The Agriculture and Fisheries Council was briefed with a public presentation of the Danish work programme in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. For the Danish Presidency, the EU should promote the transition to a green economy and enhance its focus on sustainability. In addition, ministers had an exchange of views on the CAP reform proposal for a regulation on single common market organisation.

The Danish Presidency gave to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council a public presentation on its work programme in these sectors. The agricultural policy priorities for the Danish are the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform package; the alignment of the agricultural legislation to Lisbon-Treaty; a presentation and orientation debate on the amendment of financing the CAP in relation to transparency and a Commission communication on the promotion of agricultural products; and research and innovation in the agricultural sector. The EU is currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of the CAP.

Ministers also had an exchange of views on the CAP reform whose Commission's proposal was presented in October 2011, more in particular, on the proposal for a regulation establishing a single common market organisation. The debate focussed on the exceptional measures in case of market disturbances and on the proposed measures aiming at a more competitive and well functioning food supply chain, in particular the reinforcement of producer organisations. Some Member States questioned the financing of this crisis fund foreseen in this proposal and a number of delegations stressed that the new rules concerning producer organisations should be voluntary in order to adapt to the different national situations.

With regard to the fisheries, the Danish will prioritise to take actions to bring about a sustainable reform of the EU fisheries policy. Therefore the priorities will focus on the reform of the common fisheries policy, and the conclusion of proposals for the renewal of several bilateral protocols to fisheries partnership agreements. On the other hand, the Danish presidency will make as a priority the animal welfare and health by working on the EU strategy for animal welfare, and seeking to reach consensus on Council conclusions on the protection of animals during transport.