On Monday 27 May in Brussels, the EU Agriculture Ministers agreed that action to help farmers should continue, even though a major step forward has been taken with the entry into force of the Regulation relaxing certain rules of the Common Agricultural Policy (see EUROPE 13407/11).
Belgian Minister David Clarinval has stated that the Agriculture Council on 24 June will adopt conclusions on the future of EU agriculture.
European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness spoke about Ukrainian imports into the EU, including sugar volumes. Sugar prices remain high, reaching €844 per tonne in March (+86% year-on-year). World market prices have come down marginally and EU prices are also likely to slightly decrease, according to Ms McGuinness. “Concerns about a possible market imbalance due to surging sugar imports from Ukraine have been addressed”, the Commissioner promised. The ‘emergency brake’ and the autonomous Trade Measures Regulation will help to stabilise imports, she added (see EUROPE 13408/12).
Simplification. On 30 May, the Commission will adopt a communication on the provisions relating to ‘force majeure’ and exceptional circumstances. A new thematic group of the EU’s ‘CAP network’ on the design of green strategies as part of the CAP’s strategic plans has been set up.
On the rationalisation of controls, including the right to error, DG AGRI organised a workshop on 26 April to facilitate the exchange of best practice between Member States.
With regard to the possibility of using geotagged photos, a note sent to the Member States provides clarification. In June, the Commission will present a proposal to amend the legislation on geotagged photos.
As regards the survey of farmers on simplification, interviews are being conducted between mid-May and mid-June. The results of the survey and the detailed analysis should be published in autumn.
On strengthening the position of farmers in the food chain, the EU Food Chain Observatory on production costs, margins and commercial practices will hold its first meeting on 17 July.
The Unfair Trading Practices Directive is currently being evaluated, and this process will feed into a report to be submitted to the European Parliament and the EU Council in 2025. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)