Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting to be held on July 18

EU agriculture ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the recent Commission’s proposal on the regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products and agree on a set of conclusions for the aquaculture sector.

Ministers will also receive a presentation by the Czech presidency regarding its main priorities in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. They will additionally discuss the market situation in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the implementation of the new common agricultural policy (CAP), including the approval of national strategic plans. Finally, they will exchange views on the regulation on the making available of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and the need to update the legislation on the transport of animals in the EU.

Czech presidency programme

The Czech Presidency will present its work programme in the agriculture and fisheries sectors and outline its main priorities.

Agriculture

Plant protection products

Ministers will discuss the recent proposal from the Commission regarding the regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products under its farm to fork strategy. Ministers are expected to voice their concerns regarding the proposed ambitious reduction targets, and to stress the need for viable sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides before setting obligatory reduction targets at EU and national level. They are moreover expected to call on the need to take into account the different starting point of each member state.

Infografía – Una política agrícola de la UE más justa, más ecológica y más volcada en los resultados

Agricultural markets

Ministers will hear information from the Commission and exchange views on the current situation of agricultural markets, especially in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ministers are likely to state their concerns with regards to the impact of the war on input prices and energy. They will moreover discuss the impact of recent climate conditions in the EU on member states’ prospects for this year’s harvest.

Implementation of the new CAP

Ministers will discuss the implementation of the new common agricultural policy (CAP) and the approval of strategic plans. On this, ministers are likely to call for the swift adoption of national strategic plans by the Commission.

Fisheries – Aquaculture

Ministers will welcome the European Commission’s document “Strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU Aquaculture for the period 2021 to 2030” and agree on a set of conclusions on aquaculture, in the aim to build a sustainable, resilient and competitive marine and freshwater aquaculture sector. In doing so, they will stress the need to give the appropriate high priority to the sector, including taking into account the specificities of each type of aquaculture system, ensuring the economic and social stability and development of aquaculture businesses and guaranteeing the safety of marketed products.

Farmers and livestock farmers will receive 4,856 million euros in direct aid under CAP 2022 2022

Deforestation

Ministers will exchange views on information provided by the presidency on the state of play of the regulation on the making available of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation.

Transport of animals

More information: European Council – Press release