The EU agriculture ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Tuesday 25 April under the chairmanship of Swedish Minister Peter Kullgren to discuss, among other things, the measures taken by some EU countries to restrict Ukrainian grain imports. Other topics on the agenda include the revision of the honey directive and the strategic plans of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The Agriculture Ministers will review the situation of agricultural markets, including the unilateral measures decided by four EU countries (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria) which have banned the purchase of wheat and other products from Ukraine. The countries concerned have prepared a note (https://aeur.eu/f/6gk ).
The ministers will discuss the measures proposed by the European Commission, although the trade aspect of the proposals will be decided at the level of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper).
The Commission has promised to adopt preventive measures under the ‘safeguard clause’ included in the regulation on trade liberalisation with Ukraine (see EUROPE 13165/1). “The Commission will provide information on the measures envisaged and Member States that have adopted unilateral measures will be given the opportunity to explain. The other countries will be able to respond”, said a senior European official on Thursday 20 April. The EU Council does not expect any “concrete results” on this issue at the meeting of EU agriculture ministers.
The Commission has also earmarked a further €100 million in EU funds to support farmers in the EU countries most affected by the fall in cereal prices due to increased Ukrainian cereal imports into their countries (https://aeur.eu/f/6go ).
Some EU countries also mention problems in the poultry and egg sectors.
Lithuania and Latvia will again apply for EU support for their dairy sector (https://aeur.eu/f/6gm ). At the end of March, these two countries had already requested the release of part of the agricultural crisis reserve to support their producers who are facing soaring production costs and a collapse in prices paid to producers. But the European Commission had considered that the fall in prices was a return to normal after months of increases. For these countries, however, it is “of the utmost importance to prevent irreversible negative effects on the dairy sector in the region as well as a spread of the crisis to other Member States, in particular neighbouring countries, where there are worrying signs already”.
Carbon sequestration. Although their colleagues in charge of the environment have the lead on the dossier, the EU Agriculture Ministers will have a discussion on the proposed regulation establishing a certification framework for carbon removals. For the Ministers of Agriculture, future measures must be voluntary and, above all, must include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, not just removals.
CAP. Four months after the entry into force of the new CAP, EU ministers will take stock of the progress of the strategic plans with the Commission. The EU Council will ask for flexibility in approving plan amendments. Several delegations will discuss the challenges of implementing the environmental aspects of the reform (e.g. eco-regimes).
Honey. On Friday 21 April, the Commission presented a proposal for a revision of the Honey Directive, including a strengthening of the labelling of the origin of honey blends. This proposal should partly meet the concerns of Slovenia, which will once again alert the Commission to fraud in the sector (https://aeur.eu/f/6gq ).
Pesticides. The Commission has not yet finalised the additional impact assessment of the Regulation on the sustainable use of pesticides that Agriculture Ministers have requested by June.
Several Member States (Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia) will criticise the proposal again. Their angle of attack this time: the risk that the EU will no longer be able to maintain “an adequate phytosanitary status” (eradication of diseases, compliance with international obligations, etc.)
In addition, the Commission will present the results of its recent study on the potential development of invertebrate biological control agents in the EU (https://aeur.eu/f/6gj ). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)