Brussels, 29/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Netherlands will hold the Presidency of the EU from 1 July to 31 December 2004. In their programme, the Dutch state that they will pay great attention to sustainable agriculture, ensuring the best possible balance between economic and ecological interests on the one hand and social constraints on the other. The Dutch Presidency also hopes to deal with the problem of cutting the administrative costs of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); integrating the new Member States into the CAP; and continuing the CAP reform process.
At the Agriculture Council of 20 September, reforming the sugar market will be discussed in the light of the communication on this issue expected to be unveiled on 14 July (see EUROPE of 25 June 2004, p.14 and yesterday's EUROPE, p.13, on ACP states' demands). Under the chairmanship of Dutch farm minister Cees Veerman, ministers will also discuss the new rural development programmes legislation (connected with the debate over the upcoming Financial Perspectives) and the updating of EU measures to combat bird flu.
The next meeting of EU Member States' farm ministers will be held in Noordwijk on 5-7 September. The main issue on the agenda is the social side of farming (rural development, the competitiveness of farm structures, employment in country areas, etc.). The Council adopted conclusions on this issue in July 2003 (see EUROPE of 19 July 2003).
In terms of fisheries, the Council is expected to decide towards the end of the year on how to reconstitute fish stocks threatened with collapse (cod, hake, sole, nephrops, etc). The Presidency's programme stipulates that ministers will also discuss how to improve control and conservation measures.