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Agriculture and Fisheries Council

I will be representing the United Kingdom for the agricultural items at this month's Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. The Minister with responsibility for marine, landscape and rural affairs, my hon. Friend the Minister for Chatham and Aylesford (Jonathan Shaw), will represent the UK for the fisheries items. The Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, will also attend. The Council will hold a policy debate on Commission proposals for reform of the common market organisation for the wine sector. The Presidency will seek political agreement on a proposal amending a regulation on the financing of the Common Agricultural Policy. The Presidency will seek political agreement on requests for national aids in Bulgaria and Romania to assist with the aftermath of recent drought conditions. The Presidency will also seek political agreement on a proposal fixing cod recovery measures and a range of catch restrictions to apply in the Baltic Sea for 2008. The Council will hold an exchange of views on the EU/Norway fisheries agreement for 2008 based on a Presidency questionnaire. The Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner will then present the Commission's Communication on EU Animal Health Strategy (2007-2013) "Prevention is better than cure". A number of issues, as follows, will be raised under any other business: Spain will request Council discussion of the future of the bluefin tuna fishery. Poland will request Council discussion on the situation in the pigmeat market.