Conclusies Raad Landbouw/Visserij: suikerquota, tsunami, vee-inspecties door Rusland, stormschade in Letland (en)

Work Programme of the Luxembourg presidency

The Luxembourg Presidency outlined the main priorities in the field of agriculture and food safety for the next six months. On Rural Development and CAP financing proposals the ambition of the Presidency is to reach agreement. In the market sectors, progress on upcoming Commission proposals on tobacco, rice, potato starch and possibly wine are the main objectives. A first discussion on the sugar reform might be possible at the June Council meeting.

EU-ACP/LDC informal meeting on sugar

In the afternoon, the Council held an informal meeting with ministers from the ACP and LDC sugar producing states to discuss the proposed Action Plan to assist them to adjust to the new situation after the planned reform of the EU's sugar regime. Commissioner Fischer Boel stressed that the reform was now urgent and that she hoped for a political agreement before the WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December. She said the EU was fully aware that this would have knock-on effects for the ACP countries. Commissioner Michel stressed that the EU would help the countries to adapt on the basis of the actual needs of the countries concerned (see IP/05/85). Commissioner Mandelson underlined that preferential access to the EU market for ACP producers would be an important part of the Economic Partnership Agreements currently being negotiated with the ACP states.

Fisheries

State of play in the countries of south-east Asia affected by the natural disasters on 26 December 2004, particularly in the fisheries sector

This information point by the Presidency and the Commission was the only Fisheries item on this month's Council agenda. Commissioner Joe Borg, responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, outlined the extent of the damage caused by the tsunami on 26 December 2004 to the fishing and aquaculture sector in the countries concerned. After tourism, this has been the most affected economic sector in the area. Commissioner Borg spoke of the emergency measures taken by the Commission and said that it was preparing a review of possible financial support and flanking measures. Commissioner Borg said that he had worked with his fellow Commissioners for External Relations and Development and was now asking Council to consider measures specifically designed to rebuild the fishing industry in the most affected countries.

Co-ordination was crucial to ensure the effectiveness of the measures. First, it was required at the Commission level so as to allow for the synergy of initiatives and actions taken in the Member States. In addition, it was important, Commissioner Borg said, to guarantee co-ordination under the aegis of the United Nations through the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). He had already obtained the agreement from FAO Secretary General, Mr Diouf, to have the rehabilitation of the fisheries sector concerned on the agenda of the forthcoming Meeting of Fisheries Ministers which will take place in Rome on 12 March 2005 and also of the FAO Committee on Fisheries' meeting to be held shortly before.

The principles which would guide EU actions in this domain, Commissioner Borg said, included the adequacy of the response to the needs, sustainability and adaptability and respect of the traditional local fishing patterns.

The EU initiatives include the immediate mobilising of European and international expertise for impact assessment and identification of reconstruction requirements in the countries and areas concerned. This would subsequently be followed by the provision of relevant expertise to ensure the necessary implementation and provision of financial and technical assistance on a longer-term basis.

A second type of initiative would involve the modification of existing rules under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) to open the way, under certain conditions, for a possible transfer of small fishing vessels from the EU to the affected areas to help rebuild their fishing sector. To ensure that this measure meets the criteria outlined above, Commissioner Borg said, he had already asked for an evaluation of the needs in terms of vessels and gear from the FAO. Should this evaluation show that such a transfer represented an adequate response to meeting part of the needs, and that adequate vessels were available, the legal obstacles would have been cleared.

Underlining that the measure would be limited and carefully co-ordinated with other relief and rebuilding efforts, Commissioner Borg said that the Commission would shortly propose the modification required. With the support of the European Parliament and the Council, the proposal could be discussed at the next Council meeting on 28 February. Underlining the fact that only small vessels, fully seaworthy, equipped and adapted to the needs of the destination countries would be involved, Commissioner Borg said that a Monitoring Committee would be set up to ensure compliance with the various criteria identified as sustainability of fisheries had to be ensured.

AOB

Russian veterinary inspections

M. Kyprianou updated the Ministers on the state of play of the veterinary agreement with Russia. From 1 January 2005 new single veterinary certificates are required for the export from Member States to Russia. "I am pleased to report that no major disruptions of trade have been reported, although certain individual problems remain" he stated.

He also stated that between now and April agreement with Russia has to be found on uniform phyto-sanitary certificates for plant and vegetable products. He confirmed that there is a threat of major disruption from April onwards as the Russians demand a single EU certificate for these products. Intense contacts between the two parties will continue in the next weeks with a view to resolve this problem and Commissioner Kyprianou will visit Russia within the next two months.

Cereals market

A number of delegations raised the current problems being experienced on the cereals market because of the large harvest and the strength of the euro against the dollar. Commissioner Fischer Boel pointed out that the management committee had last week opened a tender to grant refunds for the export of 2 million tonnes of wheat. She said the Commission was also looking at ways of helping those countries with insufficient storage space to use spare intervention capacity in other Member States.

Latvian storm damage

The Latvian delegation raised the issue of damage caused by the severe storm on 8/9 January. Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden and Denmark said they had also been badly affected. Commissioner Fischer Boel said there were possibilities within the Rural Development programmes to assist those affected. She also said that countries could, if they wished, apply for funds from the Solidarity Fund.