Written Ministerial Statement by Jonathan Shaw - Agriculture and Fisheries Council 17-19 December – 18 December 2007
The Minister for Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs and Minister for the South East (Jonathan Shaw)
I will be representing the United Kingdom at this month’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. The Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, and the Northern Irish Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew, will also attend.
The Presidency will seek political agreements on a Commission proposal to reform the wine sector and on a package of proposals on food improvement agents.
The Presidency will also seek political agreement on the Total Allowable Catches (TACS) and Quotas and related measures fixing fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks for 2008 and on associated conditions for certain fishing stocks, applicable in Community waters.
The Council hopes to adopt a proposal on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks and also a proposal establishing the date for application of electronic identification in sheep and goats born after 31 December 2007.
The Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner will present the Commission’s report on the dairy market situation sector and a proposal to increase milk quotas by 2%.
The Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner will report on the progress of a proposal covering the marketing of plant protection products. Following this, the Presidency will seek political agreement on a proposal establishing the sustainable use of pesticides.
A number of issues, as follows, will be raised under any other business:
The Netherlands has asked for an update from the Commission on illegal timber imports.
Germany has asked for a discussion on the common action plan on shark fishing.
Sweden has asked for a discussion on the eligibility criteria for the slaughter premium for bovine animals
In addition, the Commission will provide a written update on avian influenza and will ask Council for the swift adoption of the EU/Mauritania fisheries agreement.
Page published: 18 December 2007