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Friday, September 23, 2011

Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries in the EU want to maintain food aid to the poor

On September 20, 2011, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers of the EU discussed issues related to the distribution of food to the poorest people in Europe. Discover the contents of those debates.The Polish Presidency wishes to ensure the effective continuation of the programme for 2012/2013 and invited the ministers to debate on two questions:

- Do you agree with the need to ensure the effective operation of the programme to 2013, allowing the implementation of the purchase of goods directly from the market whilst not prejudging the future of the programme in the long run?
- If so, what elements of the European Commission draft should be changed, for example, extension of the expiration date of the regulation (31.12.2013)?

As rich as Europe is, so many in need remain. Minister Sawicki reminded that if the programme is dissolved, poverty will not be eliminated.
The resources to be allocated to the food aid programme in 2012 were depleted four times. If matters remain in the current state, the programme will cease to exist de facto by 2013. Adoption of the amended European Commission proposal in 2010, if necessary with amendments proposed by Member States, will enable the EC to increase these funds by amending the executive regulation for 2012 and this will guarantee the effective operation of the programme in 2013. The Presidency's objective is to publicise this debate. Minister Sawicki thanked the European Commission for preparing the concept of the programme’s future. Discontinuation of the programme for two years will be a huge loss for it.
The Council of EU Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries also discussed the use of agricultural biomass for energy purposes. The discussion was guided by a document prepared by the Polish Presidency including the following questions:

- By what means, under the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy, should the sustainable development of renewable energy sources (in particular, sources using by-products and residues from agricultural production) be supported in rural areas so that these sources can be used in the measure that matches the scale of potential or existing needs?
- Should ambitious EU targets on climate protection promote the development of distributed renewable energy sources using locally available resources? Do climate and economic considerations adequately justify obtaining from remote locations, for example from other countries, increasing the amount of biomass for energy purposes?
- How should the new CAP contribute to the growth of agricultural income, given that EU targets for climate protection have been incorporated into it?

Most Member States are in favour of the incorporation of bio-energy in the energy policy. Member States are of the opinion that the production of renewable energy from biomass can not compete with food production. The Minister said food production remains the main objective of the Common Agricultural Policy.
In various matters, ministers listened to information from the French, Spanish, Greek and Italian delegation on the crisis in the fruit and vegetable markets in Europe. The three delegations proposed a series of measures (renewed crisis management instruments, greater transparency in the market, improvement in the organisation of production, more efficient pricing mechanisms) and the appointment of a joint committee by the end of October that would provide an assessment of the situation in fruit and vegetable markets in recent months.
At this point in the meeting, the ministers listened to the delibration on the future of complementary national direct payments in 2012. The approach proposed by the EC is a significant change in the way the amount of direct payments in the new Member States is defined, in relation to the eight years of practice applied up to now, which is based on the so-called sectoral approach.
On the margins of the Council of EU Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries, Minister Sawicki had a meeting with officers and chairmen from political groups of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament. Minister Sawicki hopes that Council has collaborated closely with the European Parliament and announced simultaneously an initiative to start an open debate on the EC proposal shortly after its presentation. During the meeting, Minister Sawicki expressed his conviction that it will be possible to engage in a discussion on this topic. The minister also suggested that the debate takes place in three levels: the political level, among agricultural, production and sales organisations, and among experts, noting that it should be open and continuous. A preliminary date for the first, political, debate is scheduled for 7 November.
The address made by the Minister Sawicki in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the EP, clearly expressed willingness towards cooperation between the Council and the Parliament and was met with great enthusiasm among MEPs as well as the declarations of willingness to cooperate.

Source  Press room - Polish presidency

More information  Press room - Polish presidency

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