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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
- Main ACP-EU events for the week from 25/06 to 01/07/2012
- Our video guest: Keith Nurse, Shridath Ramphal Centre
- Upcoming Brussels Development Briefing: Follow it live
- Mr Cioloş addresses sustainable productivity
- EU-FAO: Boosting agricultural sector in Swaziland
- PECH Committee put downs ‘a clear marker’ for a sustainable fishery
- AGRI committee brings to light preliminary plans on farm policy
- Europe's environmental plans to face challenges
- Number of members proves no obstacle to strong commitment
- Vocal complaints over G20 summit
- Boosting EU states' bargaining power in third-country energy deals
- EU's 2014-2020 consumer programme
- Illegal fishing increases in Fiji
- EU and ESA countries to boost trade
- Pacific-EU EPA needs to “pro-trade”and “pro-development”
- Support for Polish milk market request
- EC EIP initiative well-received
- Differing views on CAP reform at the Council
- Presidency presents CAP reform progress report
- G20 agriculture meeting in Mexico
- Sahel food crisis: Despite humanitarian funding, much remains to be done
- EU-ACP Joint Declaration on Rio+20
- A detailed evaluation on organic production and labelling
- Main ACP-EU events for the week from 25/06 to 01/07/2012
2012-06-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Aid effectiveness, Environment, Archive, Regional Fisheries, Food Security, Food Policy, ACP-EU Policy
European Parliament
- 25 June: Committee on Foreign Affairs
- 25 June: Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Council of ministers
- 25 June: Meeting of Foreign Affairs Council (Luxembourg)
- 25 June: Meeting of General Affairs Council (Luxembourg)
- 27 June: COREPER I (Brussels)
European Council
- 28/29 June: European Council meeting
ACP Group
- 25 June: Management Meeting
- 25: Ad Hoc W/G on Functioning and Organs of the ACP Group
- 27 June: W/G on the Future perspectives of the ACP Group
- 28 June: Visit of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors to the EIB Headquarters (Luxembourg)
Research events
- 26 June: Brussels Development Briefing: “Addressing Food Waste in times of crisis”
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.
- Our video guest: Keith Nurse, Shridath Ramphal Centre
2012-06-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive, ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Policy
What does the diaspora’s economy mean for the Caribbean region? Keith Nurse, a renowned economist and creative industries specialist, and director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services at the Cave Hill Campus (Barbados) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), answered this and other questions. He spoke to us about some key points of “Forward home”, a documentary of which he is the executive producer and which is based on 2 years of research. It delves in particular into the impact of the Caribbean diaspora on the region’s economy.
 Watch the video
Know more about Keith Nurse
See 'Forward Home' trailer
- Upcoming Brussels Development Briefing: Follow it live
2012-06-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, Rural development, Food Policy, Food Security
The next Brussels Development Briefing “Addressing Food Waste in Time of Crisis” will be held at the European Commission, Borschette Building, Room 2D on Tuesday 26 June 2012 from 8h30 to 13h00 CET .This briefing wants to address the concerns revolving around global hunger, food security, sustainability and waste recovery. Thus, the objectives of the Briefing are to raise awareness of the causes and impact of food losses and waste in low, medium and high-income countries, increase an exchange of information and expertise relating to strategies and successes in preventing and reducing them and to facilitate networking amongst development partners working in these areas. Speakers will include research, policy makers, food industry, farmer’s organizations.
You can follow the debate online by clicking here, as the event will be web-streamed.
NOTE: The sessions will be published the day of the event. Please notice that due to system restrictions the live transmission will be available only with a Windows + Internet Explorer configuration.
Follow it live
Programme
Brussels Briefings
- Mr Cioloş addresses sustainable productivity
2012-06-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Security, Food Policy, Rural development
During the speech of Dacian Cioloş, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Europe, in the event “Agriculture the way towards sustainability and inclusiveness G20/Rio de Janeiro”, he took the opportunity to address two key questions: “What is the European Union's vision on sustainable agriculture?” and “How can we make sustainable agriculture a better contributor to food security and fighting poverty?” .
With regards to the first question, Mr Cioloş stated that “in [the] EU['s] view, sustainability is the right balance between economic viability, environmental benefits and social acceptability”, while giving more expanded answers to the second.
Speaking on key problems in Africa, such as soil degradation and the incapability of agriculture to address malnourishment, he stated: “I believe that food security and fighting poverty in countries confronted with these problems, depends a lot on their ability to develop a sustainable productivity. Yes, we have to use new technologies but new technologies cannot and will not replace our responsibilities regarding the life of people working in agriculture. New technologies will have to respect the free access of today's and tomorrow's farmers to healthy, renewable natural resources”.
