Finland’s EU Presidency : Agriculture and Fisheries

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Agriculture and Fisheries

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council meets once a month. It brings together the Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries and the European Commissioners responsible for agriculture and rural development, fisheries and maritime affairs, as well as health and consumer protection. During its Presidency, Finland will hold five meetings of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which will be chaired by Juha Korkeaoja, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland.

Main issues

Agriculture
In agriculture, the focus will be on an innovative, competitive and sustainable European model of agriculture, a model aimed at consolidating the EU’s reformed common agricultural policy and examining its future challenges. Other current topics during Finland's Presidency include the reform of the wine sector and of the common market organisation for the banana sector. The reform of the legislation on spirit drinks and organic farming will also be on the agenda.

Fisheries
In fisheries, the focus will be on protective measures, improved monitoring arrangements and fishing agreements with third countries. During Finland’s Presidency, the Council will make decisions on Community fishing opportunities. These decisions will include the quotas for specified fish stocks.

Veterinary and plant health
In the veterinary sector, the focus will be on the prevention of animal diseases. Work will also continue on animal welfare measures and issues relating to food safety. Consideration will be given to the Animal Health Policy, protection of chickens kept for meat production and reform of the legislation on pesticides.

Forestry
Forestry issues will be of key importance during Finland’s Presidency and an EU Forest Action Plan is to be drafted to complement the EU Forest Strategy. Forest issues will also be discussed in international forums, particularly at the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF).

Meetings

The informal meeting of EU ministers of agriculture, to be held in Oulu, Finland, at the end of September, will discuss and assess the European model of agriculture. The focus will be on developments since the reform of the common agricultural policy. The aim is to enhance the policy adopted and examine the challenges that European agriculture will face in the future. During the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to learn about Finnish agriculture and forestry.

The civil servant meetings will be organised in cooperation with the Austrian Presidency. EU Chief Veterinary Officers and Directors for Forestry convened during the Austrian Presidency in the first half of 2006. The Informal Meeting of Directors-General for Fisheries and the Meeting of Directors of the EU Paying Agencies will take place during Finland’s Presidency.