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Minister Heydon to chair Agrifish Council in Brussels
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Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD, will chair the September meeting of the Agrifish Council of Ministers taking place over the next two days in Brussels.
Speaking ahead of the Council meeting, Minister Heydon, said:
“I am pleased to be back in Brussels to chair another AgriFish Council meeting under Ireland’s EU Presidency. At the Informal Meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Ireland earlier this month, I outlined that it is my ambition to secure a partial general approach on the new CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) Regulation by the end of October. What this would mean is that EU Agriculture Ministers agree on the main terms of the new CAP, pending resolution of outstanding financial aspects in the context of the negotiations on the next EU Budget (the MFF or Multiannual Financial Framework).”
Minister Heydon continued:
“As Presidency, we are aiming to secure a CAP that is adequately funded, workable for farmers and administrations and capable of supporting viable farm incomes, food security, environmental sustainability, and strong rural communities. It is also important that the new CAP is sufficiently flexible for Member States to design interventions that reflect their national systems and circumstances. I look forward to progressing this in collaboration with Commissioner Hansen and my EU counterparts over the coming weeks.”
The meeting agenda today focuses on agricultural matters, with the post-2027 CAP proposals and the market situation, particularly the impact of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, under discussion. The Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotskyi, will attend to update Ministers directly on the current situation facing Ukrainian farming and food systems.
There will also be an exchange of views on the Fertiliser Action Plan, with Ministers discussing the implementation of the longer-term actions outlined in the plan.
Tomorrow, the meeting will discuss important fisheries matters. Substantial progress on reaching a partial general approach on the regulation setting out the conditions for the EU’s support for the common fisheries policy, the EU's maritime and aquaculture policies, and the ocean pact for the 2028-2034 period is expected. There will also be an exchange of views on the regulation amending the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and discussion on the EU’s upcoming fishing opportunity negotiations with the UK, Norway and Coastal States.
Minister Heydon concluded:
“Tomorrow, the Council meeting will focus on fisheries items and I look forward to engaging with Member States on these important issues. As Presidency, Ireland will continue to work with all Member States to ensure that the needs of the fishing sector are understood and that the framework of supports required is developed.”
ENDS