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This weblog shares information on key ACP-EU programmes and events from Brussels relevant to agriculture and rural development in ACP countries.
Date : [DATE] CTA Brussels Newsletter
Main events in the week
- Happy Easter
- Main ACP-EU events for the week from 25/04 to 29/04/2011
- Our video guest: Prof. Tony Allan, SOAS
- Towards a fairer EU agriculture policy?
- Water efficient seeds to ensure global food security
- Sudanese minister Al-Degair meets Andris Piebalgs
- CARICOM signs MOU with Italy
- AFD pledges 350 million € for Ivory Coast
- Niebel demands end to agricultural export subsidies by 2013
- 70.7 million € less for EU development aid in 2012
- Blurring the lines between humanitarian and military action undermines aid
- How to reduce the agricultural cleavage between north and south?
- Ninth ACP-EU ministerial meeting in Brussels
- Food labelling: Environment Committee sets out clearer rules
- MEPs urge local orange juice consumption
- EU-funded breakthrough in malaria treatment in the run up to World Malaria Day
- E-consultation on how to enhance EU migration and development policy
- Commission doubles humanitarian assistance for Cote d'Ivoire
- PES takes strong line on Financial Transaction Tax
- Freshwater aquaculture should be supported
- Council extends current GSP scheme
- Impact of CAP changes on developing countries
- Overhauling agricultural quality policy
- Happy Easter
2011-04-21 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Archive, Regional Fisheries, Food Security
Dear reader of this newsletter, the team of the CTA Brussels Office would like to present you our kind wishes and hope you will spend a pleasant Easter holiday. CTA will be closed from Friday 22 April to Monday 25 April. We will be back on Tuesday 26 April. CTA Website Brussels Development Briefings Our CTABrussels Daily
- Main ACP-EU events for the week from 25/04 to 29/04/2011
2011-04-21 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Archive, Regional Fisheries, Food Security
European Commission -27 April: Weekly Meeting of the College ACP Group of States -26-29 April: 6th Regional meeting of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly European Economic and Social Committee -29 April: Conference on Energy Security
You can also read our newspaper “CTA Brussels Daily” (fed by our Twitter account), follow our new Facebook group CTABrussels and our Twitter account CTABrussels to receive up-to-date information on EU-ACP events. ACP Group of States European Commission European Economic and Social Committee
- Our video guest: Prof. Tony Allan, SOAS
2011-04-21 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Food Security
Our video guest this week is Professor Tony Allan from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, who coined the term "virtual water". We spoke to him in the margin of a Brussels Briefing on the Water we eat. Watch the video Prof. Allan's executive summary Briefing on the Water we eat
- Towards a fairer EU agriculture policy?
2011-04-21 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development
As the EU embarks on further reform of the Common Agriculture Policy, the Union's newest member states are demanding that their views are taken into account. Agriculture no longer absorbs most of the European Union funds. But even now, when summit communiqués are peppered with references to “innovation” and “competitiveness pacts”, some of the EU's biggest rows are still about how much money farmers get. The farm subsidy row will resurface in the coming months. The EU has embarked on another reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is currently worth €56 billion, or 42% of the EU budget.
Source: European Voice Read more Temporary aid for Romanian farmers Development country impacts of CAP reform
- Water efficient seeds to ensure global food security
2011-04-21 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive
Scientists in the UK have found a new way to produce water efficient seeds that they claim will help plants cope with drought resistance, thereby contributing to global food security. The research was partially supported by the PHARMA—PLANTA ('Recombinant pharmaceuticals from plants for human health') project, which clinched EUR 12 million under the 'Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).
Source: European Commission Read more Pharma-Planta Project Mangroves among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics
- Sudanese minister Al-Degair meets Andris Piebalgs
2011-04-21 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Aid effectiveness
Sudan's Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Jalal Yusouf El-Degair, was received at the EU headquarters Thursday by the EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs. […] Dr. Al-Degair conveyed to the EU Commissioner for Development Sudan's appreciation for the continuous EU support as well as the new EU support, explaining that Sudan looks forward to complete the procedures of the new grant in the reconstruction of the war-affected areas in Sudan. […] Dr. El-Degair called for creating an atmosphere appropriate for attracting European investments to the Sudan in the coming period, in a view that the EU is an important commercial partner with Sudan. The Minister further stressed the importance of the EU working to support its efforts to normalize relations with the European Investment Bank and finding sort of settlement for its debts incurred on Sudan, welcoming the visit of the EU Commissioner to Sudan on May 12. […] It is to be noted that this visit comes in response to an invitation by the EU Commission in order to continue the mutual dialogue on the mechanisms of cooperation out the Cotonou mechanism, the political framework of the EU and Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries' relations. Sudan and the EU are to agree during the visit on the preparations to implement the EU's grant of 150 Million Euros and to streamline with the government's priorities as agreed on by the two sides, namely in Agriculture, food security and social services in the Blue Nile.
Source: sunanews.net Read more Commissioner Piebalgs's blog EU Cooperation with Sudan
- CARICOM signs MOU with Italy
2011-04-21 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade
The MOU was signed by acting CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite and Ambassador Paolo Serpi of Italy at the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana. “The MOU is intended to develop the human resources of CARICOM in areas vital to the development of the economies of its Member States notably in the fields of trade negotiation skills and trade promotion and to develop the scientific and technical capacity of CARICOM,” said a statement from the Secretariat. Some of the other areas identified include Tourism, Agriculture (including livestock, forestry and agro-industry), Fisheries, Mining, Climate Change, Scientific and Technological Research, Information and Communication Technology for Development and Health. A Management Committee composed of representatives from both CARICOM and Italy will oversee analysis, revision and follow-up of the MOU as well as of any specific Memoranda which may be concluded arising from the original document.
Source: caribbean360.com Read more CARICOM Coming soon: The EPA’s tangible benefits
- AFD pledges 350 million € for Ivory Coast
2011-04-21 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Aid effectiveness, Archive
The board of directors at the French Development Agency, or AFD, has approved a loan of €350 million to help Ivory Coast recover from a recent political crisis and boost its economy. “Over the past four months, Côte d’Ivoire’s economy has suffered serious repercussions from the crisis and the country’s public finances have been badly affected,” AFD said in an April 14 press release.” The Côte d’Ivoire State now has outstanding payments to settle, particularly for the civil service and State suppliers. Certain basic public services also need to be boosted immediately.” AFD said the financing aims to restore order to the African country’s public finances in the short term, enabling the new government to back priority budget spending such as fulfilling its obligations to civil servants, and financing urgent social expenditure and sanitation works, particularly in Abidjan. It will also pay for costs of high labor-intensive railway works and help revive the national civic service program. Last week, the French government pledged €400 million worth of aid to Ivory Coast, following the arrest of former leader Laurent Gbagbo, whose refusal to hand over power to Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of last year’s presidential elections, led to months-long violence in the African country. Aside from Ivory Coast, another African state and two countries from the Americas will receive financial assistance from AFD, as per its April 14 announcement. Mozambique is due to get a loan of €40 million to support a project designed to improve water supply and service in outlying communities in its capital, Maputo. The project is currently in the completion phase, AFD noted. The agency is lending $230 million to help ease congestion and reduce pollution in the Dominican Republic’s Greater Santo Domingo region.
Source: Devex Read more Further information EC opens ECHO office in Côte d'Ivoire
- Niebel demands end to agricultural export subsidies by 2013
2011-04-20 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development
High prices for food commodities, topping their 2008 record level, have been at the centre of the IMF’s and the Worldbank’s spring conference. German development minister Niebel commented: “Throughout discussions with officials of the Worldbank, it has become apparent that a conclusion of the Doha with a focus on development has become less likely given disagreements in other areas. At the same time, limits to commodity trade prevent millions of farmers in developing countries from leading a life in dignity and self-determination. Important investments to safeguard food security are lacking.” Pascal Lamy, director general of the WTO had reported that Doha negotiations were “on the brink of failure” due to disagreements with regard to customs for industrial goods. Niebel: “Given the rise of food prices that cost many lives every day, we need committed, fast action. Europe has to set an example and phase out agricultural export subsidies until 2013. I demand global free trade for agricultural products.”
Source: BMZ Read more [DE] Lamy: Do not weaken the WTO Doaa Abdel Motaal: Doha round
- 70.7 million € less for EU development aid in 2012
2011-04-20 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness
"A delicate balancing act combining austerity and growth boosting measures for 500 million Europeans". This is how Budget and Financial Programming Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski describes the draft EU budget 2012 as adopted by the Commission this 20 April 2011. The draft budget for 2012 represents € 132.7 bn in payments amounting to a 4.9 % increase on 2011. Commitments amount to €147.4bn (+3.7%). The key objective of the 2012 Draft Budget is to fully support the European economy and EU citizens. The draft budget 2012 endeavours to be in tune with the current austerity climate at national level. The Commission has made a particular effort and opted for a freeze of its administrative expenditure for 2012 i.e. a 0.0% increase compared to the 2011 budget. This has been achieved by significantly reducing expenditure linked to buildings, information and communication technology, studies, publications, missions, conferences and meetings. Furthermore, for the third year in a row, the Commission does not request any additional new post. Also, in drawing up next year's draft budget, the Commission endeavoured to identify programmes or initiatives that are not performing. The Development Cooperation Instrument has been reduced by €70.7 million as a result of its performance assessment. [...] "We owe it to the European taxpayer, says Commissioner Lewandowski: savings must include looking seriously at what we are doing and asking ourselves whether everything we do brings genuine benefit to the whole of Europe!"
Source: European Commission Read more More information about the 2012 budget EU Development Funding
- Blurring the lines between humanitarian and military action undermines aid
2011-04-20 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Aid effectiveness
The European Parliament organised a hearing on if and how military and political objectives can coexist with humanitarian action when helping civilians in armed conflicts. Politicians, military officers and NGO representatives pointed to lessons from Afghanistan, DR Congo, Haiti and Libya which could help improve the situation and uphold the independence and neutrality of humanitarian actors. Opening the meeting, the vice-chair of Parliament's Development Committee, French EPP member, Michèle Striffler, said "efforts of humanitarian aid workers providing impartial help are often jeopardised by political military and security actions", but "both sides need each other". Speaking of conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Prof. Robert Kabamba of Belgium's Liège University explained that there was confusion between military action as a first step to solve a crisis and humanitarian aid as a second step: "The role of the military forces was vague" and their mission "not clearly defined". In any case, assistance should only be based on actual needs, Ross Mountain of DARA (an NGO specialising in the review of humanitarian donor activity) underlined: "We identified politicisation and militarisation of aid as increasing problems with negative effects on access, protection and safety". Speaking from the donors' perspective, the head of ECHO, the European Commission's international aid department, Peter Zangl said: "When aid supports military force, it is no longer considered as humanitarian. The more aid is perceived as politicised, the less effective it is".
Source: European Parliament Read more EP Resolution on Humanitarian Aid Commission: DG Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)
- How to reduce the agricultural cleavage between north and south?
2011-04-20 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development
In a debate organised by RFI, three agricultural experts discuss measures to reduce the agricultural cleavage between the global north and south. Among them: Mohamed Béavogui, director of the division West Africa/Central Africa at IFAD, Hakim Ben Hammouda, African economist and expert on development issues, and Jean-Christophe Debar, director of Pluriagri and deputy director of the Foundation for World Agriculture and Rural Life (FARM).
