EU countries’ agriculture and fisheries ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday, 20 March, to discuss the sustainable fisheries package and take stock of the state of agricultural markets, which have been disrupted as a result of the effects of the war conducted by Russia in Ukraine.
EU ministers will have an opportunity to discuss the package of four documents presenting ideas on sustainable fishing with Commissioner for Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius. Ministers from several countries are expected to criticise the European Commission’s plan, which aims to ban fishermen from using bottom-contacting gear in marine protected areas by 2030. France and Spain, in particular, have already publicly lamented this ban’s lack of proportionality (see EUROPE 13142/19).
In addition, the Latvian, Lithuanian, and Polish delegations will present information on the future of the EU-Morocco Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement protocol. In September 2021, the Court of Justice of the EU ruled in favour of the Polisario Front, a national liberation movement for Western Sahara that maintained the peace agreement with Morocco had been concluded without the consent of the people of Western Sahara. The Council of the EU lodged an appeal against this decision on 16 December 2021.
Agricultural markets. Based on information provided by the European Commission and Member States, the EU Council will take stock of the market situation for agri-food products in the EU (https://aeur.eu/f/5uf ). Ministers will also mention the challenges that the EU’s agri-food industry is facing, including Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, animal diseases such as avian influenza and African swine fever, fluctuations in trade with key partners, the impact of high food prices on low-income households and changes in consumption patterns, and the impact of the European Court of Justice’s recent judgment on neonicotinoids.
The sectors that the crisis has affected the most are meat (especially poultry), wine, and fruits and vegetables. The dairy industry is also seeing a fall in prices in Baltic countries (see EUROPE 13142/32). Incidentally, these countries will request support and will ask for the crisis reserve to be mobilised.
During the ‘Agriculture’ Council on 30 January, European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski had mentioned the possibility of activating the agricultural reserve to compensate farmers affected by the market disruptions in EU countries bordering Ukraine. The European Commission is preparing such a proposal to partially mobilise the crisis reserve.
Trade. Agriculture ministers will discuss the current state of international agricultural markets. The discussion will focus on relations with key trading partners, ongoing negotiations on trade agreements, and challenges such as the war in Ukraine.
In addition, the Austrian delegation will provide the EU Council with information on the agricultural aspects of the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay).
Other topics. The European Commission will give ministers information on its recently published communication on protecting pollinator species.
The Swedish Presidency of the Council will provide details (https://aeur.eu/f/5ug ) on the implications of the future nature restoration law for farming and forestry in the EU (see EUROPE 13141/8).
Finally, the European Commission will provide information on the findings of the report from the European Pigmeat Reflection Group.
See this information: https://aeur.eu/f/5uh (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)