AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES COUNCIL: 7 SEPTEMBER
2009
Letter to the Chairman from the Secretary of
State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP)
In light of the Parliamentary recess, I am writing
to you in place of the usual written statement with regard to
September's Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels, at
which I represented the United Kingdom. Elfin Jones also attended.
There were two substantive agenda items - under agriculture
only - and eight AOB items. The poultrymeat marketing standards
item was withdrawn from the agenda whilst the Commission reflected
further on the definitions used in this regulation.
There was substantial discussion on the situation
on the dairy market, with all Member States sharing the analysis
of the market situation; it was causing difficulties for the industry
across the EU. Many Member States wanted more done to provide
support, although often without being able to say what.
The UK noted the improving market situation, and
urged caution on enhanced market measures or changing state aid
rules. France and Germany, supported by fourteen other Member
States, tabled a declaration calling for more support measures.
They also tabled a separate declaration calling for the freezing
of planned milk quota increases.
The Commission rejected any changes that go back
on the CAP health check, and defended its current and planned
market support measures. However they did agree to explore various
further technical measures. Further discussion would take place
at the October Council.
The Commission highlighted the main issues addressed
in the report of the High Level Group (HLG) on the competitiveness
of the agro-food industry, and noted it would do all it could
to implement the recommendations in the report. The UK welcomed
the report emphasising the importance of examining the competitiveness
of an industry worth some €3 trillion annually, and to reflect
on how to maintain such a competitive industry in the future.
Turning to the items under any other business, the
Netherlands called for enforcement methods to be strengthened
for the protection of animals in transport, with particular emphasis
on the use of satellite navigation systems. They urged the Commission
to bring forward a revised proposal as soon as possible. The UK
supported, and called for the proposal to include time limits
for journeys to slaughter. The Commission said that a proposal
is currently in inter-service consultation, which will address
journey times.
Poland proposed three measures designed to help stabilise
the cereals market, focussing specifically on Member States located
unfavourably to export markets. A number of neighbouring countries
supported, but not the Commission.
Poland also asked that it be allowed to transfer
a portion of its milk quota from direct sales (to consumers) to
wholesale (to dairies/processors) because it was finding its quota
allocation from accession was increasingly restrictive. The Commission
rejected this idea arguing that it would send the wrong signal
to dairy producers and the market.
Germany called on the Commission to make rapid progress
towards implementing the thirty-nine proposals for CAP Simplification
that Council had put forward in May 2009. Member States all supported
this request. The UK urged the Commission and Council also to
look at burdens from DG Sanco and DG Environment which had an
impact on farmers. The Commission confirmed that it was continuing
to work on implementing these proposals.
Greece explained the forest fires in August 2009
had affected its farmers and rural communities and planned to
put forward a state aid application for compensation in October.
The Commission was sympathetic.
The Commission drew attention to the disruption to
supplies to the EU of soya beans for animal feed use as a result
of contamination of shipments with low levels of non-EU approved
GM Maize. The UK, along with other Member States, acknowledged
the problem and called on the Commission to bring forward long-awaited
technical guidelines to address the issue of low level contamination
by non-EU approved GMOs, and to speed up the process of GMO approval
within the EU.
The Commission provided an update on the recent Informal
Trade Ministerial meeting held in New Delhi. It had helped provide
more momentum to discussions. The Commission was clear that on
Agriculture, whilst progress would have to be resumed, the EU
would not accept any changes to its existing offer.
France, with support, argued that the market price
for pig meat was too low, and so the Commission should reintroduce
export refunds. The Commission said they were watching the situation
closely, but as the sector was recovering from the problems it
faced in 2007/08, it was not appropriate to use market measures.
The next Council will be the informal Agriculture
Council, to be held in Vaxjo, Sweden, from 13 - 15 September.
Dan Norris will represent the United Kingdom, with discussion
focussing on Agriculture and Climate Change.
25 September 2009
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