“I am looking forward to fruitful discussions on the reform of the CAP during the Danish Presidency. On Monday we start off with the common organization of the markets in agricultural products, and it is my ambition to go through discussions on all the main elements of the reform during the Danish Presidency,” says Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mette Gjerskov.
Mette Gjerskov adds that:
“We are dealing with a comprehensive CAP reform that has great potential to contribute to green growth. To go through all the main elements of the proposal makes greats demands on both my ministerial colleagues, the Commission and the Presidency. I do, however, believe that it is doable.”
The Commission launched the proposal for the CAP reform on 12 October last year.
At the council meeting, the Danish Minister will also present the Danish Presidency Programme, and the Commission will present the proposal for a strategy on animal welfare.
“The Commission’s strategy on animal welfare marks the beginning of the upcoming discussions on how to increase animal welfare in Europe. The Commission and the Presidency is organizing a joint conference on animal welfare on 29. February – 1 March,” says Mette Gjerskov.
Finally, the council is to discuss information on the new virus, Schmallenberg virus that has occurred among cattle and sheep in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany in 2011.