Main results of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council
The Presidency presented in public to the Council its work programme and priorities for agriculture and fisheries.
As regards agriculture, there was be a public debate on the state of play on the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package after a political agreement was reached with the other EU institutions on the proposals for the direct payments regulation, the single common market organisation (CMO) regulation, the rural development regulation and the horizontal regulation.
Concerning fisheries issues, ministers reached an agreement for a full general approach on a proposal for the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) within the framework of the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform package. This agreement on budgetary issues achieves the work initiated by the Council in October last year when a partial general approach was reached covering technical aspects. This will enable the Council to start negotiations on the EMFF with the European Parliament during the autumn. The Council also confirmed the political agreement on the two other proposed regulations for CFP reform: the basic provisions regulation and the market regulation.
The Commission then briefed the Council about a consultation on fishing opportunities for 2014, outlining the state of the stocks, providing a limited overview of the economic performance of the EU fleet, and committing to management using long-term plans and to management in accordance with scientific advice.
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This week Parliament in recess.
The European Parliament is in recess from this week. Business resumes on 26 August with a week of external parliamentary and committee activities. The EP press room will be closed from Monday 22 July until Friday 23 August inclusive.
