At the Agriculture Council on Monday 23 January, European Commissioner Phil Hogan set out how the sheep meat forum recommendations published in October 2016 (see EUROPE 11647) could be implemented.
One of the forum’s recommendations (putting in place a new environmental payment for sheep recognising the key role of sheep in extensive grassland systems) will not be implemented in the short term but will be considered within the context of common agricultural policy (CAP) reform, Hogan said.
The Commission, however, wants to follow up on some of the forum’s proposed measures in 2017 and 2018.
“I intend to ensure that a dedicated budget is ringfenced for specific measures targeting sheep in the next Commission Annual Work Programme in 2018”, Hogan announced.
Promotion programmes. Before then, the sector could, in 2017, benefit from most of the available promotion lines. A total of €133 million is available. In the internal market, the sheep meat sector can apply under the heading “Quality Schemes” for which €27 million is available or under the general topics highlighting the specific features of EU products, for which there is a budget of €23 million.
Sustainable farming. Given the role that the sheep meat sector can play in supporting sustainable land management and the preservation of various forms of biodiversity, sheep meat would seem to be a “perfect” candidate for support from a new budget of €15 million which is available for increasing awareness of EU sustainable agriculture, the commissioner said. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)