Additionally, the European Commissioner raised awareness of a number of other factors that relate to food security, specifically the wasting of food: “we should not forget food waste. If in Europe most of it comes from post production – either at retail level or consumer level, and we try to address this – in the developing world, it frequently happens before it reaches the processor, in the fields, on the roads, in the ports. The EU is closely working to support its partners in these efforts”, he said.
Source: European Commission/ CTA
Read the speech
Watch Briefing on Food Waste 26 june
DG Agriculture
- EU-FAO: Boosting agricultural sector in Swaziland
2012-06-22
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, ACP-EU Policy
As smallholder agriculture is a critical lifeline of Swaziland’s majority rural population, the Government of Swaziland and FAO, with funding from the European Union (EU), work together to boost agricultural productivity, while at the same time reversing environmental degradation. The Swaziland Agricultural Development Project (SADP), a 5-years programme with €14.2 million by the EU and € 341 000 by FAO, and which was established in 2009, revitalises agriculture and contributes to the creation of a vibrant commercial agricultural sector.
Unreliable rainfall, uncontrolled livestock grazing, not fully exploited crop rotations, the cost of inputs and the HIV/AIDS epidemic have led to falling yields for more than a decade. At the same time, food insecurity has risen dramatically, especially on the countryside. It is estimated that almost 7 out of 10 persons live below the poverty line.
Source: FAO
Read more
EU-FAO Partnership
Know more SADP
- PECH Committee put downs ‘a clear marker’ for a sustainable fishery
2012-06-21
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Regional Fisheries
According to the EP Fisheries Committee, EU fishermen's organisations should be empowered to help promote sustainable fishing, reduce unwanted catches and combat illegal fishing.
Following the vote on the first draft regulation in the common fisheries policy reform package, rapporteur on the common market organisation in fishery and aquaculture products, Struan Stevenson, stated: "This vote marks the first stage of the European Parliament's legislative decisions on a key element of common fisheries policy reform. My report will make clear Parliament's position on regionalisation, transferable fishing concessions and the central role of producer organisations. I am confident that we have put down a clear marker for the future of a sustainable fishery in Europe”.
Source: European Parliament
Read more
Know more about PECH Committee
Reforming the CFP
- AGRI committee brings to light preliminary plans on farm policy
2012-06-21
Suggestions for making direct payments for farmers fairer across the EU and simplifying checks on how the money is spent were presented by Agriculture (AGRI) Committee MEPs. Although, proposals to prolong wine planting rights and sugar quotas were well-received, MEPS stressed that "greening" measures should be better tailored to the needs of each Member State.
Accordingly, the AGRI Committee Chair Paolo de Castro stated: "Now, we get into a delicate and complex stage. After several months of debate, Parliament's proposals have been tabled for a modern and flexible Common Agricultural Policy to make farmers' lives easier and cut red tape; We will be on schedule with the reform only if Parliament and the Council engage in a dialogue on the proposals presented today.”
Source: European Parliament
Read more
Know more about AGRI Committee
Not just farming...
- Europe's environmental plans to face challenges
2012-06-21
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
According to an article by EurActiv, Europe will face difficulties regarding its plan for strengthening global environmental governance at the upcoming sustainable development conference this week. “I think this is really going to be one of the big disappointments of the conference,” says Jeremy Wates, secretary-general of the European Environmental Bureau.
The plan to empower the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), strongly supported by conservationists and the EU institutions, is part of an ambitious European agenda to set global conservation targets and lead a transformation to leaner and greener economic growth.
Janez Potočnik, the EU environment commissioner and one of the architects of Europe’s Rio agenda, who has recognised that talks leading up to the conference have not been easy, states that, though insufficient progress has been made, there are “ high hopes” that Brazil, as a the host country, “will engage that with a strong ambition.”
Source: EurActiv
Read more
Key messages to the Conference
EU-ACP Joint Declaration on Rio+20
- Number of members proves no obstacle to strong commitment
2012-06-20
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Policy, Environment, Rural development
As we informed our readers this week, a joint declaration was issued following the ACP-EU meeting in Vanuatu. The Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Christian Friis Bach, who chaired the meeting, voiced his pleasure that more than a hundred of countries have come together on strong commitments. "A strong joint statement by an alliance of 105 rich and poor countries sends a significant signal to the Rio negotiations at this juncture", he stated.
Adding to his praise for the joint declaration, he also points out that the statement “stresses that a growing number of poor countries no longer see the development of a green economy as a limitation, but instead as an opportunity to create sustainable growth and new jobs. It gives new optimism."
