Brussels, 18 November 2024
Agriculture
Market situation, in particular following the invasion of Ukraine
The Council welcomed the Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food, Vitalii Koval, who presented information about the situation of the agricultural sector in Ukraine to his European counterparts.
In the ensuing EU internal discussion, the Council took stock of the EU markets situation for agrifood products.
EU agrifood markets are showing some positive signs of recovery, but we remain vigilant and aware of the negative impact of extreme weather events and outbreaks of animal diseases on the EU’s agricultural production and stand ready to assist farmers.
István Nagy, Hungarian Minister for Agriculture
The Council acknowledged that EU agrifood markets are showing certain positive signs of a partial return to stability, with improvements in the demand for agrifood products in most sectors, declining fertiliser costs, and a reduction in food inflation.
Agriculture ministers touched upon current challenges, including the impact of climate change, the spread of animal diseases such as the bluetongue virus or avian influenza and plant diseases, the geopolitical situation and trade tensions. Some sectors, such as the cereal and the fruit and vegetable ones, have been particularly affected by recent adverse weather events and this has led to a decrease in production.
Regarding China, the Council urged the Commission to continue to monitor the situation and to defend the EU position. As far as the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations are concerned, certain ministers stressed the need to ensure a fair treatment for EU farmers.
In this context, a number of member states called on the Commission to provide additional funding via the agricultural reserve to help farmers in the worst-affected regions and sectors cope with recent market disruptions. Furthermore, certain ministers stressed the need to have stronger crisis management instruments and to increase the size of the crisis reserve and its flexibility.
Additionally, the Council reaffirmed its steadfast solidarity with Ukraine, while also taking into account the impact of Ukrainian imports into the EU. At the same time, some ministers mentioned they would welcome further limiting the import of agrifood products originating from Russia and Belarus.
As an ‘other business’ item, the Hungarian presidency also presented information about the outcome of the sectoral debates it organised in the Special Committee on Agriculture on the challenges the different agricultural sectors are facing and their future perspectives.
In particular, summing up the main takeaways from these sectoral discussions, the presidency highlighted that policies and strategies that promote sustainable agricultural practices and that help farmers adapt to changing conditions were needed. Improving farmers’ bargaining power and their position in the value chain were also identified as priorities. Furthermore, the importance of preventative measures emerged from the sectoral debates.
- Presidency background note
- Summary of the discussions on the challenges and future perspectives of the different agricultural sectors (information from the presidency)
- EU agricultural markets short-term outlook (Commission document)
Fisheries
Fishing opportunities for 2025
The Council held an initial exchange of views on two Commission proposals on fishing opportunities, namely for:
- fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea for 2025 and, in the case of some stocks, also for 2026, and
- fishing opportunities for 2025 in the Mediterranean and Black Seas
The proposals aim to fix catch and effort limits for most commercial fish stocks, along with member state quotas for each species.
Some of the fishing opportunities provided for in the proposals will be fixed independently by the EU, while others will be fixed following multilateral or bilateral consultations with non-EU countries.
During the Council meeting, the Commission presented its two proposals and ministers then exchanged views on their main priorities for this year’s exercise of fixing fishing opportunities.
Fisheries ministers stressed the need to ensure a balance between the social, economic and environmental sustainability of the fisheries sector.
They also mentioned the need to ensure a level playing field with fishing fleets from third countries, and to achieve a timely and balanced outcome for the EU’s consultations with third countries, in particular the UK and Norway.
Today’s debate will lay the groundwork for the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, where ministers are expected to reach a political agreement on the two proposals.
The Council’s decision in December will be based on the best available scientific advice, while respecting the objectives of the common fisheries policy, and taking into account the EU’s multiannual plans for various sea basins.
- Fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea (Commission proposal)
- Fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas (Commission proposal)
- Management of the EU’s fish stocks (background information)
Other business
Among the ‘other business’ items, during a public session, the Council received information on:
- an EU protein strategy (German and Danish delegations)
- the use of funds under the rural development programme (Spanish delegation)
- imports of Ukrainian honey into Bulgaria and Romania (Bulgarian and Romanian delegations)
- Putting forward an EU protein strategy (information from the German and Danish delegations)
- Implementation of the N+3 rule for rural development interventions in the CAP Strategic Plans (information from the Spanish delegation)
- Imports of Ukrainian honey into Bulgaria and Romania (information from the Bulgarian and Romanian delegations)
A items
The Council also adopted the list of legislative and non-legislative A items scheduled for this Council meeting.
In particular, the Council adopted a regulation amending the plant health law, as well as the 2025 Baltic Sea fishing opportunities, following the political agreement reached in October.
- Plant health law: Council adopts improved rules to protect against plant pests (press release, 18 November 2024)
- Baltic Sea: Council agrees on catch limits for 2025 (press release, 22 October 2024)
- Watch the recording of the public sessions
- Watch the recording of the press conference
Preparatory documents
- List of A items, non-legislative activities
- Provisional list of A items, non-legislative activities, addition 1
- List of A items, legislative deliberations
- Provisional list of A items
- Provisional agenda
- Background brief
Outcome documents
Press releases
- Maritime safety: Council adopts new laws to support safe, clean and modern shipping in the EU
- Recovery and resilience fund: Council greenlights Italy’s amended recovery and resilience plan
- European Union Solidarity Fund: Council agrees to €116 million in disaster relief aid for Germany and Italy
- Plant health law: Council adopts improved rules to protect against plant pests
Source – EU Council