Main results - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 21 February 2022

Agro Napló2022. március 1. 13:12

Ministers held an exchange of views on ways to strengthen coherence between the Green Deal, the common agricultural policy (CAP) and trade policy, in order to support the transition to sustainable food systems.

Agriculture

Coherence between farming, trade and environmental policies

Ministers held an exchange of views on ways to strengthen coherence between the Green Deal, the common agricultural policy (CAP) and trade policy, in order to support the transition to sustainable food systems.

On the whole, ministers recognised the need to strengthen coherence between the EU's sectoral and trade policies in order to achieve the aims of the European Green Deal and its related sectoral strategies.

Many ministers highlighted the importance of improving coherence between the EU's own health and environmental standards and those applied to imported agri-food products, in line with WTO rules and in cooperation with the EU's trade partners, notably by reconsidering maximum limits for phytopharmaceutical residues and introducing mirror clauses into EU law.

The adoption of Council conclusions on ‘the EU's commitment to an ambitious Codex Alimentarius fit for the challenges of today and tomorrow,' is also part of this aim to promote European values in the context of international negotiations, in particular by fostering the inclusion of a sustainability dimension.

Today's Council meeting focused on the reciprocity of standards and the promotion of European standards and values at international level. Both the discussions on coherence between the European Green Deal, the CAP and trade policy and on the proposed regulation on combatting deforestation and forest degradation, as well as the adoption of Council conclusions on the Codex Alimentarius, made it clear that Europeans will no longer accept products that run contrary to our efforts to make our food systems more sustainable.

Julien Denormandie, French Minister for Agriculture and Food

Deforestation-free products

Farming ministers held a policy debate on the Commission's proposal for a regulation on deforestation-free products, the aim of which is to ensure that products consumed on the EU market do not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide. It will do so by setting due diligence rules for operators so as to reduce the risk that commodities placed on the EU market, such as soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee, are associated with deforestation.

On the whole, ministers welcomed the proposed regulation. In particular, they highlighted the need to establish clear, unambiguous definitions, in line with the EU's forest policy, to avoid disproportionate administrative and financial burdens (in particular for small operators), to ensure that the regulation is implemented consistently across the EU, to verify compliance with WTO rules and to establish good relations with non-EU countries.

A policy debate on the proposal will take place during the Environment Council on 17 March 2022.

Market situation

Based on information provided by the Commission and member states, ministers held an exchange of views on the market situation for agricultural products. During the discussion, member states highlighted a number of concerns, in particular the impact on agriculture of rising energy, fertiliser and feed costs. The Polish delegation also took the floor to provide information about challenges facing the pigmeat sector in Europe; this point followed up on similar points raised at previous Council meetings and was supported by other member states. Other topics discussed included the economic impact of veterinary diseases, such as African swine fever and highly pathogenic avian influenza, as well as developments reported by member states as having a particular impact on agriculture. Ministers took note of the Commission's proposal for a high-level group on the pigmeat sector, which would work on finding a solution to the current crisis in the medium-to-long term.

Other topics on the agenda

During the meeting, ministers received information from member states on the revision of the EU's agricultural promotion policy and drought conditions in Portugal and Spain. They also discussed the need to ensure a fair income for farmers.

Ministers received information from the Commission about reports on the phytosanitary measures on imports into the EU and on the extension of the use of plant passports. Other topics discussed included the need to improve the well-being and health of dogs bred for commercial purposes and the labelling of free-range eggs.

The Council also adopted without discussion the items that figured in the list of non-legislative A items.

Címkék:
cap, council, european union, agriculture and fisheries council, common agriculture policy reform, market situation, deforestation,