Brussels, 04/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - In line with the Slovenian presidency's provisional timetable, issued at the end of December, EU agriculture ministers will, over the course of the first six months of the year, discuss the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) “health check”. Council conclusions on this issue are expected by the end of March, before the European Commission brings forward legislative proposals. The informal meeting of European agriculture ministers will take place at Brdo, near Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia from Sunday 25 to Tuesday 27 May. Here is an outline of the topics on the agenda for the six Council meetings under Slovenian presidency.
21-22 January. The Slovenian presidency has scheduled a policy debate on the CAP health check and discussion of the new proposal for reforming the support scheme for cotton producers. In addition, the Council is likely to adopt a regulation on measures to be undertaken over the period from 2008-2013 to implement remote-sensing techniques in CAP management (management of agricultural markets, agro-economic monitoring of land, agro-meteorology, etc). The Commission proposal on this matter dates from 5 July. Finally, there is expected to be political agreement on the proposal simplifying cross-compliance rules for aid to farmers.
18-19 February. European ministers will continue their discussion of the CAP health check.
17-18 March. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the CAP health check, providing comments on the European Commission communication on this issue. Additionally, the Council might adopt the new reform of the cotton sector and regulations on the single common market organisation (CMO) (milk quotas, roll-over of aid to linen and hemp producers).
14-15 April. The Agriculture Council could adopt a regulation incorporating several sectors (fruit and vegetables, milk, sugar, beef and veal labelling) in the single CMO.
19-20 May. The Slovenian presidency expects a regulation on marketing standards for poultry meat to be adopted. A debate on the draft directive on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes has been scheduled. Political agreement could be reached on a proposal rationalising the bans on the use of certain hormones in animal farming.
23-24 June. Ministers will give their reaction to Commission legislative proposals on the CAP health check. They will discuss a number of issues related to food safety (health rules for animal by-products not intended for human consumption, setting residue limits on pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin, hormones, etc). (L.C.)