Brussels, 15/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - Reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP), animal welfare G20 talks and the milk market situation - these will be the main items on the agenda of the meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Luxembourg on Monday 18 June.
The Danish Presidency of the Council of Ministers will provide the Council with a progress report on legislative proposals for the reform of the CAP.
Ministers will hold an orientation debate on the proposal for a regulation for rural development within the framework of the CAP reform. Delegations broadly support the principle that the CAP should significantly contribute to addressing the challenges related to environment, biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation. In recital 28 of the rural development proposal, the Commission proposes to set a target of spending a minimum of 25% of rural development funding on climate change mitigation and adaptation and land management. During the discussions in the special committee for agriculture (SCA), delegations' opinions were divided. Some opposed a minimum requirement while others welcomed the proposal and suggested that a binding obligation be set for all member states. Some delegations went as far as to request the percentage be increased to 50%. A number of delegations thought that its scope should be extended so as to include, inter alia, payments to Natura 2000, the water framework directive and forestry action. Ministers will also discuss rural development joint-funding rates.
Animal welfare will also be discussed. Ministers will adopt conclusions on the protection and welfare of animals, particularly during transport. There being no consensus among delegations, the Council is not expected to call on the Commission to review the animal welfare regulation to restrict to eight hours the maximum duration of transport of animals to their place of slaughter. Despite this having been one of the priorities of the Danish Presidency, no progress has been made on this issue, much to the regret of Sweden, Belgium, Austria and Denmark, who have submitted a note to Council. The Council will merely encourage the Commission to take account of existing and future scientific data on animal welfare during transport and technological progress when, at a later date, it considers additional action and possible amendment of the regulation on animal welfare during transport. For the Commission, there is no question of progress being made on this matter for the moment. It wants the already adopted animal welfare rules to be applied by the member states first of all.
The Commission will brief the Council on the deadline for the new animal welfare requirements provided for in directive 2008/120 which lays down minimum standards for the protection of pigs. At the Council meeting in April, several member states, together with the Commission, highlighted the need to comply with the deadline for implementing new compulsory requirements concerning pregnant sows. They considered that there was a strong demand from consumers on this issue and that everything should be done to avoid any distortion of competition between member states on 1 January 2013. New housing requirements were introduced by Directive 2001/88, amending Directive 91/630. They include, among others, the requirements for mandatory group housing for pregnant sows and gilts, permanent access to materials for rooting, and new minimum requirement for flooring surfaces.
Under “Other business”, the Presidency will brief ministers on the outcome of the G20 agriculture vice-ministers/deputies meeting which took place in Mexico City on 17-18 May 2012. The Mexican G20 Presidency had requested G20 agriculture vice-ministers/deputies to draw up recommendations on agricultural production and productivity as a follow-up to the 2011 action plan on food price volatility and agriculture, to be submitted to the G20 summit in Los Cabos on18-19 June 2012.
The Danish Presidency will inform the Council of the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the human health and veterinary sectors.
The Commission will provide ministers with a report on the application of Regulation 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products.
Poland and Lithuania want to highlight the market situation for milk and milk products. These two countries are calling for consideration to be given to a medium- to long-term increase to current reference and intervention prices for butter and powdered milk to take account of higher production costs. (LC/transl.rt)