Source: Energy enviro Finland
Read more
Joint declaration
Rio+20
- Vocal complaints over G20 summit
2012-06-20
International aid agencies have been quick to point out that leaders at the G20 summit have focused mainly on the euro crisis, neglecting other topics that involve the international community. According to an article by Oxfam, while Mexican President Felipe Calderon had food security, sustainable development and climate change as key topics on the agenda, the discussion fixated mostly on Europe. “How could world leaders simply ignore the nearly one billion people living in poverty?”, international aid agencies have demanded.
Despite food security's being one of the topics on the agenda, neither biofuels nor food price volatility, which are key drivers of food insecurity, received, according to Oxfam, any attention in the leaders' final declaration.
Though the organisation states that the summit has produced a “hugely disappointing outcome” for developing countries, it points to some hope regarding tax transparency, which “could uncover billions in much needed income for developing countries”.
Source: Oxfam
Read more
G20 leaders declaration
Development and food security sidelined
- Boosting EU states' bargaining power in third-country energy deals
2012-06-20
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Environment
The Energy (ITRE) Committee has endorsed a provisional deal with the Council to strengthen the hand of EU countries in negotiations of bilateral energy agreements with non-EU states. The legislation should strengthen the hand of EU Member States in such negotiations by fostering cooperation among them. Accordingly, Rapporteur Krišjānis Kariņš has stated: "This legislation will increase transparency in energy supply agreements with third countries, thereby ensuring that EU law is adhered to. It will also create a base for coordinated action by Member States in the field of energy".
Source: European Parliament
Read more
Discussions at the EP
ITRE Committee
- EU's 2014-2020 consumer programme
2012-06-20
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Policy
Ministers reached an agreement on a partial general approach concerning the EU's consumer programme for the 2014-2020 period. The aim of the programme is to ensure a high level of consumer protection, to empower consumers and to place the consumer in the heart of the internal market. The programme will contribute to protect the health, safety, legal and economic interests of consumers, as well as to promote their right to information, education and to organise themselves in order to safeguard their interests. It will complement national consumer policies of the member states.
The Commission communication "A budget for Europe 2020" of 29 June 2011 proposed to allocate EUR 175 millions (in constant 2011 prices) to the consumer programme for the period 2014-2020. The final financial envelope for the implementation of the programme will be decided in the context of the overall EU budget for the next cycle of financial perspectives.
Source: Council of the EU
Read more
Read EC Communication
EU Consumer Policy
- Illegal fishing increases in Fiji
2012-06-20
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Regional Fisheries
According to the Fisheries Department Director Sanaila Naqali, Illegal, Unreported and Unregistered (IUU) fishing is rapidly increasing in Fiji. Even if the government is aware of IUU fishing there are many difficulties in tracking these networks down.
Inoke Wainiqolo, permanent secretary of Fiji's Ministry of Fisheries, echoed Naqali by saying that this has been a serious concern for global fisheries as it undermines efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks.
Source: Eastday
Read more
Know more about IUU
ACP fisheries meeting in Fiji
- EU and ESA countries to boost trade
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade
According to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, the implementation of a trade and development agreement between the EU and Eastern and Southern African countries is expected to increase trade between the two blocs. The EU and four Eastern and Southern African States comprising of Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles and Zimbabwe signed an interim partnership agreement in 2009 that provides duty and quota-free access to each other’s markets.
An international trade expert, Mr James Jowa said the agreement is a review of a previous one that was based on preferential trade for goods from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) producers, as both parties now have to reciprocate the duty-free quota.
“Whatever tariffs ACP countries levy on EU countries, EU states should do the same. Whatever limitation or removals that are given to ACP members by the EU, the ACP countries should do the same. So the situation that we are facing is whereby Zimbabwe as part of the ACP group is relaxing tariffs on products coming from the EU. The challenge now is that we need to be competitive,” said Mr Jowa
Source: Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation
Read more
First iEPA with African region comes to pass
EU-Zimbabwe
- Pacific-EU EPA needs to “pro-trade”and “pro-development”
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade, ACP-EU Policy
According to the Fijian Attorney General and Minister for Industry & Trade, recent statements attributed to him in an article in the Fiji Times entitled "Fair Agreement" were inaccurate. The article incorrectly quoted the minister stating that the EPA was irrelevant to some of the smaller Pacific ACP countries. "First and foremost, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) we are negotiating with the European Union has the potential to benefit all the Pacific ACP States, including the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Niue, Tuvalu and Kiribati", he stressed.