Source: RFI/CTA Listen to the debate [FR] RFI EU-IFAD cooperation
- Ninth ACP-EU ministerial meeting in Brussels
2011-04-20 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness
The ninth meeting of regional and national ACP-EU ministers in Brussels, preceded by a meeting of high officials, focused on the examination of the second revision of the ACP-EU partnership agreement. It further focused on the impact of the economic and financial crisis on ACP countries and domestic responses to it, budget support for ACP countries and the state of implementation of development objectives. The meeting, which was considered worthwhile by participants, allowed stakeholders to analyse the constraints in the approbation of programmes and in the application of approved resources within the framework of the strategic partnership established between the group ACP and the EU, and also allowed for the formulation of conclusions concerning the future of the Cotonou agreement. During the forum, the Angolan Planning Minister, Ana Dias Lourenço, reminded participants that the European Development Fund (EDF) was a cherished instrument in the fight against poverty in the ACPs, but that those programmes established by recipient countries should also be respected.
Source: AllAfrica/Slightly modified Read more [FR] ACP Group of States Angolan Planning Ministry
- Food labelling: Environment Committee sets out clearer rules
2011-04-20 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Food Security
Food labels should include mandatory nutritional information, inter alia on artificial trans fats and the country of provenance, said Environment Committee MEPs on Tuesday. The committee amended draft EU legislation to ensure that labels are legible, do not mislead, and provide the information that consumers need to make choices. The draft legislation, voted at the second reading by the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee on Tuesday, aims to modernise, simplify and clarify food labelling within the EU. It would change existing rules on information that is compulsory on all labels, such as name, list of ingredients, "best before" or "use by" dates, specific conditions of use, and add a requirement to list key nutritional information. MEPs also want to require an indication of the "date of first freezing" for frozen unprocessed meat, poultry and fish. […] The origin of certain foods, such as beef, honey, olive oil and fresh fruit and vegetables, must already be stated on the label. At Parliament's request, the Council of Ministers agreed to extend this to swine, sheep, goat and poultry meat. However, MEPs now wish to go further, by indicating the "place or country of provenance " for all meat and poultry, milk and dairy products and other single-ingredient products.. They also voted for a requirement to state the country of provenance for meat, poultry and fish when used as an ingredient in processed food. Meat labels should indicate where the animal was born, reared and slaughtered, say MEPs. In addition, meat from slaughter without stunning (in accordance with certain religious traditions), should be labelled as such and meat consisting of combined meat parts must be labelled "formed meat".
Source: European Parliament Read more Read the draft report ACP Meat and Livestock
- MEPs urge local orange juice consumption
2011-04-20 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Environment, Food Security
Consumption of fruit juice in the EU has nearly doubled over the past two decades, mostly due its perceived benefits to health. But what is actually in your glass: is it true "fruit juice", so called "nectar" or a mixture of several ingredients? A new proposal before Parliament on fruit juices aims to improve production standards and help consumers make healthier choices. Thus a new proposal being examined in Parliament, seeks to strengthen the consumption of local products. The advantages are many, from a far lower carbon footprint to better oversight of the implementation of EU labour standards and food safety rules. […] It is worth noting that Brazilian and US producers cultivate oranges especially for processing, whereas EU producers use fruit excluded from the fresh produce market for their small size or blemishes, but which are still perfectly good for transformation into high quality juice.
