On Monday 18 November in Brussels, EU agriculture ministers will discuss the expenditure of the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on environmental and climate- related action. They will also react to the European Commission's proposal on transitional rules for the CAP.
With regard to the CAP climate objectives, the Finnish Council Presidency proposed to introduce a common percentage or fixed amount covering the whole CAP Strategic Plan (i.e. pillars 1 and 2) to be dedicated to environmental and climate-related objectives (see EUROPE 12366/9).
This approach would replace the Commission's initial proposal to earmark 30% of the budget of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) for environmental and climate-related objectives. This common percentage or fixed amount would be established later, after the decision on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. The Commission has criticised this approach, which provides a common framework and flexibility to allow countries to divide actions between the first (direct aid) and second pillar (rural development).
Transitional rules of the CAP. The Commission will present its proposals for regulations on transitional rules for the CAP. These two proposals were adopted on 31 October to ensure security and continuity in the provision of support to European farmers in 2020. Some ministers are expected to protest against the decrease in CAP funds resulting from the proposals and call for transitional measures of more than one year and the extension of some national aids that expire in 2020. The European Parliament had already made some of these criticisms (see EUROPE 12363/6).
"Miscellaneous business". The Hungarian delegation will inform the Council about the problems currently facing the apiculture sector in Europe due to bee mortality. Hungary will request urgent measures to protect domestic bees.
The Italian delegation will draw the Council's attention to increasing imports of japonica rice from Myanmar and will ask the Commission to consider whether there are the conditions to activate the safeguard clause.
Poland will provide information on maize imports from the Ukraine.
Finally, the Commission will present the bilateral agreement concluded by the EU and China on 6 November on the protection of 100 European Geographical Indications (GIs) in China and 100 Chinese GIs in the EU to the Council (see EUROPE 12364/17). The agreement is expected to enter into force before the end of 2020, once the European Parliament and the Council have approved it. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)