tonne, a move which would increase the security of production pursued by cereals producers and would create stocks to stabilise the market, if cereals prices grow rapidly. Poland will also brief the ministers on its request to increase the sugar production quotas. Poland is recommending a 15% increase in the sugar production of each member state from 2011/2012. An alternative solution could be a 5% increase for 3 consecutive marketing years starting from 2011/2012.
G20. The Council will be briefed by France about preparation for a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers in Paris on 22 and 23 June to discuss price volatility in agricultural commodities.
Drought. Across all of Northern Europe, rainfall has been less than half of what is expected since March. French minister Bruno Le Maire will ask the Commission to authorise early payment of some aid from the first pillar of the common agricultural policy (CAP), including the suckler-cow premium. (L.C./transl.rt)