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The European Union demands the protection of the geographical origin of food and beverages (GIs) for a total of 236 items under the Trade Agreement with Australia. Food and beverages that would be protected under a trade agreement include, for example, Scottish beef, Feta, Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano. From the Czech production, the protection should apply to Budweiser beer, Budweiser brew, Czech beer, České Budějovice beer and Žatec hops. Australia will launch a public consultation on the European Union proposal before committing itself to respect protection. The next round of negotiations on the EU-Australia trade agreement will take place in October this year.
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Scientists and academics from the German Centre for Biodiversity Research (iDiv), the Helmholtz Environmental Research Centre (UFZ), and the University of Göttingen have analysed the European Commission's legislative proposals for the CAP post 2020. Although the European Union is committed to enhancing sustainability, these commitments are not sufficiently reflected in the legislative proposals, according to German academics. Industrial agriculture leads to a decline in biodiversity, but the proposed legislation is, according to the results, a step backwards rather than a solution to the problem and meeting EU commitments. The study considers the continuing support of the system of direct payments per hectare to be a major problem, leading to an unfair distribution of CAP funds to farmers. According to the study, only 1.8% of beneficiaries receive up to 32% of all agricultural subsidies. It is one of the tools that, according to academics, is ineffective, environmentally unfavourable and unfair from a social point of view. The instruments under the second pillar of the CAP are, according to a study for environmental and climate protection, more appropriate, so the authors' criticism is aimed not only at the fact that the budget for the II. pillar is significantly lower than the budget for the I. Pillar, but also for the fact that the Commission proposes a budget reduction by up to 28% for the II. Pillar after 2020. In the opinion of the authors of the study, the Commission has given way to pressure from lobbying organizations fighting for their own interests.
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Last week, the United Nations (UN) published a report on climate change focusing on the role that agriculture plays in it. According to the UN, there is increasing pressure to reduce emissions from agricultural activities and to strengthen the role of forests and to reduce their logging. It is because, according to the UN, a quarter of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions originate from agricultural activity (in the EU in 2015, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture accounted for 10% of the total). Mismanagement of agricultural land could lead to further soil degradation and the risk of failing to comply with the Paris climate agreement. Another problem, according to a UN report, is too high proportion of meat in the consumers' diet, since the consumption of cereals, nuts and vegetables has a significantly lower carbon footprint than consumption of meat. Moreover, livestock and feed crops occupy up to 80% of all agricultural land. The report concludes that agriculture, food production and deforestation are one of the main causes of the ongoing climate change. Therefore, according to the UN, agriculture must be sustainable. The felling of forests must be stopped, and new ones should be planted.
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Italian Minister of Agriculture Gian Marco Centinaio could be a candidate for Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. Other candidates for the post could be Deputy Finance Minister Lorenzo Fontana (IT) or MEP Massimo Garavaglia (IT). The current Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan is likely to seek the post of Commissioner for Trade.

Despite efforts to stop the expansion of African swine fever, it is still spreading across the European Union, with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe being most affected. According to the World Organization for Animal Health, new cases of disease were confirmed in 10 EU Member States between 19/07/2019 and 01/08/2019, a total of 216 new cases, of which 121 cases were recorded on farms. The most serious situation is in Bulgaria, where 130,000 pigs have been eliminated. Bulgaria has already requested extraordinary support from the European Commission, according to the Bulgarian national media; Bulgaria should receive EUR 2.9 million from the European funds to fight the spread of the disease. In addition, Bulgaria has requested EUR 11 million from the EU to compensate those farmers who have already been affected.