Brussels, 15 July 2024
Work programme of the Hungarian presidency
Farmer-focused agricultural policy is among the horizontal priorities of the Hungarian presidency. The interest of farmers should be put back into the centre of EU policy-making. We will focus on ensuring that the future of agriculture is competitive, crisis-proof, sustainable, farmer-friendly and knowledge-based.
István Nagy, Hungarian Minister for Agriculture
The Hungarian presidency presented its work programme for the coming semester, outlining its main priorities in the field of agriculture and fisheries.
A farmer-focused EU agricultural policy is one of the seven overarching priorities of the Hungarian presidency. This goal is closely interlinked to two other presidency cross-cutting priorities, namely competitiveness and addressing demographic challenges.
The Hungarian presidency will focus on ensuring a competitive, crisis-proof, sustainable, farmer-friendly and knowledge-based future for agriculture.
In the upcoming semester, the Hungarian presidency aims to encourage the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to take advantage of the institutional transition period and give guidance to the new Commission in formulating the rules of the EU’s post-2027 agricultural policy.
In addition, promoting sustainable agriculture is a key priority of the presidency with the aim being to strike a balance between the strategic goals of the European Green Deal, the stabilisation of agricultural markets, and a decent standard of living for farmers.
Viability of rural areas
The Council held a targeted discussion on ways to improve the long-term viability of rural areas, with a focus on generational renewal and demographic aspects. Addressing demographic challenges is one of the seven priorities of the Hungarian presidency.
Rural areas play a pivotal role in food security, environmental preservation and safeguarding the EU’s cultural heritage. However, they have faced several economic and social changes and challenges in recent decades, including demographic challenges and depopulation.
Ministers highlighted the importance of the common agricultural policy’s (CAP) second pillar measures in supporting the development of rural areas, especially of community-led local development programmes, such as the LEADER programme.
Agriculture ministers discussed measures that would make rural areas more attractive, including supporting young farmers so that they can start farming, simplification, digitalisation, stimulating innovation, and developing business opportunities, services and infrastructure.
Additionally, the ministers emphasised that adequate funding was needed to improve the viability of rural areas, stressing that the CAP needs to be complemented by other EU, national and regional funds.
The Council also highlighted the importance of rural proofing, namely ensuring that policies are aligned with rural needs and realities.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to further fostering the prosperity, resilience and social fabric of rural areas and rural communities. Ministers recalled the Council conclusions endorsed in November 2023 in this regard.
The Council also welcomed the fact that EU leaders recognised the importance of vibrant rural communities in the strategic agenda for 2024-2029.
- Council conclusions on a long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas (press release, 20 November 2023)
- New reports highlight the CAP’s role in strengthening rural areas (European Commission)
- The long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas: key achievements and ways forward (European Commission)
- Strategic agenda 2024-2029 (background information)
- Long-term vision for rural areas (European Commission
Trade-related agricultural issues
Taking into account the guidance of the European Council on agrifood trade and the presidency conclusions endorsed on 24 June 2024, the Council held a political debate on the latest developments.
The Council was updated on current trade flows of agrifood products, on the latest negotiations for new and ongoing bilateral free trade agreements, and on recent multilateral developments. Additionally, ministers discussed agrifood trade with the EU’s main trading partners.
Considering the EU’s positive agrifood trade surplus of nearly EUR 18 billion in the first quarter of 2024, the Council welcomed the fact that EU agrifood trade continues on a positive path and that the EU remains the largest agrifood trader in the world.
Among other topics, ministers recalled the importance of rules-based trade and its promotion at bilateral and multilateral level. They also reconfirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine and welcomed the activation of the emergency brake mechanism provided for in the Autonomous Trade Measures regulation for eggs, sugar and oats.
The Council equally stressed that it was important to ensure fair and equitable competition and to pay attention to the EU’s sensitive sectors.
In this respect, the Council provided political guidance on the EU’s further actions in these areas
- Monitoring EU agrifood trade – developments in March 2024 (European Commission)
- European Council meeting, 17-18 April 2024
- European Council meeting, 21-22 March 2024
- Future of agriculture in the EU (presidency conclusions)
Other business
Under ‘other business’, the Hungarian presidency provided the Council with information on the outcome of the policy forum on advancing research and innovation in Central and Eastern Europe within the framework of sustainable natural resource management, food systems security, and biomanufacturing policy development, held in Brussels on 4 July 2024.
Ministers also received information from the Polish delegation on the joint declaration of ten agriculture and ten research ministers of the BIOEAST initiative regarding their commitment to establishing a Europe-wide but geographically-focused new joint research and innovation-driven partnership. This initiative would also involve neighbouring countries, including the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova.
- Policy forum on advancing research and innovation in Central and Eastern Europe (Brussels, 4 July 2024): conclusions (information from the presidency)
- Joint declaration of the ministers of agriculture and research of the BIOEAST initiative (information from the Polish delegation)
The Spanish delegation presented information on the improvements needed regarding the promotion programmes for agricultural products.
- European programmes for the promotion of agricultural products (information from the Spanish delegation)
- Watch the recording of the public session
Additionally, the Austrian delegation provided information on the importance of forestry and farming.
- European agriculture and forestry: the backbone of a competitive, sovereign and prosperous EU (information from the Austrian delegation)
- Watch the recording of the public session
The Council held an informal lunch discussion focusing on ‘preserving European food traditions’.
Preparatory documents
- List of A items, non-legislative activities
- Provisional list of A items
- Provisional list of A items, corrigendum 1
- Provisional list of A items, non-legislative activities, addition 1
- Provisional agenda
- Background brief
Outcome documents
Source – EU Council