The agriculture and fisheries ministers of EU countries will be meeting in Luxembourg on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 June to discuss the proposal on the sustainable use of pesticides and the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027, when the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) expires.
The meeting will be chaired by the Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs, Peter Kullgren. The European Commission will be represented by Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius and Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.
On the basis of information provided by the Commission, the ministers will hold an exchange of views on trade-related agricultural issues on Tuesday. All other issues will be discussed on Monday.
CAP. An informal lunchtime debate will be held on Tuesday to discuss the Common Agricultural Policy after 2027. The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU has drafted a short note with questions for ministers to structure the debate. Janusz Wojciechowski has already announced that the European Commission will adopt a concept paper on the post-2027 CAP (see EUROPE 13080/5) around autumn 2023.
In addition, Latvia, supported by Finland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and Poland will be requesting (https://aeur.eu/f/7n6 ) further derogations from the CAP rules as a result of adverse weather conditions.
The situation on the agricultural markets, a recurring theme at the EU Council since the start of the war in Ukraine, is not currently on the agenda for the Council meeting on 26 and 27 June. However, European sources indicated on Thursday 22 June that delegations could add a request for a “miscellaneous item” on aid in response to the war in Ukraine at the last minute. The European Commission is trying to find a solution for releasing the €100 million in aid (crisis reserve) for the five EU countries that are close to Ukraine. With regard to the €330 million for the other 27 EU countries, the European Commission could provide information next week, but nothing has been decided at this stage (see EUROPE 13200/20).
Pesticides. Negotiations between Member States on the proposal concerning the sustainable use of pesticides will continue under the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE 13199/6). The Swedish Presidency of the EU Council will present a progress report on the dossier. The European Commission should shortly adopt the additional study requested by the Council of the EU on the effects of the proposal on the sustainable use of pesticides on food safety (see EUROPE 13201/22). Several ministers are also expected to discuss the proposal scheduled for 5 July (see EUROPE 13203/14) aimed at ensuring the development and marketing of new genomic techniques (NGTs).
See the European Commission's complementary study project: https://aeur.eu/f/7ne
The Swedish Presidency of the EU Council also plans to: - provide an update on three issues, including agricultural geographical indications (https://aeur.eu/f/7n9 ); - hold a discussion on “Strengthening ‘One Health’ cross sectorial collaboration regarding zoonotic health threats” (https://aeur.eu/f/7n8 ).
The Agriculture-Fisheries Council will also receive information from the German delegation on fur farming and from the Romanian delegation on large carnivores.
Fisheries. Ministers will examine the European Commission’s communication on the state of progress of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and fishing opportunities for 2024 (https://aeur.eu/f/7nc ).
Finally, the EU Council hopes to adopt conclusions analysing the European Commission’s package of measures to promote ‘sustainable fisheries’ (see EUROPE 13204/8).
The text of these conclusions on fisheries is now public. To view it: https://aeur.eu/f/7nd (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)