Source: European Parliament Read more Read the draft report Belize-EU Orange Trade
- EU-funded breakthrough in malaria treatment in the run up to World Malaria Day
2011-04-19 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive
Ahead of World Malaria Day (25 April), EU-funded researchers have discovered that drugs originally designed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells can also kill the parasite that causes malaria. They believe this discovery could open up a new strategy for combating this deadly disease, which, according to World Health Organisation statistics, infected around 225 million and killed nearly 800 000 people worldwide in 2009. Efforts to find a treatment have so far been hampered by the parasite’s ability to quickly develop drug resistance. The research involved four projects funded by the EU (ANTIMAL, BIOMALPAR, MALSIG and EVIMALAR) and was led by laboratories in the UK, France and Switzerland with partners from Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden, along with many developing nations severely affected by malaria. Read more EU: Malaria World Malaria Day
- E-consultation on how to enhance EU migration and development policy
2011-04-19 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive
The European Commission (EC) is developing proposals on how to enhance the external dimension of the EU's migration policy ('The EU Global Approach to Migration'), to better meet the policy objectives and interests of the European Union (EU), its partner countries and all migrants concerned. This package of proposals will include a specific focus on the Migration and Development dimension of the EU migration policy. It is envisaged that the proposals will argue that the traditional migration and development agenda should be broadened to offer a migrant-centred approach. As such, the EC considers it is important to examine migration and development policy using the following lenses and identifying the benefits which migration brings for each, together with the challenges and possible solutions: individual migrant; migrant’s family/household; countries and local communities of origin; and countries of destination. It is hoped this will enable policy makers to enhance the human and social dimension of migration and development policies. A migrant-centred approach might also be strengthened by increasing the involvement of migrant groups, research institutes, media and other non-state actors in both the development and implementation of migration and development policy. Finally, given that the largest movement of migrants occurs between countries located in the global South (so called South-South migration), the contribution of these migrants to the development of their countries of origin should be recognised and supported. The European Commission (EC) is developing proposals on how to enhance the external dimension of the EU's migration policy ('The EU Global Approach to Migration'), to better meet the policy objectives and interests of the European Union (EU), its partner countries and all migrants concerned. This package of proposals will include a specific focus on the Migration and Development dimension of the EU migration policy.
To access the full discussion paper prepared by the EC, click here.
Source: European Commission Read more Migration4Development EU immigration policy
- Commission doubles humanitarian assistance for Cote d'Ivoire
2011-04-19 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Aid effectiveness, Archive, Food Security
On 19 April, the European Commission increased its humanitarian assistance for the victims of the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire by an additional €30 million, bringing its total allocation to € 60 million. The decision was taken on the basis of an extended need assessment carried out in the recent days by a team of European Commission experts on the ground. Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response said: "The Ivory Coast is passing through a very difficult period, but now there is a chance to turn a new page. Whether this opportunity will be used, depends primarily on Ivorian citizens, but also on our ability to help them. We need to maintain both the speed and the scale of our assistance, so that we can not only feed the hungry and shelter the displaced, but also heal the wounds of this conflict. We must also not forget Liberia where a large number of refugees still reside". A team from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) is currently in Côte d'Ivoire working with the European Commission humanitarian partners to assess the needs. The team consist of experts in the areas of health, protection, water, sanitation and food. They primarily analysed the situation in the West of the country and in Abidjan which are the areas most affected by the fighting. The priority is to rapidly identify the immediate humanitarian needs while at the same time working with the authorities and development aid partners to reinforce the local institutional capacity to take over the management of the provision of essential basic services in the medium term. The preliminary findings from our experts on the ground confirm that while the security is slowly improving the humanitarian situation is still a cause for major concern. Thousands of people still don't have access to the very basic supplies notably food, water and health. Their recommendations have led to this new funding which will be channelled through ECHO's partners in the field – UN agencies, the Red Cross family and non-governmental organisations. To monitor the implementation of EU funded projects, coordinate the EU response and assist the partners the Commission will open a full time ECHO office in Abidjan shortly.
Source: European Commission Read more EU Delegation to Ivory Coast Commission: DG Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)
- PES takes strong line on Financial Transaction Tax
2011-04-19 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Environment
On 14 April, the PES adopted a declaration that strengthens our position on an FTT. The declaration outlined 5 demands. They included a commitment to go ahead on an FTT within the European Union; to enact EU legislation as soon as possible; to set a clear percentage (0.05%); to use any funds raised for a progressive agenda; and to particularly target 'socially useless' financial transactions. PES President, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said that; "After our successes in the European Parliament and our strong call to the European Commission, calling for a European FTT, our attention now turns to EU Prime Ministers in the European Council. We will use the time between now and June to invest in our campaign; Our support is building steadily. A European FTT is becoming a clear and tangible option".
