CAP negotiations at a “crucial stage”

Source: Portuguese presidency of the EU i, published on Thursday, June 17 2021.

The negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy are at “a crucial stage”, with “few issues still on the table” and discussions that are “very focused, related to the environment and climate”, said the Portuguese Minister of Agriculture, who is still committed to concluding these reforms by the end of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU i.

After the meeting in Lisbon of Agriculture Ministers from the 27, chaired by Maria do Céu Antunes, the Minister pointed out that “we will be having a Council on 28 and 29 June in Luxembourg and we hope that we will be able to conclude the CAP agreement at that time”.

The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski i, who was also at the press conference, agreed with the Minister: “We are very close to reaching a compromise”, he said.

,

The Minister of Agriculture again stressed that the reform that is underway is aimed at “distributing income more fairly and taking small farmers into account, as they are essential for ensuring the vitality and viability of rural areas”, recalling that the CAP is one of the cornerstones of the European Union.

The Informal Meeting of Agriculture Ministers also looked at the issue of “Food systems, innovation and natural resource management”, discussing the role of research, development and innovation in increasing agricultural productivity and efficiency, as well as in more sustainable management of natural resources.