Brussels, 22/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP), the package of milk proposals and measures to promote EU agricultural products are the priorities that the Polish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers will pursue over the last six months of this year.
Addressing European agriculture ministers in Brussels on Tuesday 19 July, Polish Agriculture Minister Marec Sawicki advocated in-depth CAP reform. The Polish Presidency intends, in particular, to focus discussions on putting in place a new system of direct aid based on objective criteria which no longer take account of historic references. Political solutions will also have to be found to ensure the development of rural areas. Reform of the CAP should, Sawicki said, “serve to build a strong, competitive European agriculture, able to meet international challenges and to contribute to the economic and social development of rural regions”. Ways will have to be found, he went on, to increase the competitiveness of European agriculture and diversify farmers' sources of revenue, by means, for instance, of development of renewable energy (generating energy from agricultural waste).
The legislative proposals on the reform of the CAP, which are due to be adopted by the college of commissioners on 5 or 12 October, will be presented to European agriculture ministers on 20 October.
Quality package. The Commission has already presented two legislative proposals on improving the quality of products. Parliament and the Council have made “significant progress” in talks, Sawicki noted. A number of points remain to be settled, however, he added.
Milk package. The Presidency will continue discussions to try to find a compromise on this issue. The Council mandate for opening discussions on milk with the European Parliament is due to be presented at the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) on 5 September.
Promotion. Poland intends, too, to push ahead with discussions on promoting agricultural products (following the Green Paper which the Commission recently presented). Promotion of agricultural products will be the main topic of the informal Council meeting in Wroc³aw on 11-13 September.
The Polish Presidency intends to focus debate on veterinary and plant health issues on the electronic tagging of cattle, labelling of beef and veal, animal welfare and the new EU strategy for plant health. (L.C./transl.rt)