Following three days of negotiations, fisheries ministers agreed on fishing opportunities in the Atlantic, the North Sea, and in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas for 2024. The political agreement reached by the Council is in line with the goal of ensuring the long-term sustainability of fish stocks, while at the same time protecting the livelihoods of communities that […]
Read MoreCommission adopts guidelines on how to formulate sustainability agreements in agriculture
The European Commission adopted Guidelines on how to design sustainability agreements in the field of agriculture (‘Guidelines’) using a novel exclusion from EU competition rules introduced by the recently reformed Common Agricultural Policy (‘CAP’). The new Guidelines Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) generally prohibits agreements between companies that […]
Read MoreThe Spanish fishing fleet fished more than a fifth of the European Union’s catches in 2022
The total EU fish catch in 2022 was about 3.4 million tonnes of live weight from the seven marine areas covered by EU statistics. Spain’s fishing fleet exceeded one-fifth of all EU catches (22%; 752 000 tonnes), followed by France (15%; 517 000 tonnes) and Denmark (13%; 459 000 tonnes). About 70% of the total […]
Read MoreThe Council adopted conclusions on a long-term vision for rural areas in the European Union
The conclusions were unanimously endorsed by EU agriculture ministers. They provide political guidance to the Commission and member states on their future actions in support of these areas, which cover more than 80% of the EU’s territory. The text recognises the key role that rural areas play in contributing to the economic strength of the EU, the green and digital transitions, […]
Read MoreEU Commission to spend €186 million promoting agri-food products in and outside EU in 2024
The European Commission will allocate €185.9 million in 2024 to fund promotion activities for sustainable and high-quality EU agri-food products at home and abroad. The 2024 promotion policy work programme adopted by the Commission aims to develop new market opportunities, while taking into account the political priorities, analysis of projected exports to existing and emerging […]
Read MoreMember States fail to reach qualified majority to renew or refuse glyphosate approval
Following an earlier vote in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed on 13 October, in which member states also failed to reach the majority needed to renew or reject the proposal, the European Commission has now decided to propose that the proposal should be rejected. Member States did not reach the required […]
Read MoreEU and Neighbourhood countries commit to enhanced fisheries management control in the Mediterranean and Black Sea
Among the main measures, the EU and neighbouring countries agreed within the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) to launch new tools to keep track of the activities of all fleets fishing in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas and sharing the various multiannual management plans (MAPs). The new mechanism will follow up on cases of non-compliance through appropriate and […]
Read MoreAlmeria: one of the most agriculture-dependent regions in the European Union
In 2020, approximately 4.5% of the EU’s total employment, an estimated 9.4 million people, worked within the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector. The vast majority, or 4.2% of total employment, worked in agriculture. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector continues to be a significant source of employment, particularly in eastern and southern EU countries. Looking at the […]
Read MoreThriving rural areas are key to the future of the EU
Logroño declaration calls to consider the needs of rural areas in all EU policies and to earmark EU funds for projects in rural areas. Europe’s local and regional leaders have warned that the EU’s long-term sustainable development cannot be achieved without strong and sustainable rural areas and the complete integration of rural communities into the […]
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