The EU agriculture ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday 18 September, with the issue of cereal imports from Ukraine once again at the top of the agenda. Under the chairmanship of their Spanish counterpart, Luis Planas, they will also discuss the agricultural aspects of the directive on soil health, and exchange views on rural areas.
Other issues on the agenda include flooding in Slovenia and Greece, African swine fever in Sweden and the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The regular debate between EU agriculture ministers on trade-related issues is likely to revolve largely around the issue of cereal imports from Ukraine, given that the restrictions imposed by the EU since April (preventing imports into five neighbouring countries) were due to expire on 15 September (see other news).
Ukraine. The Agriculture Council will discuss the measures taken by the Commission on the issue of Ukrainian cereals, a diplomatic source confirmed on Friday 15 September (see other news). “We want the internal market to function properly, but we understand the problems of the EU countries” close to Ukraine, added this source, adding that the decision was taken by the Commission.
Poland has already indicated that it will unilaterally extend these restrictions, but many Member States are insisting that they should be lifted as soon as possible and that the solidarity lanes allowing these cereals to be exported to third countries should be strengthened.
Trade. The ministers will also discuss other aspects of international trade, in particular, the ongoing negotiations on free trade agreements (Mercosur, Australia, Mexico, etc.).
By the end of the year, the European Commission is due to publish an update of its study of the cumulative impact on the EU agricultural sector of all trade agreements (signed and future).
The Commission will also provide information on agri-food trade relations with a number of important partners (the United Kingdom, the United States, China and Ukraine).
Soils. The Agriculture ministers will be discussing the agricultural aspects of the Soil Health Directive, with a view to passing on their ideas to their Environment counterparts, who are in negotiations on the dossier.
In its July proposal, the Commission envisages, as a first step, that Member States focus on putting in place monitoring tools with a view to achieving healthy European soils by 2050. A system of certification for best practice for soil health could be developed to reward the efforts of farmers who implement these best practices. If the efforts made by the Member States are deemed insufficient, more binding targets could eventually be imposed.
The Spanish Presidency of the Council has stressed the importance of the proposal, which can help to reduce the costs of soil degradation and reduce the loss of agricultural productivity due to erosion. During a preparatory discussion organised within the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) on 11 September, some delegations stressed that the characteristics and specific features of the various Member States should be taken into account.
Rural areas. The Spanish Presidency of the EU Council has scheduled an exchange of views on the EU’s rural areas ahead of the next high-level forum on rural policy (27-29 September in Sigüenza, Spain). In June 2021, the Commission adopted the Communication on ‘A long-term vision for EU’s Rural Areas’, which aims to create stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural communities by 2040. The Spanish Presidency hopes that by the end of 2023 the Council will adopt conclusions providing political guidance on the way forward and the measures that could be taken in the future, particularly at Member State and institutional level.
Agricultural reserve, CAP. A number of other items have been added to the agenda at the request of Member States.
Slovenia will be requesting funds (from the agricultural crisis reserve) and maximum flexibility for measures to help its farmers affected by recent flooding (https://aeur.eu/f/8l5 ).
Greece will be discussing the effects of natural disasters on the agricultural sector (https://aeur.eu/f/8l4 ).
Denmark, supported by several delegations (Sweden, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal and Slovakia), will raise the issue of simplifying the CAP (changes to strategic plans, financial management, etc.) (https://aeur.eu/f/8l6 ).
Sweden will inform the Council on the first case of wild boar carrying African swine fever (ASF) detected on its territory and on the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the infection (https://aeur.eu/f/8l7 ).
Finally, the Spanish Presidency will present the results of the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Food Systems, held in Rome at the end of July. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)