Brussels, 17/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 19 July, agriculture and fisheries ministers will give their first reaction to the communication on the reform of the wine sector, debate a proposal on the voluntary modulation of direct payments and be updated on the latest state of play on WTO agriculture negotiations. Finnish Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Juha Korkeaoja will present the Finnish Presidency's work programme for the second half of this year (see EUROPE 9224). In addition, the Commission will provide a written update on bird flu, which has affected 14 Member States until now.
Two fisheries matters will be discussed: negotiation of a bilateral fisheries agreement between the EU and Mauritania, and, at the request of France, the closure of the anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay (see related article).
Wine: Agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel will present the communication of 22 June on the reform of the common organisation of the wine market. Ministers will then have a first exchange of views during which they will indicate whether they back the Commission's analysis on the sector's difficulties and the measures proposed or a “fundamental” reform.
Modulation of direct payments: the Council will hold a policy debate on the Commission's proposal laying down rules for voluntary modulation of direct payments. Agreed by the European Council in December 2005 as part of the 2007-2013 financial framework, the voluntary modulation is to enable Member States to reduce direct aid by up to 20% and transfer the amounts thus saved to rural development. This mechanism is in addition to the compulsory 5% modulation agreed on in 2003 as part of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
State aid: Austria, backed by eleven Member States (Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Hungary, Poland) wants discussion of the Community guidelines on state aid in agriculture. The Commission is planning to simplify the current scheme, and also to restrict a number of aids currently authorised.
Anchovy: France intends to protest against the decision by the Commission to close the anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay until the end of the year. “This decision will have a huge impact once again on the Atlantic fishermen who usually fish anchovy,” says a memorandum from the French delegation. France wants to draw attention to the “gravity of the consequences of this decision”, and is calling for socio-economic considerations to be taken more into account in the modalities of stock management in future.
In addition, the Commission will bring the Council up to date on developments in negotiations between the EU and Mauritania on the conclusion of a new fisheries agreement. The current protocol runs out at the end of July and the recent failure of the renewal of the agreement with Senegal does not give grounds for optimism.