Brussels, 13/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - The main topic of the Monday 16 December Agriculture Council in Brussels will be improving the promotion of EU farm products, but the EU farm ministers will also formally adopt regulations to adjust the common agricultural policy (CAP). A number of other issues have been added to the agenda, ranging from dairy to air quality via organic farming and rice.
This is the last Agriculture Council under Lithuanian presidency before Greece takes over for six months on 1 January 2014. Two new ministers will be attending the meeting - Dan Jorsensen (Denmark, Centre-Left) and Fernand Etgen (Luxembourg, Democratic Party).
Without debate, the Council on Monday will formally adopt regulations on reform of the CAP (direct payments, common organisation of the markets, rural development, financing) and transition measures for 2014.
The European Commission will present to ministers its draft reforms of the EU's information and promotion of farm and food product, including a gradual but significant increase in the budget allocated to information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products (from €61.5 million in the 2013 budget to €200 million in 2020) to ensure better targeting of action, broader scope for the regulation and a reduction in red tape. This issue was discussed on 9 December by Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos and the EP's agriculture and fisheries committee.
Other business
A number of issues have been added by the Commission or member states to the agenda under “any other business”.
Air pollutants. Germany, backed by Denmark and Luxembourg, will ask the Commission to provide information about the review and strengthening of legislation on air quality, due to be unveiled by the Commission on 18 December, along with emissions caps until the year 2030. The new rules could have serious consequences for the EU farm industry, which generates more than 90% of ammonia emissions.
Dairy. The Commission will brief the ministers on the results of a conference on the EU's dairy industry changes post-2015 that took place in Brussels on 24 September 2013. The conference explored future trends in the EU dairy industry. A report on the industry will be published in June 2014
Organic farming. The Council will be briefed by the Commission on the main results of the public consultation on organic farming conducted by the Commission from 15 January to 10 April 2013. The public and stakeholders were consulted via an online questionnaire, which received close to 45,000 responses. The consultation showed that consumers trust organic products (71%), that they buy them mainly out of concern about the environment (83%), and because they are free from GMOs and pesticide residues (81%). In March 2014, the Commission will unveil a report ahead of changes to legislation in this domain.
Rice. Italy, backed mainly by Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, France and Portugal, will ask the Commission to closely examine the very difficult situation facing the rice-growing industry in the EU, aggravated by the gradual increase in imports of white “indica' rice from developing countries connected with the EU through bilateral trade deals, which have increased from 5,000 tonnes in 2008 to more than 180,000 tonnes in 2013. Cambodia and Burma aim to increase their experts to a very significant extent.
Labelling. Italy, backed by Croatia, will express concerns about the United Kingdom's colour labelling system (red, amber and green colour-coding and nutritional information) to highlight information on energy and certain nutrients. The Commission says the system does not breach EU rules because it is voluntary.
Animal and plant health. The Lithuanian Presidency will present to the Council its progress report on the package of measures on animal and plant health, seeds, control and expenditure.
Access to the Russian market. The Presidency will brief the ministers on access to the Russian market for vegetables and plant products. Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said recently that the health and plant health restrictions in Russia on products from the EU and its member states have been rising for the past year. (LC/transl.fl)