Press Release: Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels, 15 July 2013

Main results of the Council:

The Presidency presented in public to the Council its work programme and priorities for agriculture and fisheries.

As regards agriculture, there was be a public debate on the state of play on the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package after a political agreement was reached with the other EU institutions on the proposals for the direct payments regulation, the single common market organisation (CMO) regulation, the rural development regulation and the horizontal regulation.

Concerning fisheries issues, ministers reached an agreement for a full general approach on a proposal for the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) within the framework of the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform package. This agreement on budgetary issues achieves the work initiated by the Council in October last year when a partial general approach was reached covering technical aspects. This will enable the Council to start negotiations on the EMFF with the European Parliament during the autumn. The Council also confirmed the political agreement on the two other proposed regulations for CFP reform: the basic provisions regulation and the market regulation.

The Commission then briefed the Council about a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2014, outlining the state of the stocks, providing a limited overview of the economic performance of the EU fleet, and committing to management using long-term plans and to management in accordance with scientific advice.

Finally the ministers were briefed on mislabelling of beef products, the re-evaluation by EFSA of a neonicotinoid insecticide, the labelling of meat from animals slaughtered without stunning, Newcastle disease in Cyprus, food waste and North East Atlantic mackerel management.

ESO: Background information: EU fisheries reform: the Council confirms the political agreement with the Parliament http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-fisheries-reform-the-council-confirms-the-political-agreement-with-the-parliament/

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