The bioeconomy is a priority issue for the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which presented its work programme for agriculture and fisheries to the ‘Agriculture’ Council in Brussels on Monday 30 January.
Swedish Minister Peter Kullgren said that the EU Council will adopt conclusions on the bioeconomy in April, a topic discussed by EU agriculture ministers the same day (see EUROPE 13093/6). The aim is to ensure the green transition and strengthen rural areas, he said.
Another priority topic is the situation of agricultural markets and the response to the crises arising from the war in Ukraine.
Sweden aims to get the EU Council to reach a common position by the end of June on the revision of the rules on geographical indications.
With regard to the text on the sustainable use of pesticides, the Swedish Presidency of the Council will be satisfied with a progress report in June, as the EU Council has requested additional information from the European Commission on the effects of the proposal on food safety.
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides welcomed the fact that Sweden is planning discussions on the regulation on plants produced by certain new genomic techniques and the regulation on plant and forest reproductive material.
On fisheries, the EU Council will start a debate on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and Sweden hopes to make progress in the trilogue negotiations with MEPs on the revision of the control rules.
The informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers will take place on 11-13 June in Stockholm. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)