Source: PES Read more MEPs call for Financial Transaction Tax FTT and the Global South
- Freshwater aquaculture should be supported
2011-04-19 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Regional Fisheries
In parallel with the reform of Common Fisheries Policy, the regulation of Atlantic fishing should be revised; and freshwater aquaculture should be assisted. This was the predominant view at the meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, held in Luxembourg on 14 April 2011. Participants also discussed the role innovation could play, in the preservation of traditional lifestyle in rural areas. Ministers exchanged views on the evaluation of the review of fishing effort management in western waters, under the Commission’s Communication. They were looking for a possible framework which could be adopted for Atlantic fishing-grounds in order to protect over-exploited stocks. They also discussed whether it was necessary to change the present system, and if so, when and how. Furthermore, they examined whether they should connect, the revision of the fishing effort management regime to the Common Fisheries Policy’s ongoing reform. The European Union provides 4.6 percent of the world’s fishing and fish production, but it relies on considerable import to satisfy domestic consumption. The 27 Member States imported a total of 5.6 million tons of fish in 2007, which complemented 5.1 million tons of fish caught, and 1.3 million tons produced. Seven years earlier, in 2000, 6.7 million tons of fish were caught in the Union, while the level of production was the same, which means, the EU makes up the decrease in marine catches through import only. The main reason for decreasing the marine catches in the EU, is the overfishing of stocks, which means we are catching more and more fish, not allowing the fish population to reproduce in a year. So to prevent this, marine fishing should be drastically curbed, and fishing capacity decreased. The EU has such measures in mind for years, so the plan to enforce such measures should not be postponed any further.
Source: Hungarian Presidency Read more Declaration on Freshwater aquaculture Future of ACP-EU fisheries relations
- Council extends current GSP scheme
2011-04-18 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade
The Council agreed on a temporary extension of the validity of the current scheme of generalized tariff preferences until a new scheme enters into force (10/11). This measure will allow the current Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), which runs until 31 December 2011, to ensure continuity in the operation of the scheme beyond that date, until the next GSP is adopted. Since 1971, the European Union has granted trade preferences to developing countries in the framework of its GSP. The GSP has been implemented through successive regulations with periods of application of three years at a time. The current scheme was established by Regulation No 732/2008 as from 1 January 2009.
Source: Council of Ministers Read more DG Trade: GSP ECIPE: EU-Africa Trade Relations
- Impact of CAP changes on developing countries
2011-04-18 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development
At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council last week, the Netherlands delegation briefed the Council about the impact of common agricultural policy (CAP) changes on developing countries (8880/11). Several delegations supported the Netherlands' view that the consequences of CAP changes on farmers in developing countries should be taken into account in the Commission's impact assessment on the upcoming CAP reform. The Commission recalled that the impact of the CAP on developing countries is far less substantial now than it was some years ago. However, the consequences of the changes for developing countries would be analysed in the impact assessment to be presented by the Commission in the second part of this year together with the legislative proposals on the CAP after 2013. The Presidency recalled that the Council, in its November 2009 conclusions on policy coherence for development, agreed that ensuring global food security was a priority issue, while emphasising the role of the CAP and its impact on developing countries. In its communication on the CAP towards 2020, the Commission stated that improved production capacity needs to respect EU commitments in international trade and Policy Coherence for Development. Recognising the role of EU agriculture on the global markets, the Netherlands pointed out the need to closely monitor the impact CAP changes may have on third country markets.
Source: Council of Ministers Read more Commission Communication Dutch development policy
- Overhauling agricultural quality policy
2011-04-18 NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Food Security, Archive
The EU has started the review of its quality policy for agricultural products. The aim is to streamline the current rules and procedures, to continue to ensure that consumers receive high-quality agricultural products and to boost the diversity of agricultural activities, especially traditional production. The first part of this "quality package" – the proposal for a regulation on agricultural product quality schemes – was discussed by the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 14 April. The overall goal of the regulation is to provide farmers and producers with more coherent, clearer and more easily accessible tools to enable them to inform their customers about the characteristics of their produce. […] In addition to the improvements proposed by the Commission, the ministers discussed whether it would be useful to add two additional schemes to the proposed regulation: a "local farming and direct sales" scheme and a specific scheme for "mountain farming produce". The whole "quality package" is expected to be adopted in 2012.
Source: Council of Ministers Read more Read the Council conclusions Commission communication
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