The Agriculture Ministers of the EU Member States will discuss the agricultural aspects of the European Green Deal and the transitional measures for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Brussels on Monday 27 January.
On Monday 20 January, the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) had prepared the ministerial debate by examining a Note from the Croatian Presidency of the EU Council on this subject (see EUROPE 12407/17).
In particular, delegations had expressed concerns about: - the additional efforts required from farmers requiring an adequate CAP budget over the period 2021-2027; - the need to link the forest strategy to the actions foreseen under the European Green Deal.
Transitional measures. The EU Council will discuss a proposal on transitional measures for the CAP. The proposal aims to ensure the continuity of CAP support to farmers and other beneficiaries in 2021, as the current state of negotiations on CAP reform and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 makes it clear that the new ‘strategic plans’ for the CAP cannot apply from 1 January 2021. The proposal extends the applicability of the existing legal framework to the year 2021 and contains adaptations of certain rules to ensure a smooth transition from the current to the next CAP period. Member States hope to reach agreement on this text in March. The Croatian Presidency wishes to address the issue of the length of the transitional period after having determined the details of the transitional measures. Some Member States will again call for the continuation after 2020 of the transitional national aid provisions.
In ‘other business’, the Ministers of Agriculture of Germany, France and Spain will present their declaration of 19 December 2019 advocating for an ambitious CAP that meets the expectations of European society, in particular on environmental issues (see EUROPE 12394/11).
Animal welfare and honey. The German delegation will inform the EU Council of parliamentary discussions in the country on national labelling of foodstuffs produced in accordance with animal welfare standards. Germany will reiterate its position in favour of EU-wide labelling certifying animal welfare (http://bit.ly/2NS8Ory ).
The delegations of Portugal and Slovenia will present a Note supported by several countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain) on labelling of origin of honey mixtures.
Finally, the European Commission will provide information on the latest developments in relation to African Swine Fever. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)