Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 06/03/2017, 6 March 2017

Main results

Future of the CAP

The Council had an exchange of views on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

In particular ministers shared ideas on how the priorities of the future CAP identified in the Presidency paper can be achieved and on whether there should be a rebalancing of direct support and rural development.

Simplification was generally highlighted as an overall priority for future policies in order to release the full economic potential of EU farming and rural areas. Other issues indicated as priorities were: building resilience, responding to environmental challenges, investing in rural viability and vitality, ensuring generational renewal, maintaining a market orientation and strengthening farmers' position in the food chain.

Some delegations were in favour of putting more emphasis in the future on rural development in order to invest in rural viability and vitality, whilst others warned against a reduction of direct support to farmers. 

The EU farming sector has big challenges ahead. As politicians we have an opportunity to set a vision for the future. We should constantly improve our policies so that EU agriculture and rural areas can continue to thrive and generate growth, employment and welfare.

Roderick Galdes,Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and president of the Council

• 'CAP post-2020' - orientation paper prepared by the Maltese presidency

Multiannual plan for demersal species in the Adriatic Sea

The Commission presented to the Council its proposal establishing a multiannual plan for small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea, the first multiannual plan for the Mediterranean.

It aims at recovering stocks such as sardine, anchovy, mackerel and horse mackerel, and contributing to their sustainable exploitation, as well as ensuring a simpler and more comprehensive management framework.

Member states generally welcomed the  discussion but highlighted some concerns about the potential socio-economic impact of the plan on small scale fisheries and potential practical issues vis-à-vis the complex Mediterranean fishery. They also called for proportionate measures and controls that do not hamper the fishing sector in the area.

• Proposal for a regulation establishing a multiannual plan for small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea
• Annexes to the proposal for a regulation establishing a multiannual plan for small pelagic stocks in the Adriatic Sea

Other topics on the agenda

Ministers were informed about the setting up of the EU animal welfare platform, the state of play of the consequences of lumpy skin disease, the issue of dual quality of foodstuffs, unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, the functioning of the EU solidarity corps, the difficult market situation in the Polish fruit sector, and voluntary coupled support.

The Council was also briefed on several recent and upcoming events such as: the G20 agriculture ministers' conference (Berlin, Jan. 2017), the forum on the EU rice sector (Milan, Feb. 2017), the Our Ocean 2017 conference (Malta, Oct. 2017).