European Union News - Agriculture & Fisheries

In order to help modernising Georgia's agriculture, the European Commission announced the allocation of new EU funding to this country's programme. It will also help to build up the institutions responsible for preparing its political association and economic integration with the EU.

The report published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) shows a general decrease in dietary exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs, comparing the period 2008-2010 with 2002-2004, of at least 16% and up to 79% for the general population. These toxic substances may cause cancer over time.

The Citizens’ Agora, which represents a link between the European Parliament and European civil society, launched a public consultation online on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. The questionnaire entitled “From farmers to consumers, what common agricultural and food policy?” includes questions such as “What kind of agriculture do we prefer?” and is addressed to all EU citizens.

The European Commission tabled its proposal on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2013 in which it proposes higher Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for sprat, for the stocks of Central and Western herring and for plaice. The overall aim of the Commission's proposal is to make fisheries in the Baltic Sea environmentally and economically sustainable by following scientific advice.

By establishing this network the European Commission aims to facilitate the exchange of information between science and practice in the field of agriculture, and to create a space for exchanging experience and knowledge. The European Commission has launches a public tender on the technical assistance contract for the creation and development of the network.

The European Commission and the Spanish authorities have jointly designed an action plan to improve the catch registration system in Spain. This plan will contribute to a more sustainable fishing activity, one of the key objectives set by the European Union common fisheries policy.

The European Commission has announced its decision on deductions of fishing quotas for year 2012 to those Member States which exceeded their quotas in the previous year. This decision foresees for the first time a 50% increase on deductions for those countries which have repeatedly exceeded their quotas between 2009 and 2011.

According to the decision taken within the European Commission's Direct Payments Management Committee, Member States will be allowed to advance 50% of the CAP direct payments to farmers having requests aid during 2012. Thus, farmers will receive aid by October 16th instead of December 1st.

The European Commission presented new measures to regulate fishing for deep-sea species and their habitats in the North-East Atlantic. Among the measures, the Commission proposes a reinforced licensing system and a gradual phase-out of those fishing gears that specifically target deep sea species in a less sustainable manner.