Brussels, 05/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU told the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) on Monday 4 July that its priorities in agriculture are reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP), the “milk package” and the “quality package”. Work will also have to continue on aligning CAP texts with the Lisbon Treaty. All of this promises a particularly busy time for experts and European agricultural affairs ministers after the summer break.
The college of commissioners is due to adopt legislative proposals on the reform of the CAP in October of this year. The first presentation of the proposed texts to European ministers is scheduled for the Council meeting on 21 October. Milk package. The mandate for opening talks with the European Parliament (EP) on contractualisation in the milk sector is due to be presented at the SCA meeting on 5 September. The Presidency expects the EP to vote on this issue in November and the text to be submitted to the Agriculture Council of 15-16 December for discussion. Quality package. The mandate for discussions on quality programmes with the EP will be requested from the SCA at the start of September, with a trialogue following on soon after. However, with regard to marketing standards, the preparatory debate for discussions with the EP will only take place in the SCA at the end of September. The Commission believes that there could be first reading adoption for the texts on contractualisation in the milk sector and on quality programmes. Things are likely to be more complicated for marketing standards. Aligning CAP texts with Lisbon Treaty. The texts on direct aid and rural development are still very much part of the Presidency programme. A new mandate for negotiations on direct aid with the EP will be sought at the SCA at the start of September. A first trialogue meeting on the text on the funding of the CAP will be held on 13 July and, if necessary, the text will be debated in the SCA in preparation for discussions at the start of September. With regard to the text on the common organisation of agricultural markets (CMO), a preparatory discussion may be held in the SCA in September.
Other matters: scheme for distributing foodstuffs to the most needy in the EU, produce from organic farming and labelling of this produce. At the next Agriculture Council, on 19 July, the Commission will present a Green Paper on promotion initiatives. This presentation will mark the opening of a public consultation period the results of which will be discussed at the Council in September. (L.C./transl.rt)