After taking over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from Estonia on 1 January 2018, it comes as no surprise that Bulgaria has made the modernisation of the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2020 and its budget its top priority for agriculture.
Bulgaria will therefore propose that the EU28 agricultural ministers should discuss the next CAP at each of their monthly meetings (scheduled for 29 January, 19 February, 16 April, 14 May and 18 June), as well as at their informal meeting in Sofia on 3-5 June, on the basis of the guidelines tabled by the European Commission in its communication of 29 November last on the “future of food and agriculture” (see EUROPE 11915). In its proposals, the Commission above all plans to largely delegate to member states the implementation of CAP and, in particular, greening measures. It is to present its draft multiannual financial framework post-2020 at the end of May and, shortly after this, it will submit its legislative proposals for the next CAP.
The aim of the Bulgarian presidency is to assist and provide guidance to the Commission in drawing up these proposals. As part of the discussion on the future CAP, it “intends to put emphasis on preserving the role of CAP and the instruments of the current CAP structure that have proven their effectiveness. Despite Brexit and the resulting negative effect on the EU budget, CAP should remain a strong and adequately funded Community policy in view of the growing challenges worldwide, related to instability of agricultural markets, demographic changes, food security and limited natural resources”, Bulgaria states in its programme.
Another subject on the agenda of the next six months is follow-up of the agricultural markets “especially in sensitive areas such as milk, bovine meat, pork and chicken, as well as fruit and vegetables”. Special attention will also be paid to the evolution of sugar prices further to suppression of the production quota regime in this sector (see EUROPE 11874).
Food chain, animal health and well-being
Commission proposals on improving the way the food chain works and, especially, on combating abusive trading practices are expected for the end of April. They are to be presented to EU28 ministers on 14 May.
Several dossiers in the veterinary sector are also to be covered by the Bulgarian presidency. First of all, there is the finalisation of negotiations with the European Parliament on regulations concerning veterinary medicines and medicinal foodstuffs (see EUROPE 11930). The presidency, however, also hopes to tackle the management of animal health and, among other things, the role of wild animals in the spread of disease. On 8 March, the presidency will be organising a conference in Sofia on “the role of wildlife in the context of animal health”.
Animal well-being during animal transport will be another priority of this term’s presidency with discussion on the harmonisation of implementation of the current legislation.
Finally, the Bulgarian presidency also plans to take other issues forward: the adoption of Council conclusions with a view to the 13th United Nations forum on forestry (in New York from 7 to 11 May) and finalisation of the Council’s position on the regulation on spirit drinks with the aim of concluding negotiations with the European Parliament on this issue. (Original version in French)