EU agriculture and fisheries ministers discuss trade, forests and the future of agriculture

Belgian presidency work programme

The Belgian presidency presented its work programme for the first half of the year in the field of agriculture and fisheries.

During this period, the Belgian presidency will focus on ensuring food security and autonomy, as well as on further enhancing the sustainability of food production and consumption.

In this context, the presidency will aim to ensure an efficient and effective follow-up to the implementation of the common agricultural and fisheries policies (CAP and CFP). As far as the CAP is concerned, the presidency will start a process of reflection on a post-2027 framework.

Additionally, the presidency informed the Council that it will continue the ongoing discussions on important proposals, including on new genomic techniques (NGTs), the sustainable use of plant protection products (SUR) and the production and marketing of plant and forest reproductive material (PRM and FRM).

Moreover, the Belgian presidency will pay particular attention to animal health and welfare, and it will start work on a forest monitoring framework. The presidency will also work on the plant health law and the finalisation of the breakfast directives. Additionally, innovation and new technologies will also be priorities.

Priorities of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the European Union

Strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture

The Council received information from the Commission, represented by Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, on the organisation of the ‘Strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture in the European Union’.

The dialogue was announced by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with the goal of depolarising the debates surrounding agriculture and the green transition. The dialogue will be launched on 25 January 2024.

During their meeting, agriculture ministers welcomed this initiative and its overarching goals. The Council highlighted the importance of ensuring that EU farmers can continue to guarantee food security in a sustainable and profitable manner, and of providing for the conditions necessary to achieve this objective.

The Council highlighted, among others, the importance of combating polarisation, of ensuring a strong and open dialogue with the sector and with other stakeholders, and of maintaining the trust of farmers.

Other topics mentioned were ensuring a fair income for farmers, providing stability and predictability for the sector, as well as generational renewal.

Additionally, ministers highlighted that it is important to ensure agriculture receives adequate funding.

Trade

Against the backdrop of a trade surplus of 58 billion EUR for the year 2023, ministers exchanged views on the various opportunities and challenges linked to agrifood trade, based on information from the Commission.

The presidency stressed the importance of this debate noting that enhancing competitiveness and ensuring food sovereignty are among the priorities of the Belgian presidency.

The Council highlighted that, despite the serious challenges that the EU agricultural sector has faced in recent years, the EU continues to hold a position of leadership worldwide in terms of competitiveness, food safety, and contributing to international food security, largely thanks to the CAP.

During their debate, ministers considered the changing geopolitical context and the EU’s ambitions regarding the green and digital transition.

The Council also exchanged views on the 13^th WTO ministerial meeting and the ongoing bilateral discussions for the conclusion of free trade agreements with Australia, Mercosur and other trading partners. In this context, ministers noted their readiness to support such agreements as soon as possible, in order to achieve tangible benefits for all parties involved, including the agricultural sector.

Ministers also focused their discussion on the EU’s trade with its main trading partners, including Ukraine, the UK and the US. In this regard, ministers reiterated their support for Ukraine and their commitment to contributing to global food security, while also considering the impact on EU markets and the need to think about the long term.

Finally, the Council underlined the importance of a global rules-based system, of sustainable development, and of open strategic autonomy.

Forest monitoring framework

EU agriculture ministers also discussed a Commission proposal to establish an EU-wide forest monitoring framework.

This framework would enable the collection of harmonised data on the condition and management of EU forests, and it would cover all forests and other wooded land across the EU.

The collected data would help member states and forest managers to improve forest resilience.

The proposed regulation also aims to support member states in establishing and updating voluntary integrated long-term forest plans.

During the Council meeting, agriculture ministers held a first exchange of views on the topic. They focused on the elements of added value of the proposal and welcomed its overall aim of ensuring robust and harmonised data on European forests in order to improve their resilience to climate change and to combat biodiversity loss.

Additionally, the Council pointed out that such a framework must not lead to the duplication of efforts and that it must be cost-effective. Ministers also emphasised the importance of building on existing national forest inventories and to integrate this reporting into broader international obligations.

More information: Council of the European Union