Brussels, 23 September 2024
Agriculture
CAP strategic plans: stocktaking of the second year of implementation
The Council assessed the second year of implementation of the strategic plans of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
The national strategic plans of the common agricultural policy allow us to deliver on the common goals of the CAP. Today we reviewed the way they are being implemented and assessed current challenges member states are facing, in order to find ways of simplifying and further improving the system in the future.
Zsolt Feldman, Hungarian Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development
In the light of the practical experience gained during the first two years of the current CAP, which has been implemented since 1 January 2023, the Council exchanged views on certain challenges encountered by national authorities in the implementation of the strategic plans.
Their discussion aimed to identify possible improvements for the post-2027 period, to ensure that the strategic plans continue to perform.
Ministers mentioned that they would welcome further flexibility and a streamlined procedure for adopting and amending the national strategic plans. Additionally, they raised challenges linked to reporting rules and emphasised that these should be further simplified.
In this context, the Latvian delegation provided the Council with information on unit amounts, while the Lithuanian delegation provided information on the use of investments funded by the rural development fund.
- Stocktaking of the second year of implementation of the CAP strategic plans – presidency note
- The CAP and the performance of the new delivery model – information from Latvia
- The use of EAFRD-funded investments – information from Lithuania
- Watch the recording of the public session
Market situation, in particular following the invasion of Ukraine
Based on information provided by the member states and an update from the Commission, the Council discussed the situation of agricultural markets and commodities.
Ministers examined challenges and potential solutions, also considering the current geopolitical context.
In particular, while acknowledging that the situation of agricultural markets was relatively stable, the Council mentioned challenges linked to the negative effects of climate change and adverse weather conditions, such as floods and droughts, high input costs, and the spread of animal diseases.
Some ministers also expressed concerns regarding the implementation of the deforestation regulation, and developments linked to the trade dimension, including China’s anti-subsidy investigations.
On the topic of Ukraine, the Council called for continuing support to the country, while some ministers mentioned the need to take into account the impact of Ukrainian imports into the EU.
In this context, some member states also called for extending the list of products imported from Russia and Belarus which carry increased tariffs.
Additionally, the German delegation, supported by France, presented an ‘other business’ item on increasing the threshold for de minimis state aid, which received support from a majority of agriculture ministers.
- Market situation – presidency note
- Increase of de minimis aid in the agricultural sector – information from Germany, supported by France
Fisheries
EU-UK and EU-Norway and coastal states: annual consultations for 2025
The Council held an exchange of views on the management in 2025 of fish stocks shared with the United Kingdom in the context of the regular annual cycle of fishing opportunities.
The consultation will run from late October to early December and will cover 81 fish stocks jointly managed by the EU and the UK.
Fisheries ministers also discussed the upcoming consultations with Norway on fishing opportunities in 2025, which are due to be held between October and December. The bilateral EU-Norway consultations will focus on exchanges of quotas and access to waters.
A number of stocks are managed trilaterally by the EU, Norway and the UK.
The annual consultations with coastal states on total allowable catches in 2025 for mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic will be held in October.
During the Council meeting, ministers provided political guidance to the Commission on the EU’s position in these consultations.
The Council called for the conclusion of balanced agreements, and recalled the importance of ensuring the long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability of the sector.
- Fish stocks shared between the EU and the UK (background information)
- International agreements on fisheries (background information)
Fishing opportunities for 2024 and 2025: amendment
The Council discussed a Commission proposal to update the fishing opportunities for 2024 and 2025 for certain fish stocks, in order to take account of the latest scientific advice and recent developments.
The Council focused on the outstanding element of the proposal, namely anchovy in Atlantic Iberian waters.
The ministers’ exchange of views will pave the way for the adoption of the amendment.
- Fishing opportunities for 2024 and 2025: third amendment – background note
- Fishing opportunities for 2024 and 2025 – information from Spain
- Watch the recording of the public session
Informal lunch
Agriculture ministers held an informal lunch discussion, during which the chair of the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture, Professor Peter Strohschneider, presented its report.
Ministers welcomed this informal discussion, also in light of the planned Council conclusions focusing on the future of the CAP. In particular, ministers welcomed the goal of strengthening the farmers’ position in the food value chain, as set out in the report.
Other business
Among the ‘other business’ items, during a public session, the Hungarian presidency provided the Council with information on the outcome of recent meetings, namely:
- the EU-Western-Balkans summit of veterinary services (Budapest, 11 September 2024)
- the FAO Committee on Forestry (Rome, 22-26 July 2024)
- the FAO Committee on Agriculture – livestock subcommittee (Rome, 16-18 July 2024)
- EU-Western-Balkans summit of veterinary services – information from the Hungarian presidency
- FAO Committee on Forestry – information from the presidency and the Commission
- FAO Committee on Agriculture – livestock subcommittee – information from the Hungarian presidency
Also in public session, on the topic of transmissible animal diseases, the Greek delegation provided information on the recent outbreak of peste des petits ruminants in Greece, while the Swedish delegation shared some positive developments concerning African Swine Fever.
- Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) epidemic – information from Greece
- Efforts to reduce the spread of African Swine Fever – information from Sweden
In addition, a number of ‘other business’ items were raised by several delegations during a public session.
- Way forward in forest monitoring – information from Finland
- The need for a derogation from the e-registration system for plant protection products – information from Poland
- Watch the recording of the public session
- The declaration of MED9 ministers of agriculture on the threat of drought to the primary sector in the Mediterranean states – information from Cyprus
- Automatic safeguard measure for rice imports from EBA countries – information from Italy
- Protective measures concerning imports of eggs from Ukraine – information from Bulgaria, supported by Romania
- Impact and consequences of the spread of the bluetongue virus – information from Belgium
- Watch the recording of the public session
- Watch the recording of the press conference
Preparatory documents
- List of A items, non-legislative activities
- List of A items, legislative deliberations
- Provisional list of A items, non-legislative activities
- Provisional agenda
- Background brief
Outcome documents
Press releases
Source – EU Council