COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION:Results of today's Agriculture and Fisheries Council

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Luxembourg, 14 April 2014   Results of today's Agriculture and Fisheries Council Fruit and vegetable sector The Council held an exchange of views on a report on the functioning of the fruit and vegetable sector since the reform of 2007. The President of the Council, