Brussels, 29/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA), which is responsible for preparing for the negotiations of the Agriculture Council, may “develop its responsibilities” on number of points, according to a note submitted to it by the Latvian Presidency of the EU.
The Latvian Presidency hopes that the SCA, which is meeting in Riga (informally) on Monday 1 June, will approve a note detailing the areas in which this committee could take on more responsibilities. The SCA, which was instituted in 1960 and brings together the agricultural attachés of the permanent representatives of the member states to Brussels, plays a vital role in preparing for the negotiations of the agriculture ministers of the EU.
More information from the European Commission. In its note, which has already been the subject of prior discussions within the SCA, the Latvian Presidency states that the Committee could request the European Commission to provide indications on the delegated acts to implement the common agriculture policy (CAP) which it plans to adopt subsequently. The Commission could also present the committee with the impact assessments of its proposals with a considerable bearing on the agricultural sector. Similarly, the Commission could notify the SCA ahead of meetings of international bodies “where important questions will be discussed”, and also report to it “regularly” of the developments in the trade negotiations carried out on behalf of the EU.
Lastly, the Presidency argues that the SCA should be “responsible for preparing” the Agriculture Council's contribution to the work of the European Council (meeting of heads of state) “for key dossiers with a direct and significant impact on agriculture, such as the climate and energy strategy, the strategy EUROPE 2020 and the investment plan for Europe”, the note reads. (Lionel Changeur).