He also said that it should be noted that diversity exists in all 6 of the ACP regions.. “This is precisely why the EPA between the Pacific and the EU needs to be pro-trade and pro-development, to enable the Pacific countries to broaden their export and economic base and find market opportunities in Europe. The EU will also gain through the duty free-quota free access into the Pacific market, under the EPA", he noted.
Source: The Fiji Times
Read more
'Fair Agreement'
Pacific region looks forward to EC feedback
- Support for Polish milk market request
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : ACP-EU Trade
During the course of the last Council meeting on Agriculture held in Luxembourg, the Polish and Lithuanian delegations briefed the ministers about market conditions for milk and milk products. Many member states supported the request to the European Commission (EC) for market measures to respond to the decreasing prices in the milk and dairy market. The EC indicated that it was aware of the situation and was closely following the evolution of the milk market, and said it would come back on this issue at the next Council meeting in July. It declared itself ready to activate appropriate measures apart from measures of private storage already in place when it considered that there was a need.
Poland reiterated its request made in April, indicating that the situation on the milk and dairy market continues to deteriorate dramatically : prices for butter, skimmed milk powder and milk have been continuously decreasing since the beginning of the year to reach now the "borderline of profitability".
Source: Council of the EU
Read more
Poland's request
EU policy on milk & milk products
- EC EIP initiative well-received
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Archive
Ministers recently adopted conclusions on the European innovation partnership (EIP) “Agricultural productivity and sustainability”, an initiative on which they were briefed by the Commission in March. Several member states supported the scheme, which aims to strengthen the link between agriculture and research in order to improve sustainability and the address future challenges agriculture will face.
Source: Council of the EU
Read more
Council conclusions
Agricultural productivity and sustainability
- Differing views on CAP reform at the Council
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development
At the 3176th Council meeting on Agriculture and Fisheries held in Luxembourg this week, ministers held an orientation debate on the proposal for a regulation for rural development within the framework of the CAP reform. Although member states broadly supported the principle that the CAP should significantly contribute to addressing the challenges concerning environment, biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation, their opinions were divided on setting a threshold in recital 28 of the rural development proposal, where the Commission suggests, as a guideline that member states spend a minimum of 25% of the total contribution from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to each rural development programme on climate change mitigation and adaptation and land management.
The Commission made it clear that this is not an obligation but an indication since there could be member states who will spend more and other who could spend less but still achieve the environmental objectives. Some delegations opposed a minimum requirement while others welcomed the proposal and suggested that a binding obligation be set for all Member States.
Some delegations even requested the percentage to be increased to 50%. A number of member states thought that its scope should be extended so as to include, among others, payments to Natura 2000, the water framework directive and forestry actions.
Source: Council of the EU
Read more
Regulation for Rural Development
Know more about Natura 2000
- Presidency presents CAP reform progress report
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development
During the latest Council meeting on Agriculture and Fisheries, the Presidency presented its progress report on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) to the ministers. This was welcomed by member states, as they consider it to be giving an accurate image of the discussions held at the Council level this semester, despite some positions not having been sufficiently reflected upon.
The report indicates the main amendments suggested to the Commission proposals and on which the Presidency has noted broad support from delegations. The Presidency's suggested amendments aim to resolve a number of issues raised by delegations, particularly with a view to ensuring that future CAP legislation is workable in practice and can be implemented in a cost-effective manner.
This report also identifies for each of the proposals the key issues which remain outstanding as at June 2012, including issues contained in the negotiating box for heading 2 of the multiannual financial framework (MFF).
Source: Council of the EU
Read al ACP-EU updates
Supporting a greener CAP, if it's flexible
Know more about the MMF
- G20 agriculture meeting in Mexico
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Environment, ACP-EU Policy, Food Security
Ministers were recently briefed by the Presidency on the outcome of the G20 agriculture viceministers/ deputies meeting which took place 17-18 May 2012 in Mexico City. The Mexican G20 Presidency had requested G20 agriculture vice ministers/deputies to draw up recommendations on agricultural production and productivity as a follow-up to the 2011 action plan on food price volatility and agriculture, to be submitted to the G20 summit in Los Cabos this week.
The recommendations took into account of the report prepared by a number of international organisations and coordinated by FAO and the OECD, entitled "Improving Global Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Growth and Bridging the Gap for small family farms". On 12-13 April 2012, G20 agriculture vice ministers/deputies met in Mexico City to discuss a draft of the above report. On 17-18 May 2012, G20 agriculture vice ministers/deputies met again in Mexico City to complete their discussions and agree on recommendations to be submitted to the G20 summit.
