News

Members of the British Parliament approved the date of early elections on 29/10/2019, which should take place on 12/12/2019. This will be the third election in the last four years. The decision of the British Parliament followed the decision of the EU Member States, which on 29/11/2019 agreed to postpone the deadline for the UK's withdrawal from the EU by 31/01/2020 at the latest.

The Presidents and Prime Ministers of the EU Member States met at the European Council in mid-October, one of the topics discussed was the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) - the European Union budget for the period 2021-2027. Last year, the European Commission proposed an EU budget of 1.114% of gross national income (GNP), and the European Parliament called for a budget increase of 1.3% of GNP. Meanwhile, the Finnish Presidency proposes a budget between 1.03% and 1.08% of GNP. The European Commission supported Member States to adopt a budget agreement by the end of this year, but no agreement was reached within the October European Council - negotiations will continue within the December Council (12-13/12/2019). However, a number of Member State representatives stressed the need to provide support for cohesion policy and the CAP; one third of the budget should be earmarked for cohesion, one third for the CAP and one third for the other programs. According to Portuguese Prime Minister Antónia Costa, Member States' differing positions persist; ES, DK and AT support the reduction of the budget proposed by the Commission from 1.114% of GNP to 1% of GNP; HR, IT, LT, MT, SK, SI and ES support the European Commission's proposal, i.e. a budget of 1,114% of GNP. The Irish Prime Minister said that Ireland is willing to consider the Finnish Presidency's proposal, i.e. a budget between 1.03 and 1.08% of GNP, but rejects the proposal to cut the budget for the CAP. Greece supported the European Parliament's proposal for a budget of 1.3% of GNP. The vote on the budget must be unanimous, so all Member States must agree.
More information is available here.

Janusz Wojciechowski, new Commissioner for Agriculture, appointed Maciej Golubiewski as Head of Cabinet last week. Golubiewski is currently serving as Polish Consul in New York. In the past, however, he also worked in the European Commission, primarily interested in foreign policy - especially in the areas of East Africa and the Indian Ocean. He has no experience in agriculture, but his experience in diplomacy is broad.

On 23/10/2019, the European Parliament adopted its resolution on the Council's position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2020. The EU budget for 2020 was approved at almost € 171 billion in commitments (€ 2.7 billion more) than the European Commission proposal) & € 159.1 billion in payments. The approved budget also included an additional aid of € 30 million to support pork, poultry, beekeeping and other livestock production, and € 88 million to halt the loss and restore biodiversity. Parliament also supported a € 2 billion budget increase for climate protection and Erasmus + programs. The Council of the European Union will now have to reach agreement on the new EU 2020 budget by 18/11/2019. If not, the European Commission will be obliged to present a new draft budget.
More information is available here.

The European Commission has earmarked € 200 million to support the promotion of agri-food products in the EU and in third countries, with individual campaigns co-financed by the Commission at a rate of 70-85%. The amount should be used to finance a total of 81 campaigns (56 SIMPLE promotional programs, 25 MULTI programs - programs implemented in cooperation with organizations from several EU Member States). € 100 million is allocated for SIMPLE programs (23% of the budget for fruit and vegetables programs, 20% for meat, 14% for cheese and dairy products), with most programs approved in GR, FR, BE, ES, and PL. Over € 90 million has been allocated for MULTI programs. The remaining € 9.5 million is earmarked for the European Commission's own activities (communication campaigns in third countries, exhibition pavilions, etc.).
More information is available here.