MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EC begins crucial discussions on fisheries and agricultural policies reforms

The EC has plans to phase out the milk quota system by 2015

The European Commission Agriculture and Fisheries Council meets Monday in Brussels to begin the discussion process of the Common Agriculture Policy proposals recently set out. In the fisheries chapter the Council is expected to reach a political agreement on two regulations fixing the fishing opportunities for 2011 regarding certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable

Concerning agriculture items, ministers will, in public deliberation, have an exchange of views on the proposal for a regulation on agricultural product quality policy whose aim is to recast the legislation on geographical indications and in particular to lay down general marketing standards and appropriate labelling.

Following a first exchange of views which took place in the Council on 29 November, Ministers will also hold a policy debate on the basis of the Commission communication “The CAP towards 2020: meeting the food, natural resources and territorial challenges of the future”.

Furthermore, ministers will take note of two presentations by the Commission concerning: a) the alignment of the PAC regulation “Single CMO” with the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty basically establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets; B9 a report on developments in the market situation and conditions for phasing out the milk quota system by 2015.

The content of the agricultural and fisheries policies essentially involves regulation of the markets, organising production and establishing the resources available, improving horizontal agricultural structures and rural development.

The Common Agricultural Policy underwent a thorough reform in June 2003. In future, the most commonly used budgetary instrument should be the single farm payment based on reference periods, which is decoupled from production in the case of livestock farming, arable crops and milk, and is conditional upon meeting criteria such as respect for the environment and animal welfare.