Participants in the meetings in Mexico City acknowledged the considerable progress made in the implementation of the action plan on certain issues such as the agricultural information system (AMIS) or the rapid response forum (RRF). The Council recognised however the need to pursue work to implement this action plan.
In the report and the recommendations submitted to the G20, it is underscored that increasing agricultural production and productivity in a sustainable way is one of the most important challenges that the world faces today.
Notablythe Mexican G20 Presidency focuses on two priorities: ensuring compliance with the commitments set in the November 2011 Cannes declaration and generating consensus on specific initiatives that can help increase world agricultural productivity, with emphasis on smallholders.
Source: Council of the EU
Read more
Key recommendations
Know more about AMIS
- Sahel food crisis: Despite humanitarian funding, much remains to be done
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Archive, ACP-EU Policy, Aid effectiveness, Rural development
According to the Parliament, the international organisation Oxfam stated that "much more" needed to be done to tackle the food crisis in the Sahel region.As crop shortages, rising food prices, poor governance and conflict, among others, are leaving more than one million children under five facing acute under-nutrition, there are growing concerns the crisis will escalate in the coming months.
The Oxfam's deputy humanitarian director, Graham MacKay,who was among the keynote speakers at the event welcomed the leadership and commitment shown by the commission in getting donors around the table, and in increasing its humanitarian funding to the Sahel by €40m. Nevertheless, he stressed that this was not enough to “stop this crisis from turning into a catastrophe."
Source: The Parliament
Read more
Know more about Oxfam
ACP-EU JPA fears instability domino effect
- EU-ACP Joint Declaration on Rio+20
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Rural development, Environment, ACP-EU Policy
As we informed our readers, the ACP-EU Council of Ministers met last week in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Given the upcoming meeting in Rio, a Joint declaration was issued. While the ministers note with great concern that the adverse impacts of climate change, the loss of biodiversity, increasing water scarcity and land degradation can have devastating consequences on progress towards sustainable development in many countries, they also recognise the importance of adequate means of implementation at all levels for the outcome of the Rio+20 conference.
Speaking of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) - a key topic in the last Brussels Development Briefing -, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked ACP States and countries affected by drought, desertification and floods, ministers highlight their awareness of the vulnerability to and impact of natural disasters in these.
On a positive note, they welcome the proposal on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and believe that “the development of such goals could be one of the means through which the monitoring of the implementation of sustainable development commitments can be enhanced; and consider that the process of elaborating these goals must be coordinated and coherent with the MDGs review process, recognising the importance of having an overarching framework for post 2015 that, in a holistic and coherent way, encompasses the three dimensions of sustainable development, without deviating from efforts to achieve the MDGs by 2015”.
Additionally, they emphasize that the diffusion of safe green technologies can help ACP countries exploit their rich natural resource base without undermining their sustainability and that trade.
Source: Council of the EU/CTA
Read more
Briefing on Small Island economies
Hopes towards a more equitable world
- A detailed evaluation on organic production and labelling
2012-06-19
NEWSLETTER_CATEGORIES : Food Policy, Rural development
The European Commission (EC) recently briefed the EU ministers on Agriculture on a report on the application of the regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products. The EC intends to present a more detailed evaluation of the application of this regulation at the end of 2013 on the basis of an impact assessment. Following up on this debate, the EC may come forward with legal proposals at a later stage.
The regulation and its implementing texts constitute the legal framework on organic food and farming at EU level. The report considers that topics like the simplification of the legislative framework -while at the same time ensuring that the standards are not watered down-, coexistence of genetically modified crops in particular with organic farming, the improvement of the control system and of the equivalence regime in trade of organic products are key issues for future reflections about organic agriculture.
Source: Council of the EU
Read more
Know more about the regulation
Organic food legislation
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Ms Isolina BOTO
Head
CTA Brussels Office
39 rue Montoyer
1000 Brussels - Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 2 513 74 36 (direct); Fax +32 (0) 2 511 38 68
E-mail: boto@cta.int
Website: http://www.cta.int/
Brussels weblog: http://brussels.cta.int/
Brussels Briefings: http://brusselsbriefings.net/
Editor: Alejandra Morales (morales@cta.int)
NOTE
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For more information on the full range of CTA activities please go to http://www.cta.int/
More information on CTA activities in Brussels at : http://brussels.cta.int/
CTA is an institution of the ACP Group of States (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) and the EU (European Union), in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement and is financed by the EU.
Copyright © 2011 Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU. Email:cta@cta.int
The opinions expressed in the comments and analysis are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of CTA.
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