Brussels, 27/08/2002 (Agence Europe) - The informal Agriculture Council to be held from 8 to 10 September in Nyborg will include a general debate on innovation in the agri-foods sector, although other subjects such as enlargement (in particular the sensitive issue of direct aid for the applicant countries), the mid-term review of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and the reform of the common fisheries policy (CFP) are expected to dominate discussions behind the scenes between Member State Ministers and the European Commission, represented by Franz Fischler and David Byrne.
To prepare the debate, which will take place on Tuesday 10 September, Danish Agriculture Minister Mariann Fischer Boel has already forwarded to fellow Ministers a working document (and questionnaire) that suggests launching a Community initiative on CAP research, insisting in particular on the potential of technology/knowledge transfers. The paper notes that greater innovation and competitiveness will play a decisive role in the policy destined to guarantee a strong position for European agri-food production on a global and open market. And it recommends a coordinated effort by enterprises, Member States and the Community institutions. The Presidency adds that the priority being given to rural development policy in the proposals for the mid-term review of the CAP implies attaching more importance to the growing and justified demands of citizens and of society in general in respect of market-based orientation, sanitary safety and food quality, environmental protection, product differentiation and rural development. With this in mind, a more intensive effort in terms of innovation naturally has a role to play.
The Danish Presidency will ask Ministers whether they see a need to initiate new innovation actions under the CAP and, if so, will seek their opinions on how to finance such actions. The document proposes "mixed" financing by the EU, Member States and the industrial and commercial sector. Finally, Member States will be invited to debate in Nyborg the possibilities of transferring funds from the first pillar not only to rural development policy (which is already planned), but also to new research actions under the CAP.
The Special Agriculture Committee (SAC) will also meet in Nyborg, on the eve of the Council, to discuss, among other items, the development of organic farming.