News

The Council was updated by the Commission on the state of play of trade-related agricultural issues, and in particular on the negotiations with Mexico, Mercosur and in the WTO. Ministers expressed concern about the possible impact of free trade agreements on sensitive agricultural products such as beef, ethanol and sugar. The Commission informed the Council about the results of its report on the sustainable use of pesticides. During the debate that followed the presentation, ministers shared ideas on current and future measures to achieve the objectives of the European directive on the sustainable use of pesticides, and on how to speed up the implementation of the integrated pest management principles. Read more.

EU farmers’ union Copa-Cogeca has rejected the Commission’s revised proposal for a five year re-authorisation of glyphosate, claiming that such a proposal would “undermine” credibility in the EU institutions. Instead, they suggest a full 15-year re-approval. Download the Copa-Cogeca's Press Release here.

Agricultural emissions have been flagged as a key issue ahead of the United Nations’ COP23 climate change talks, which will kick off in Bonn next week with the aim of developing a roadmap for implementing the Paris Agreement. Read more.

The European Commission’s proposal to gradually phase-out first generation biofuels by 2030 will have a “major” negative impact on Hungary’s rural development, the ministry of agriculture said. Read more.

The following joint statement has been issued by the European Commission and the Department for Exiting the European Union: "Michel Barnier, the European Commission's Chief Negotiator, and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, agreed today that the two teams would meet for Article 50 negotiations on 9 and 10 November 2017. An agenda will be published in due course."