Brussels, 19/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Under the chairmanship of Poland's Marek Sawicki, the agriculture ministers of the member states of the European Union will discuss legislative proposals in Luxemburg this Thursday 20 October, on the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP) and possibly also the programme for the distribution of food to the poorest people. Additionally, the Council may adopt a decision on the position of the EU for the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. Lastly, the ministers will receive information on the implementation of the directive on the welfare of laying hens.
The Polish Presidency of the Council hopes at all costs to prevent the dossier on aid to the poorest from being buried. It also intends to hold talks with certain delegations of the group of six countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic) opposed to the continuation of the programme, to see whether these countries might be inclined to change their minds. Readers may recall that these six countries are opposed to the continuation of this programme on the grounds that this aid comes under social policy.
What is at stake is the budget envelope to be granted for 2012 and 2013 to the aid programme to the poorest citizens of the EU. In early October, the Commission presented a new modified proposal to try to move the situation forward. It suggests adding another legal basis to the programme, namely the objective of “reinforcing the social cohesion of Europe”, to overcome the objections of the Court of the EU, which felt that the programme had moved away from its initial objective of providing an outlet for stocks of agricultural surpluses, because public stocks had fallen and purchases on the markets had to be made. The Commission is therefore proposing a double legal base for 2012 and 2013 (agriculture and social cohesion). The Commission is also proposing that the programme continues to be 100% funded by the European budget, to overcome problems put forward by certain countries struggling to provide the national proportion of the funds.
CAP reform. The Commission will present proposals next week to reform the CAP. Then the Council will hold an exchange of views on the subject.
OIV. The Council may adopt a decision defining the position to be adopted on behalf of the EU regarding the resolutions to be debated and voted on by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). In its proposal, the Commission proposes to make systematic the coordination of the EU's position on the OIV draft resolutions which come under the competency of the EU. This proposal is based on article 218, paragraph 9, of the Treaty of Lisbon, which concerns international agreements. The general meeting - plenary body of the OIV - usually sits once a year, but extraordinary sessions may also be called (an extraordinary general meeting is scheduled for 28 October). The OIV has 43 members. Only 21 member states of the EU are OIV members. Currently, the EU has no official status within the OIV. For the time being, the Commission is regularly invited as a representative of the EU, to attend the general meetings, expert groups, sub-committees and commissions, but it is not allowed to take part in the work of the executive committee.
Laying hens. The ministers will hear a report by the Commission on the implementation of directive 1999/74/EC on the protection of laying hens. At the February Agriculture Council, most of the delegations opposed delaying the cut-off date of 1 January 2012 to get rid of conventional cages. The Commission will present an assessment of the current state of play with the implementation of the ban on conventional cages across the EU, on the basis of data notified to it by the member states and the result of the sanitary inspections carried out by the Commission. Just over ten countries of the EU will struggle to come into line with the new European standards. (LC/transl.fl)