The EU institutions were unable to make progress on organic farming on Wednesday 8 March (see EUROPE 11741 and 11726).
Despite the amended mandate of the Maltese Presidency of the Council to help find a compromise with the European Parliament delegation, discussions in Wednesday’s trialogue meeting became bogged down. The next trialogue is scheduled for 22 March and many differences remain.
On Wednesday, the parties made progress only on databases, according to a source. The sensitive issue of not-in-the-ground cultivation (in containers or in greenhouses, for example) was not even broached apparently, as there was not enough time. Sources say that no progress was made either on pesticides (with Council and Parliament refusing to allow thresholds for the presence of unauthorised substances and the Commission wanting to establish them) or on seeds (Parliament may put some suggestions at the next trialogue) or on derogations.
A different source suggests, however, that the negotiations will continue and be stepped up. According to this source, this first trialogue on Wednesday under Maltese presidency was more about learning each side’s positions. Parliament, this source said, will remain fully committed to finding a compromise on organic farming by the end of June and success will depend principally on the degree of flexibility the Council is prepared to agree to.
The Maltese Presidency had to work very hard to amend the mandate, so delicately balanced is Council on the more controversial parts of the text. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)