Brussels, 15/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - Agriculture and fisheries ministers from the EU Member States are meeting on 19 June in Luxembourg to discuss improvements to the welfare of reared animals and the proposal on rules on the minimum protection for broiler chickens. Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel will inform the Council of progress in WTO negotiations on the Doha Round. The Council will also confirm the agreement on the European Fund for Fisheries (EUROPE 9210). The compromise obtained will be presented to the press by Fisheries Commissioner, Joe Borg.
Animal welfare: ministers will hold a public debate in the afternoon on animal welfare. Several Member States: France, Ireland, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and Cyprus) are expected to affirm, as they did last February (EUROPE 9136) how badly they feel about the Commission's action plan for 2006-10 on animal welfare (EUROPE 9116). These countries are underlining the need to check the socio-economic fall-out from possible amendments to the rules and believe that additional costs could lead to a loss in the competitiveness of the European sector in comparison to third countries. Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom, however, believe, as does the Commission, that these rules should be reinforced. At the end of the debate, ministers will attempt to obtain an agreement on conclusions prepared by the presidency.
Broilers: the Council will hold a political debate on the proposal on the minimum rules of protection for broiler chickens for meat production. The presidency is hoping that a majority of delegations will support its new approach in the dossier, which takes into account not only the reservations of many Member States about the initial provisions put forward, but also the context of the crisis in the market provoked by avian flu. If an agreement on the orientations proposed is obtained, the dossier will be sent to the Finnish presidency, which will have to draft a legislative text in view of getting an agreement at the Council before the end of the year.
The Austrian presidency is proposing the setting up of a three-step process:
Introduction of harmonised rules on protection: the new directive will enter into force in Member States in 2008. All farms of more than 350 chickens will have to respect minimum norms and all production will be covered by the directive (free range, organic and intensive farming). Farms where rearing density stands at 30kg/m² (according to the initial proposal, but this figure defining the minimum rearing density has not gained unanimity and could be revised upwards slightly: Editor's note) will have to respect the list of minimum norms (keeping registers, drinking troughs, litter trays, light, ventilation, attention to health). Additional demands will be necessary for farms whose rearing density is above 30kg/m² (heating/ventilation, management of ammonia, carbon dioxide, veterinary care, training). Welfare indicators: Member States will have to send the Commission data on the mortality rates of chickens and the rate of pellet wart lesion. At the end of this experimental phase, the Commission will draft a report assessing the appropriateness of these indicators. Sanctions and maximum farming density: the planned sanctions system (obligation to reduce farming density if health standards are not respected) as well as the maximum rearing density (38kg/ m² in the initial proposal) will be introduced towards 2010-12 following the analysis of results provided from welfare data.
Avian flu: Markos Kyprianou, the Commission for Health and Consumer Protection, has sent the Council a note on progress regarding the avian flu epizooty. Up till present H5N1 has been detected in wild birds in thirteen Member States (Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic) and in chicken farms in France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Hungary (to be confirmed by tests, EUROPE 9209).
Rural development: the Council is expected to adopt a decision on the Community budget for rural development for the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 20132, namely € 69.75 billion and on the minimum amount for regions benefiting from the “convergence” objective - € 27.699 billion.
Forests: the Commission will present ministers with the EU's action plan for sustainable management of forests adopted on 15 June (EUROPE will be returning to this issue). The Austrian presidency will be presenting written information on the results of the sixth United Nations Session on Forests (FNUF 6), which was held in New York on 13-14 February.