Agriculture Guides

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Policy Coherence for Development by Ina Dimireva — last modified 02 October 2009, 22:28 CET

When exploring ways to accelerate progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the European Union (EU) considers how non-aid policies can assist developing countries in attaining the MDGs. The EU activity in this field is not only a key political commitment in the context of the MDGs, but also has a firm legal basis in the Treaty establishing the European Community (Article 178).

Agriculture and Fisheries Council by Ina Dimireva — last modified 25 September 2009, 23:04 CET

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council is, together with the General Affairs and External Relations Council and the Ecofin Council, one of the Council's oldest configurations. It brings together once a month the Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries and the European Commissioners responsible for agriculture and rural development, fisheries and maritime affairs, as well as consumer health and protection.

European Union food aid for deprived persons - European Court of Auditors report by EUbusiness — last modified 22 September 2009, 21:47 CET

Information note of the European Court of Auditors concerning Special Report No 6/2009 - European Union food aid for deprived persons: an assessment of the objectives, the means and the methods employed.

Agriculture by Ina Dimireva — last modified 19 August 2009, 16:23 CET

Europe's agricultural sector, and the behaviour of farmers and associations of farmers - such as cooperatives - is subject to the competition rules of the European Union.

CAP Reform: Final stage of EU wine reform enters into force by EUbusiness — last modified 01 August 2009, 23:42 CET

The final stage of the European Union wine reform, agreed by agriculture ministers in December 2007, entered into force on 1st August. The wide-ranging reform, the first stage of which applied from 1st August last year, should bring balance to the wine market, phase out wasteful and expensive market intervention measures and allow the budget to be used for more positive, proactive measures which will boost the competitiveness of European wines. The reform provides for a fast restructuring of the wine sector. It includes a voluntary, three-year grubbing-up scheme to provide an alternative for uncompetitive producers and to remove surplus wine from the market. Subsidies for crisis distillation and potable alcohol distillation will be phased out and the money, allocated in national envelopes, can be used for measures like wine promotion on third country markets, restructuring and investment in modernisation of vineyards and cellars. The reform will contribute to environmental protection in wine-growing regions, safeguard traditional and well-established quality policies and simplify labelling rules, for the benefit of producers and consumers alike. The restrictive planting rights system will also be abolished at EU level from 1 January 2016 onwards, with the possibility for EU Member States to keep it until December 2018 if they so wish.

Mission statement: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development by Ina Dimireva — last modified 25 July 2009, 00:44 CET

The mission of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development is to promote the sustainable development of Europe's agriculture and to ensure the well-being of its rural areas.

EU Agriculture Contacts by Ina Dimireva — last modified 15 June 2010, 00:01 CET

 

EU agricultural product quality logos by Ina Dimireva — last modified 31 May 2017, 23:55 CET

Agricultural products produced in the European Union reflect the rich diversity of different traditions and regions in Europe. To help protect and promote products with particular characteristics linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional products, the EU created quality logos, named "Protected Designation of Origin", "Protected Geographical Indication" and "Traditional Speciality Guaranteed".

EU agriculture and the environment by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 July 2009, 09:41 CET

Environmental concerns play a vital role in the EU's Common Agricultural Policy which deals both with the integration of environmental considerations into CAP rules and with the development of agricultural practices preserving the environment and safeguarding the countryside.

CAP Policies: State Aid by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 July 2009, 09:45 CET

The maintenance of a system of free and undistorted competition is one of the basic principles of the European Union. Community policy in respect of State aids seeks to ensure free competition, an efficient allocation of resources and the unity of the Community market, whilst respecting the international commitments of the EU.

Rural Development Policy 2007-2013 by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 July 2009, 09:46 CET

With over 56 % of the population in the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) living in rural areas, which cover 91 % of the territory, rural development is a vitally important policy area. Farming and forestry remain crucial for land use and the management of natural resources in the EU's rural areas, and as a platform for economic diversification in rural communities. The strengthening of EU rural development policy is, therefore, an overall EU priority.

