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Agriculture and Fisheries Council

The European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Council will meet in Brussels from 20 to 22 December 2005. I will chair for the agriculture items and my hon. Friend, the Member for Exeter, (Mr. Bradshaw) will chair for fisheries issues. My hon. Friend, the Member for Dorset South, (Jim Knight) will be in the UK seat. The Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the Commission's communication for simplification and better regulation of the Common Agriculture Policy. We also hope to reach political agreement on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and related expenditure under the veterinary fund. We expect the Council to adopt the first stage of the European Community and United States agreement on trade in wine. At the request of Germany, the Council will discuss the implementation of cross compliance rules under the CAP single payment scheme. The Council will vote on a proposal to authorise the use of genetically modified maize variety 1507. The main fisheries item is the annual negotiation on total allowable catches and fishing quotas for next year, where we hope to reach political agreement. We also hope to secure agreement on total allowable catches and quotas in the Baltic and recovery measures for sole stocks in the Bay of Biscay. Under any other business, the Fisheries Commissioner will update the Council on proposals for restructuring the fisheries sector and on the EU action plan on simplification of the Common Fisheries Policy. The Agriculture Commissioner will update the Council on the outcome of the WTO negotiations in Hong Kong. Demark will raise the issue of export refunds for live bovine animals. Italy will draw the Commission's attention to the situation in the poultrymeat market, following the recent avian influenza outbreak in Europe. The Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection will update the Council on that outbreak and outline proposals for an EU action plan on the protection and welfare of animals. Spain will draw attention to repeated outbreaks of the animal disease, blue tongue, arising from North Africa and request resources to control its spread.