Brussels, 20/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The Council of EU agricultural ministers was briefed by the European Commission on Tuesday 17 May on the outcome of the meeting of G7 agriculture ministers in Niigata, Japan on 23 and 24 April on the new challenges the sector will have to address.
G7 summits bring together Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Canada, as well as the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission.
April's was only the second G7 agriculture ministerial meeting, after the one held in 2009 under Italian presidency, and was held in response to the food price crisis.
In Japan, ministers discussed revitalising rural areas and increasing farmers' income, improving agricultural productivity and food supply capacity, and realising sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
The Council also adopted, without debate, EU guidelines ahead of the G20 agriculture ministers meeting scheduled on 3 June 2016 in China. China holds the G20 presidency in 2016 and has scheduled a meeting of agriculture ministers the theme of which is agricultural innovation and sustainable development.
Lastly, the Council adopted, without debate, a decision authorising the Commission to sign, on behalf of the EU, the ministerial declaration on “Better Policies to achieve a productive, sustainable and resilient global food system”, adopted by the OECD committee for agriculture in Paris on 7-8 April 2016. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)