– Agricultural provisions - draft consolidated text
The SCA examined further the revised suggested overall compromise package with a
view to making further progress in view of the AGRIFISH Council debate on 3 April.
The Presidency circulated a consolidated compromise document ahead of the meeting.
Member States were invited to indicate which provisions continued to present them with
serious difficulties.
With regard to the Direct Payment Regulation, MS seem to generally agree with the
proposal. The most problematic points for the Commission are the changes to permanent
grassland and voluntary coupled support.
In the CMO Regulation the most sensitive issues are national financial assistance and the
additional amendment to the definition of wine requested by France.
As regards as Rural Development, most MS seem to be able to accept the compromise
proposal, though some MS still have problems with regard to investments in irrigation,
crop, animal and plant insurance and investments in physical assets and advisory
services.
MS generally supported the compromise text for the Horizontal Regulation. Two MS
indicated, however, that the compromise proposal for the threshold for recoveries is
unacceptable.
The Presidency concluded by saying that the Omnibus will be on the agenda of the
AGRIFISH Council on April 3th. A revised consolidated document and a note
summarising the state of play will be distributed ahead of the Council meeting.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit C.1 Tel.:
4.
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on
the definition, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, the use of the names
of spirit drinks in the presentation and labelling of other foodstuffs and the
protection of geographical indications for spirit drinks
- Exchange of views
The Presidency held an exchange of views on the two main policy issues identified in the
Working Party, namely (a) the Commission empowerment in adopting delegated and
implementing acts; and (b) the proposed alignment of the geographical indications
protection procedure for spirit drinks to that of the Foodstuffs Regulation.
Delegations were invited to provide policy orientations to guide the work of the Working
Party on Wines and Alcohol (Spirit Drinks).
With regards to the
empowerments to the Commission, a number of delegations
emitted reservations. Some (IT, SI, EL, RO, SK) though the proposal to be unbalanced
with too many DAs, while others (IT, SI, UK, NL, IE) raised issued regarding principles
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of proportionality and subsidiarity. Also a number of delegations were of the opinion that
essential elements of the regulation cannot be changed by DAs, as this power should
remain in BA (IT, BE, PL, DE, SI, AT, SE, FR, PT, SK, CY, UK, CZ) or rather by IAs
(ES, EL, LV). Five delegations also had scrutiny reservations (HU, BG, SE, CZ, DK)
while two (FI, LV) supported explicitly the COM proposal to ensure sufficient flexibility.
Regarding the
Geographical Indications:
- In favour of status quo: IT, BE (not final position), DE, SI, AT, RO (first option:
alignment to wine), IE, EL, NL, BG, LV
- In favour of harmonisation with horizontal rules (R 1151/2012) by taking due account
of the specificities of spirit drinks: PL, HU, ES, HR, SE, UK, FR, FI, CZ, LT, PT, SK,
DK, CY
- Not in favour of allowing the COM to cancel existing GIs: IT, SI, RO, DK
- New procedure too bureaucratic to the disadvantage of SMEs/unjustified administrative
burden for MS: DE, NL, AT
- Uncertainty about the deadlines for examination/approval of GIs: IT, CY
The PRES took note that the Proposal should be further analysed on an article by article
basis and in principle the delegation of powers should be limited in time. The PRES also
took note of the intentions to address the GI concerns in particular.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit G.2 Tel.:
5.
Simplification: Commission report on the implementation of Ecological
Focus Areas
= Information from the Commission
In view of the debate at the 3 April AGRIFISH Council on the Commission's report on
the implementation of EFAs, the Commission provided information on this report. The
Commission recalled the objective of this report which is due to be adopted on 29 March
2017 and which will be directly transmitted to the Council and the EP afterwards.
The PRES took note of the info provided by the Commission on the forthcoming report
as well as of the delegations comments. The PRES confirms this report will be presented
and discussed during the AGRIFISH meeting of 3 April.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit I.5 Tel.:
3
6.
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on
organic production and labelling of organic products, amending Regulation
(EU) No XXX/XXX of the European Parliament and of the Council [Official
controls Regulation] and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007
= Debriefing of the last trilogue
Presidency debriefed the SCA on the limited progress of the 16th Trilogue. They
informed the SCA that beside the one on the 15th of March there will be further drafting
sessions with the three institutions. The Commission repeated the importance of having a
number of constructive drafting sessions.
A brief discussion took place on a non-paper on greenhouses meant as a brainstorming
document. DK, FI, SE and LV rejected the text finding it impossible to apply. On the
other hand IT, PL, NL, BE, CY, EL expressed their disappointment as by authorising
demarcated beds we would derogate to the principle of soil-bound which is of a basic
principle in organics. DE added that there is still considerable job to be done.
The Commission stressed the importance to push it through and get a deal by the end of
the MT Presidency. An ad hoc SCA will be organised on the 10th of April.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit B.4 Tel.:
7.
Organisation of future work
The next
AGRIFISH Council will take place on 3 April in Luxembourg. The provisional
agenda includes Omnibus and the Commission report on EFA (Ecological Focus Areas).
The PRES also announced that the Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian and
Swedish delegations will shortly submit a joint note on simplification of the CAP post
2020, for submission as an AOB point during the AGRIFISQH Council of 3 April 2017.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit I.5 Tel.:
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