The EU agriculture ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday 23 February under the chairmanship of Maria Panayiotou of Cyprus to discuss, among other things, national recommendations for the post-2027 common agricultural policy (CAP) and the evaluation of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCP).
At an informal lunch, the ministers will discuss the EU’s strategic priorities within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for the years 2026 and 2027.
CAP. The ministers will discuss the national CAP recommendations proposed by the Commission for the period 2028-2034. These are intended to guide Member States in preparing their ‘national and regional partnership plans’ for the period 2028-2034 and in implementing the relevant specific objectives of the CAP.
The national recommendations are designed as a non-legally binding instrument, offering policy guidance while leaving Member States the flexibility to adapt interventions to their specific situations. The debate aims to clarify how these recommendations can strengthen the effectiveness and ambition of the future CAP within the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034.
There are also two ‘other items’ relating to the CAP. The first concerns the method for transferring provisions from partnership plans to the CAP regulations (see other news and https://aeur.eu/f/ktm ).
The second concerns the Commission’s very detailed requirements for Member States to manage and monitor the (current) CAP’s national strategic plans. This subject will be raised by Latvia, which has obtained the support of 22 other delegations, including Germany, France and Spain. Ministers from these countries are critical of the delay in publishing guidelines prepared by the Commission, the increased use of satellite imagery and other changes in assessment methods.
See the note: https://aeur.eu/f/kto
Unfair commercial practices. The EU Council will discuss the evaluation report on the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCP) presented last December by the Commission. According to this report, the 2019 directive has helped to reduce certain unfair commercial practices (including late payment) and to improve enforcement of the rules throughout the EU. It has also ensured a minimum level of protection for farmers and small suppliers in all Member States, contributing to a more level playing field. At the same time, the evaluation highlights significant challenges and areas requiring further consideration.
The debate is intended to inform work on a possible revision of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive, scheduled for autumn 2026, in order to strengthen farmers’ position in the food supply chain.
Pork. The difficulties encountered by the EU pork sector will be discussed at the request of Romania, supported by Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia (see EUROPE 13811/6).
Portugal will be calling for a European reinsurance mechanism to be set up to cover natural disasters in agriculture.
Among the remaining ‘other’ items on the agenda, Poland, supported by five other Member States, will raise its concerns about the European Commission’s proposal to include the sowing of treated seeds in the definition of the use of plant protection products.
Estonia will be calling for measures to guarantee the availability of conventional crop protection solutions.
Fisheries. Ireland will revisit the sensitive issue of defending the EU’s interests in consultations on mackerel with the main coastal states. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)