In order to prepare for the 15th OIV General Assembly (Sofia, Bulgaria, 2 June 2017), the
delegations took note of the outcome of the Working Party meeting held on 3 May 2017 (doc.
8608/17) and unanimously approved the Commission Proposal for a Council Decision
establishing the EU position to be adopted at the OIV General Assembly and on the minor
amendments proposed by the Presidency. The Commission also supported the amendments.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit G.2 Tel.:
4.
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 (First reading)
Interinstitutional file: 2014/0100 (COD)
– Debriefing of the last trilogue
The Presidency debriefed delegations on the Trilogue that took place on 3 May and informed
delegations on the next steps. In this context a new compromise text will be distributed to the
delegations at latest on Thursday 18 May. This text would be reviewed during the SCA of 29
May in view of a new mandate for the Trilogue of 31 May.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit B.4 Tel.:
5.
Report from the Commission to the Council 2011-2015 report on the
implementation of the long-term national aid scheme for agriculture in the
northern regions of Finland and Sweden pursuant to Commission Decisions
2009/3067 and 2010/6050
– Information from the Commission
8477/17 AGRI 215 AGRILEG 90 AGRIFIN 43
The Commission (Mario Milouchev) gave a presentation of the EC report to the Council on the
implementation of the long term national aid scheme for agriculture in the northern regions of
Finland and Sweden.
The FI and SE delegations welcomed the report which they found mirroring the northern most
agricultural situation in a good way. The SE delegation mentioned difficulty to maintain open
landscapes, despite supports received from EU. The FR delegation also highlighted the vital
importance of such a system of support in areas affected by strong climate constraints. The FR
delegation also supported environmental aspects and emphasised that the existence of such a
system should be seen positively during the discussion on future of CAP. In this context the PL
delegation also mentioned the need for production payments and the need to enable voluntary
coupled support post 2020.
In its concluding remarks, the Commission underlined that the Nordic Aid support only concerns
areas north of 62nd parallel affected by special climate conditions. The Commission also
reminded that this scheme doesn't allow for increasing the production, is based on the Accession
Treaty and is not traditional state aid but based on primary law.
The SCA has taken note of the report from the Commission and of the comments of the
delegations.
Reporting: MILOUCHEV Mario, DG AGRI, Directorate E, Tel.:
2
Any other business 6. a) Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF
THE COUNCIL fixing the adjustment rate provided for in Regulation (EU) No
1306/2013 for direct payments in respect of the calendar year 2017
Interinstitutional file: 2017/0068 (COD)
– Information from the Presidency on the procedure
7881/17 AGRI 181 AGRIFIN 36 CODEC 527
In order to support the agricultural sector in case of major crises affecting the agricultural
production or distribution, a reserve for crises should be established by applying, at the
beginning of each year, a reduction to direct payments through a financial discipline
mechanism which is provided for in Article 26 of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of 17
December 2013 of the EP of the Council. The first budgetary estimates for direct payments
and market related expenditure showed that the net balance available for EAGF expenditure
for 2018 is not likely to be exceeded and thus there is no need for further financial discipline.
On the basis of the above, the Commission presents a proposal for setting the adjustment rate
for direct payments in respect of calendar year 2017, which in accordance with Article 26(3)
of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 is to be adopted by the EP and the Council by 30 June
2017. If this adjustment rate has not been set by 30 June 2017, pursuant to the same Article
the Commission will set that rate.
The Presidency informed the SCA about the Parliament's decision to let the Commission set
this year's adjustment rate for financial discipline by means of an Implementing regulation.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit I.5 Tel.:
6. b) Current situation of the REFIT Platform and agricultural matters
– Information from the Commission, requested by the Spanish delegation
Upon request from the Spanish delegation, the Commission provided an update on the
REFIT Platform activities regarding agricultural matters.
ES introduced the point, expressing its concern on the REFIT platform not operating in
accordance with its original mandate as discussions on agriculture should be dealt within the
relevant platform (namely the SCA).
AT, FR EL, DK, IE, SK, CZ, PL, supported the ES position, highlighting the need for
more transparency, better coordination (harmonisation) and further simplification efforts.
FR and PL were especially interested in how the Commission will take account of the
REFIT platform in the context of the future CAP post 2020 discussions.
The Commission recalled that the Platform constitutes an expert group (and not a
Council formation) which is purely advisory, with no (legal) link with the SCA. The
Commission explained the rationale, mandate and functioning of the REFIT Platform. It
also recalled the transparent nature of the Platform (all documents being public, with a
website open to all) and that coordination within the Commission was indeed ensured
3
and that it was for Member States to ensure coordination between their membership in
the REFIT Platform, departments of agriculture and relevant Council formations.
The presidency took note of the information provided by the Commission on the ongoing
activities as well as the views expressed by the delegations. The SCA announced it will
return to this issue in due time.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit I.5 Tel.:
7.
Organisation of future work
The next SCA meeting will take place on 22
May in Malta. The provisional agenda
includes Omnibus, more particularly the EP amendments which are not part of the
Council text.
The informal AGRIFISH Council is also foreseen for 23
May in Malta. In this context a
discussion paper on Climate change and water resources in the EU has been distributed.
The subsequent SCA will take place on 29 May (afternoon only) with the aim to obtain a
revised mandate for the last Trilogue on organic foreseen on 31 May 2017.
Reporting:
, DG AGRI, Unit I.5 Tel.:
4