Gemeenschappelijke Europese waarden, verbeteren van het concurrentievermogen en vereenvoudiging van beleid vinden steun onder landbouwministers (en)
The Agriculture Ministers of the European Union discussed the European model of agriculture and the future challenges of the agriculture sector at an informal meeting in Oulu on 26 September. All the Ministers supported the common European values, increasing competitiveness and simplification of the common agricultural policy.
According to the Agriculture Ministers, the future agricultural policy must ensure that the production is market-oriented and environmentally-friendly and takes account of the consumer needs. The policy also needs to be flexible enough to adapt to the challenges ahead. At the same time we need to make sure that agricultural production continues in the less favourable production regions as well.
The informal meeting dealt with the content of the European model of agriculture and assessed its evolvement over the ten years of its existence and after the agricultural policy reforms. The objective is, in particular, to focus on the challenges ahead in the agriculture sector, where the main theme of the two Presidencies of 2006, Austria and Finland, is the innovative, competitive and sustainable European model of agriculture.
The discussions were based on questions put forward by the Presidency to the Member States. One of the topics was whether the European model of agriculture truly reflects the common values and principles. The Member States were also requested to assess whether the current common agricultural policy responds to the expectations of societies concerning multifunctionality and to other future challenges.
The informal meeting makes no actual decisions, but it provided a forum for a thorough discussion on the future of the common agricultural policy. Finland will be drafting a summary of the discussion as the foundation for possible future action. The next review of the achievements of the common agricultural policy will be carried out in 2008. This assessment will focus on the realisation of the reforms introduced in 2003.
The common agricultural policy has changed quite dramatically over the years. The more recent reforms have been founded on the concept of the European model of agriculture launched in 1997. The sustainable European model of agriculture means agriculture practised in all parts of Europe which is economically, socially and ecologically sustainable and market-oriented. At the same time the model aims for more simple administrative procedures, in spite of the great diversity among the countries and regions of Europe.
In her own address Finland stressed the need to ensure the preconditions for practising agriculture in all parts of Europe, including regions suffering from special handicaps. Finland also considers it important to fully acknowledge the multifunctional role of agriculture in societies.
Further information at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: Mr Pekka Pesonen, State Secretary, tel. +358 (0)9 160 53323, 0400 664 840Mr Ilkka Ruska, Director-General, tel. +358 (0)9 160 53311, 040 504 0192