Strengthening farmers’ position on the food supply chain will be the official subject of the informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Bratislava from Sunday 11 to Tuesday 13 September.
Behind the scenes, ministers are sure to speak about the measures in place to help farmers overcome the crisis currently affecting the dairy sector (see other article).
The Slovak Presidency of the Council has made strengthening the position of farmers on the food supply chain and tackling unfair trade practices as the theme for the work session on Tuesday 13. The Slovak Presidency hopes to have brought the Council to a position where it can adopt conclusions on this matter in December.
Ministers are due to arrive in Bratislava late in the afternoon of Sunday 11 September. On Monday 12, they will visit farms and have a gala dinner. For the meeting on Tuesday, the Presidency has drafted a short three-part document. (1) What needs to be improved in the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy and how should farmers be supported and encouraged to greater horizontal organisation as well as vertical cooperation in the food supply chain in order to strengthen their bargaining position in business relations? (2) What measures need to be implemented at the European level to eliminate information asymmetries and to achieve transparency in the process of pricing in the entire food supply chain? (3) What form of a common framework at the EU level against the application of unfair trading practices in the food supply chain do you consider the most efficient?
“The aim is to discuss all aspects that have an impact on the farmers' position in the food supply chain”, said Slovak minister Matecna. Also attending the meeting will be Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan and chair of the European Parliament Agriculture Committee on Czeslaw Adam Siekierski.
Commission initiatives possible. The European Commission could, as part of its work programme for 2017, take an initiative on the food supply chain, for example, extending some of the provisions of the “milk package” to other sectors. It might also consider some form of European-level referral, but not any specific legislation, to address abuses.
Experts discuss organic farming. Also in Bratislava on Monday 12 September, the first meeting of the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) after the summer break will be held. The member state experts will discuss organic farming to prepare the updated Slovak Presidency mandate for the forthcoming negotiations with the European Parliament. An interinstitutional compromise on organic farming is expected before the end of the year. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)