The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman)
The next Agriculture and Fisheries Council is on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 April in Luxembourg. The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice) responsible for agriculture and food will represent the UK on 26 April covering the agriculture items. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon) will represent the UK on 27 April covering fisheries business. Richard Lochead MSP and Alun Davies AM will also attend.
On 26 April the Council will be debating common agricultural policy (CAP) reform direct payment support schemes for:
a) Young farmers, small farmers, voluntary coupled support and top-cup for farmers in areas of natural constraints.
b) Internal redistribution, active farmer and capping of support to large farms.
On 27 April the Council will be debating the common fisheries policy (CFP):
a) Regionalisation.
b) Transferable fishing concessions.
There are currently two confirmed any other business items: an update on the implementation of group housing for sows, and a report on promotion measures for agricultural products.
Also on 27 April the presidency has invited Fishery Ministers to a lunch to debate “The social-economic dimension of the CFP”.