Brussels, 16/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - There are not many items on the agenda for the Brussels meeting of the EU's Agriculture Council on 19 January 2009, namely how the food chain operates, the EU joining the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the marketing of new varieties of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Acting chair of the Council, Petr Gandalovic, who will not be discussing any fisheries related issues, will submit the Czech Presidency's work programme for the first six months of the year. The EU's farm ministers will adopt without debate regulations introducing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) healthcheck in the wake of the political agreement reached with Council on 20 December 2008.
Agri-food industry. The European Commission will make a presentation to the Agriculture Council of a communication published in December 2008 including a roadmap to improve the functioning of the food supply chain. The June 2008 European Council asked the Commission to report on the issue before the end of 2008 in the light of farm commodity price increases in the second half of 2007 and early 2008. In response, the Commission suggested the developments in farm commodity and food prices be better monitored, that the impact of speculation on commodity prices be studied and the functioning of the food supply chain be investigated.
OIV. The ministers will discuss the European Commission's September 2008 recommendation on the opening of negotiations for the EU to join the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
Forestry. The Council will hold a policy debate on a proposal for a regulation laying down the obligations of operators putting timber and timber products on the market. The aim of the new legislation is to prevent the illegal felling and import of certain tree essences. The Czech Presidency intends to provide guidance to the Council's preparatory bodies with a view to making quick progress on this issue. The European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee is scheduled to adopt a report by Caroline Lucas on this issue and the report might be submitted to the plenary in April 2009.
GMOs. The Council will be invited to adopt or reject, by qualified majority, draft decisions to authorise the sale of two genetically modified organisms (GMOs), namely oilseed rape T45 resulting form the sale of it outside the EU until 2005, and a carnation genetically modified for flower colour. In the event of absence of qualified majority, it will be up to the Commission to take the final decision.
Under 'Any other business,' Latvia will submit a draft temporary adjustment to the provisions of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
New Greek farm minister. Sotirios Hatzgakis, Greece's 64-year old justice minister, has been appointed as the new Greek agriculture minister, taking over from Alexander Kontos as part of a government shake-up by prime minister Costas Karamanlis following the recent riots in the country. Sotirios Hatzgakis was Greece's agriculture minister for a short period in 1991-1992. (L.C. trans fl)