Brussels, 03/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - Italy is hoping to make progress on various agricultural dossiers during its six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, but is planning to move the Council towards agreements on just two dossiers: the modified rules on organic production and distribution of fruit and milk in schools.
Italian Minister for Agriculture Maurizio Martina (born on 9 September 1978 in Calcinate), a member of the Democratic party, will present the Presidency working programme to his EU colleagues on 14 July. During this meeting, the ministers will discuss the European Commission's proposal to revise the legislation on organic products. On this organic dossier, Italy wishes to lay particular emphasis on the rules on control, import and fraud repression. The Council may adopt conclusions on dairy quotas. Readers may recall that a number of countries are calling for the fat content coefficient in milk to be revised, a measure which would equate to reducing the super-levy and therefore at least partially putting an end to the dairy quota regime this year (rather than in 2015). However, eleven member states are firmly opposed to this move: France, Portugal, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia.
Promotion, OIV, EUROPE 2020 strategy
As the September ministerial session has been cancelled, since there was not enough on its agenda, the agriculture ministers will meet in Luxembourg on 13 and 14 October to continue their talks on organic production and are expected to formally adopt the new regulation on promotion (and information) on agricultural and agri-food products, on which a compromise was reached with the European Parliament in early April. The ministers will also hold an exchange of views on the mid-term revision of the EUROPE 2020 strategy, with Italy to lay the focus on young farmers and the fight against youth unemployment.
Under the provisional timetable, the agriculture ministers of the EU may take position, on 10 and 11 November, on the EU's stance when draft resolutions are tabled within the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). They are expected to discuss the rules on organic products and the Commission's proposal on the system for the distribution of fruit and vegetables and milk in schools.
When the Agriculture Council meets on 15 December, the Presidency hopes that it will finalise its general approach to organic production and the distribution of fruit, vegetables and milk in schools. It will take stock of work on the animal health and plant and seeds package, as well as on proposals concerning veterinary medicines and their inclusion in animal feed.
Lastly, Italy hopes to finalise implementation of the reform of the common agriculture policy (CAP), with reference to the delegated acts which have still to be approved, on direct payments and the authorisation scheme for vine plantation. (LC)