European Union: Lithuanian Presidency's work programme in the agriculture and fisheries sectors

The Lithuanian Presidency gave a public presentation on its work programme in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

The agricultural policy priorities of the Presidency will include:

• Seeking the completion of the work related to the approval and entry into force of the Common agriculture policy (CAP) reform package on the basis of the political agreement reached with the other EU institutions at the end of June this year;
• Negotiating with the European Parliament and adopting a proposal that provides for the transitional CAP provisions in 2014 related with certain aspects of CAP reform entering into force in January 2015 in particular for direct payments and rural development;
• Initiating the work on a proposal on information and promotion for agricultural products within and outside the EU, focusing on a more flexible response to the specific needs of different markets and the simplification of programme administration;
• Initiating negotiations on a proposal for a Common organisation of the market organisation in the fruit and vegetable sector including better administration and implementation of measures in the fruit and vegetable sector, as related to the organisation of producers, their operating funds and programmes.

As regards food and veterinary issues the Presidency intends to:

• Deepening the work on the proposal on a regulation laying down provisions for the management of expenditure relating to the food chain, animal health and animal welfare, and relating to plant health and plant reproductive material with a view of an agreement in 2014;
• Continuing the work on the package of food chain legislation, including regulations on official control, on animal health, on protective measures against plant pests, and on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material.