CAP Policies: Direct Payments by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 July 2009, 09:47 CET

The 2003 reform of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) introduced a new system of direct payments , known as the single payment scheme, under which aid is no longer linked to production (decoupling). The new system of direct payments introduced in 2005-2006 is the single payment scheme (SPS), the most important system of direct payments.

EU Funding: the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development by Ina Dimireva — last modified 24 July 2009, 07:19 CET

This factsheet focuses on the EU funds available to site managers under the rural development programmes of the CAP.

EU - US provisional agreement in beef dispute - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 06 May 2009, 23:49 CET

Today the European Commission and the United States agreed in principle on a way forward in the long-running dispute over hormone-treated beef.

Human swine influenza A(H1N1) - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 27 April 2009, 18:45 CET

Swine influenza (swine flu) is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract in pigs caused by type A influenza virus. The mortality rate is low in pigs and recovery usually occurs within 7-10 days. Swine origin influenza viruses also occur in wild birds, poultry, horses and humans, but interspecies transmission is considered a rare event. So far three influenza type A virus subtypes: H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2 have been found in pigs.

EU 1 billion euro "Food Facility" for developing countries - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 30 March 2009, 15:59 CET

The European Commission adopted on 30 March a EUR 314 million package of projects to support agriculture and improve the food security situation in 23 developing countries across the globe. This is the first financing decision in the framework of the EUR 1 billion Food Facility which was adopted at the end of last year as a response to the growing food security problems faced by many developing countries. The Commission also agreed to an overall plan for the use of the entire amount of the Facility, targeting 50 developing countries in total.

EU pesticide review programme by EUbusiness — last modified 18 March 2009, 23:27 CET

The European Commission made today an important step forward in its efforts to ensure improved protection of human health and the environment, as it completed the review of existing pesticides that were on the market before 1993. This programme concerned about 1,000 substances, of which about 250 have passed the harmonised EU safety assessment. All reviewed pesticides have undergone a detailed risk evaluation with respect to their effects on humans and on the environment. This important achievement is the result of a considerable joint effort by the Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Member States.

CAP Health Check - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 20 November 2008, 16:54 CET

EU agriculture ministers on 20 November reached political agreement on a 'Health Check' of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. The Health Check will modernise, simplify and streamline the CAP and remove restrictions on farmers, thus helping them to respond better to signals from the market and to face new challenges. Among a range of measures, the agreement abolishes arable set-aside, increases milk quotas gradually leading up to their abolition in 2015, and converts market intervention into a genuine safety net. Ministers also agreed to increase modulation, whereby direct payments to farmers are reduced and the money transferred to the Rural Development Fund. This will allow a better response to the new challenges and opportunities faced by European agriculture, including climate change, the need for better water management, the protection of biodiversity, and the production of green energy. EU Member States will also be able to assist dairy farmers in sensitive regions adjust to the new market situation.

EU School Fruit Scheme - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 19 November 2008, 22:42 CET

The European Union's Agriculture Council on 19 November reached political agreement on a European Commission proposal for a European Union-wide scheme to provide fruit and vegetables to school children.

EC proposal for protection of animals at the time of killing - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 18 September 2008, 13:58 CET

The European Commission adopted on 18 September a proposal for an EU regulation that improves the conditions for animals at the time of slaughter or killing and ensures that they are humanely treated. To simplify the existing legislation and bring it into line with food hygiene regulations, the proposal integrates welfare considerations into the design of slaughterhouses and requires the regular monitoring of the efficiency of stunning techniques. Slaughterhouses must appoint a specific person responsible for animal welfare and ensure that their staff is properly trained and certified. Manufacturers of stunning equipment will have to provide instructions for ensuring proper animal welfare and a number of technical standards are updated in view of scientific progress. EU Member States will have to create research based centres to provide permanent and competent support to official inspectors. The competent authorities will also be more accountable to the public when they perform mass killings in case of contagious diseases. Every year, nearly 360 million pigs, sheep, goats and cattle as well as several billion poultry are killed in EU slaughterhouses for their meat. In addition, about 25 million animals are killed for their fur. The control of contagious diseases may also require the culling of thousands to millions of other animals.