Brussels, 08/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union is showing ambition as it hopes to lead the Council to a political agreement on the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform by the end of June. Indeed, it admits that this will be very difficult because it first needs to wait for the result of the of the European Council negotiations on the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework before being able to finalise the agreement on CAP reform.
A source has revealed that the top priority will be CAP reform and that the Irish Presidency will aim to progress this reform as far as possible. Even the Irish minister for agriculture, Simon Coveney, agrees that it will be difficult to conclude the CAP reform by the end of June. He will bring forward his six-month work programme at the Agriculture Council on 28 January. The CAP reform - direct payments, single common market organisation, financial regulation and rural development - will be on the Council agenda for January, and also on those for 25-26 February, 18-19 March, 22-23 April (in Luxembourg) and 13-14 May. The hope is to reach a political agreement at the Council on 25-26 June (in Luxembourg).
The Agriculture Council in March is also due to focus on the Commission's presentation of proposals for revision of the legislation on animal health, plant health, the marketing and production of seeds and plant propagating material, official controls in these areas and spending for food safety. An assessment of work on these matters is planned for June.
The Commission is also due to bring forward a communication in May for a “new forestry strategy”.
The traditional informal meeting of agriculture ministers will take place in Ireland (Dublin) on 26-28 May.
Alongside the negotiations on the CAP reform, the Council will continue its work on adapting agricultural legislation to the Lisbon Treaty.
With regard to fisheries, the Irish Presidency hopes to lead ministers to a political agreement in June on the legislative texts to reform the common fisheries policy (CFP). Among other subjects on the agenda for fisheries are the state of play on EU-Morocco negotiations on a new bilateral fisheries agreement (at the end of February) and (at the end of April) on the guidelines on fish farming. (LC/transl.fl)