29 April 2024
Rapid and structural responses to the current situation in the agricultural sector
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council discussed the EU’s response to the current concerns in the agricultural sector.
Agriculture ministers took stock of the measures taken and the initiatives presented so far as part of the EU’s response to farmers’ concerns. They highlighted the recent vote in the European Parliament in favour of amendments to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which had been proposed by the Commission in response to political guidance provided by the Council at its meeting in February.
Based on information provided by the Commission and guidance from the European Council at its meeting of 17-18 April 2024, ministers also discussed potential future measures aimed at reducing the administrative burden of the EU’s agricultural policy for farmers and member-state authorities and strengthening the position of farmers in the food supply chain. These included reviewing the directive on unfair trading practices, simplifying the approval process for CAP strategic plans, delaying implementation of the deforestation regulation, and reviewing some of the more technical aspects of monitoring under the CAP, such as geotagging of photographs.
In addition, a number of member states supported a request from Germany to raise the threshold for de minimis state aid from €25,000 to €50,000.
The Council is expected to adopt the proposed amendments to the CAP on 13 May 2024.
The EU promised to respond swiftly and effectively to the concerns raised by farmers. We have kept our promise. In the last two months we have taken considerable action. Soon, an important revision to the CAP will be approved and enter into force. But our work continues: today’s discussion shows our commitment to keeping farmers’ concerns at the top of the work at EU level, with the aim of avoiding excessive administrative burden, making sure that farmers have a strong position in the food supply chain and in the end receive a fair income for their work.
David Clarinval, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Self-Employed, SMEs and Agriculture, Institutional Reforms and Democratic Renewal
- European Council conclusions, 17-18 April 2024
- Targeted review of certain basic acts of the CAP (text endorsed by the Special Committee on Agriculture)
- Support for farmers: Council endorses targeted review of the common agricultural policy (press release, 26 March 2024)
- Commission’s package of support to EU farmers (background information)
Trade-related agricultural issues
As part of its response to the concerns expressed by the EU’s farming sector, the Council held an exchange of views on the latest developments in agri-food trade, with due regard to the renewed guidance of the European Council on ensuring a competitive, sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.
Ministers based their discussion on information provided by the presidency and the Commission regarding:
- the latest statistics on agri-food trade for 2023 and the beginning of 2024
- other recent developments in agricultural trade-related issues
- the updated study on the cumulative economic impact of upcoming trade agreements on EU agriculture
Regarding the future development of the EU’s trade agenda, ministers stressed the need to safeguard the EU’s open strategic autonomy, food security and competitiveness, as well as the protection of sensitive EU sectors such as beef, poultry, sugar, ethanol, and certain fruit and vegetables.
At the same time, and bearing in mind the results of the updated study, they called for negotiations with non-EU countries to be completed quickly, while also bearing in mind the issues raised above.
Annual performance reports
Based on information from the European Commission, the Council exchanged views on the annual performance reports submitted by member states to give an overview of the implementation of the CAP in their countries. This is the first exercise of its kind under the current CAP.
Ministers discussed two main points:
- whether the measures taken in the CAP strategic plan had made it possible to meet expectations
- their assessment of the new performance-based delivery model and possible experiences to share, based on the first annual performance reports
While all member states submitted their performance reports on time, they noted that the reporting burden for 2024 would be more significant, and reiterated their call for reporting requirements under the CAP to be simplified. Some member states also highlighted challenges including the new IT system and the impact of the geopolitical situation on implementation of their strategic plans in 2023.
Other business
Under ‘other business’, member states shared information about the importance of the sustainable forest-based bioeconomy and the margin of tolerance for the fisheries control regulation.
Informal lunch debate
Over lunch, ministers exchanged views on the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture.
A items
The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the lists of legislative and non-legislative A items.
Notably, the Council formally adopted the ‘breakfast directives’, which updates the rules on the composition, labelling and naming of honey, fruit juices, fruit jams and dehydrated milk.
The Council also approved updated EU Guidelines for the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ meeting in Cuiabá, Brazil, on 11-13 September 2024.
Preparatory documents
- Provisional agenda
- Provisional list of A items
- List of A items, legislative deliberations
- List of A items, non-legislative activities
- List of A items, non-legislative activities, addition 1
- Provisional list of A items, non-legislative activities, addition 2
- Background brief
Outcome documents
Press releases
- Gigabit infrastructure act: Council gives final green light to faster deployment of high-speed networks in the EU
- Council adopts revised ‘breakfast directives’ to strengthen marketing standards and improve consumer information
- Ethiopia: Council restricts visa provision
- EU-Japan: the Council approves a protocol to facilitate free flow of data
- Economic governance review: Council adopts reform of fiscal rules
- European Peace Facility: Council adopts an assistance measure to support the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire
- The Council gives the final green light to the prolongation of a child sexual abuse protection measure
- Council adopts directive to delay reporting obligations for certain sectors and third country companies
- EUAM Iraq: Council extends the mandate of the EU advisory mission on security sector reform until 2026