Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Name	Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Type	Council configuration
Jurisdiction	European Union
Headquarters	Brussels
Parent agency	Council of the European Union

Agriculture and Fisheries Council The Agriculture and Fisheries Council is a configuration of the Council of the European Union that brings together ministers responsible for Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy from member states such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and Netherlands. It meets in Brussels and shapes legislation affecting sectors represented by stakeholders like the European Parliament, European Commission, European Council, European Economic and Social Committee and national ministries including Ministry of Agriculture (France), Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Germany), and Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali (Italy).

Overview

The Council configuration deals with issues arising from treaties including the Treaty of Lisbon, the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of Rome, coordinating policies that impact actors such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Trade Organization, European Court of Justice and farmers' organizations like the European Farmers groups and fisheries associations like European Fishing Conservancy. It operates alongside legislative partners such as the European Parliament and executive bodies such as the European Commission's Directorate-General for DG Agriculture and Rural Development and DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Composition and Membership

Membership comprises national ministers from each European Union member state with portfolios in agriculture or fisheries, including representatives from countries like Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark and Ireland. The presidency rotates among member states under rules codified in the Treaty on European Union, with presidencies held by states such as Austria, Romania, Finland and Hungary; presidencies coordinate meetings with the General Secretariat of the Council. The Council also involves delegations from candidate countries in enlargement negotiations, observers from institutions such as the European Investment Bank and input from advisory bodies like the Committee of the Regions.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Council negotiates and adopts legislation on the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy, sets budgetary priorities in coordination with the European Parliament and approves measures related to rural development, market organization, tariffs with partners like Russia and Norway, and conservation measures aligned with international agreements like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Convention on Biological Diversity. It handles crisis responses involving agencies such as European Food Safety Authority and enforcement bodies like national maritime authorities and fisheries inspection services. The Council also endorses strategies linked to initiatives from institutions such as the European Green Deal, European Commission President proposals and regional programs funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Decision-Making and Procedures

The Council uses voting procedures established by the Treaty of Lisbon including qualified majority voting and unanimity for sensitive files; votes reflect rules in the Copenhagen criteria and the Nice Treaty adjustments. It conducts preparatory work via working groups, committees and the Special Committee on Agriculture as well as the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) and technical expert groups drawing from European Commission services and national administrations like Ministry of Rural Development (Poland). Negotiations often proceed through trilogues involving the European Parliament and European Commission where directives, regulations and delegated acts are harmonized and legally scrutinized by the European Court of Justice.

Policy Areas and Legislative Work

Key policy dossiers include market support measures under the Common Agricultural Policy, direct payments, trade relations with partners such as United States, Canada and China, quota systems, fisheries management plans, labeling rules tied to schemes like Protected Designation of Origin, animal welfare regulations, and measures addressing issues promoted by the European Green Deal such as biodiversity, pesticide reduction and carbon sequestration. The Council has handled major legislative files tied to reforms influenced by events like the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical shifts after the United Kingdom's withdrawal, working on implementation of programs funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

Relations with Other EU Institutions

The Council configuration liaises closely with the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and Committee on Fisheries, negotiates with the European Commission Directorate-Generals, coordinates with the European Council on strategic priorities, and interacts with judicial oversight from the European Court of Justice. It also consults the European Economic and Social Committee, cooperates with agencies like European Food Safety Authority and international partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Trade Organization in implementing agreements like the Common Fisheries Policy reforms and enforcement protocols.

Historical Development and Reforms

Historically, the Council's remit evolved from arrangements set by the Treaty of Rome and expanded through successive reforms including the MacSharry reforms, the Agenda 2000 package, the 2003 CAP reform, the Lisbon Treaty changes to voting rules, and the 2013 and 2020 CAP reform packages influenced by events such as enlargement rounds in 2004 enlargement of the European Union and the 2007 enlargement of the European Union. Major fisheries reforms responding to challenges like overfishing and stock recovery were anchored in negotiations culminating in revised policies after high-level meetings involving figures tied to the Common Fisheries Policy overhaul and agreements with regional bodies such as the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization.

Category:European Union