The final meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council to be held under the Slovenian Presidency will be chaired by the Slovenian Minister for Agriculture, Iztok Jarc. The two-day meeting will commence at 14:00 on Monday 23 June in Luxembourg.

On the first day of the conference, the Ministers will hold a political discussion on the CAP reform health check. The discussion will focus on two questions from the chair:

• How can the Commission proposal on the continued abolition of production-related payments be assessed, mainly in terms of risks and benefits?
• Does Article 69 of the Regulation establishing common rules for direct support schemes provide for appropriate measures to assist vulnerable regions and sectors?

The Agriculture Ministers will endeavour to reach political agreement on the Regulation concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market.

Tuesday’s session will be chiefly devoted to fisheries issues. The Ministers will seek to reach political agreement on three legislative proposals, to wit: proposals for Council Regulations (i) establishing a system to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, (ii) concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters, and (iii) on the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the high seas.

The Ministers will also exchange views on the Commission’s policy statement on fishing opportunities for 2009 and revision of the Celtic Sea cod fishing quotas. Under AOB, the Presidency will also inform the Ministers regarding the implications of high fuel prices for fisheries sector activities.

• Presidency Briefing
• Audiovisual note
• Public debate

Video:

• Press Conference: Trio Presidency - Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers (Monday, June 23 2008 at 12:00)
• Press Conference: Agriculture and Fisheries Council Meeting (Monday, June 23 2008 at 21:00)
• Press Conference: Agriculture and Fisheries Council Meeting (Tuesday, June 24 2008 at 13:00)