Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Agenda)

Caroline Spelman Excerpts

Thursday 15th December 2011 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman)]

The next Agriculture and Fisheries Council is on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 December, in Brussels. I shall represent the UK on agriculture matters on Thursday and the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon) will be representing the United Kingdom on the fisheries items throughout the Council. Richard Lochhead MSP, Michelle O’Neill MLA and Alun Davies AM will also attend.

There are three fisheries and three agriculture items on the agenda. Discussions will take place on the following:

TACs and fishing quotas for 2012—The annual December negotiation package of fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and North sea for 2012.

TACs and quotas for fishing in the Black sea in 2012—Similar negotiations for stocks in the Black sea.

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund—The Commission will present the funding part of the CFP reform package which provides for a new instrument to replace the EFF and to integrate into it spending on the new EU integrated maritime policy.

CAP reform rural development proposal—A public debate focusing on the rural development proposal.

GM approvals—Council vote on approvals for use as food and feed of four GM varieties (three maize and one cotton).

Agricultural products promotions policy—Consideration of Council conclusions commenting on the green paper on promotion measures.

There are currently five points notified under any other business:

Commission presentation of a proposed regulation on sanctions against countries allowing non-sustainable fishing.

Cypriot item on aid for processed citrus fruit.

Protection of animals during transport—Commission report on implementation of the animal transport rules.

Codex Alimentarius—A presidency report back on the recent meeting of this UN body for international food standards.

Hungarian item on a technical aspect of the authorisation of GM products.

Finally, there is a ministerial lunch on Thursday 15 December to discuss certain aspects of rural development, including promoting innovation and risk management measures.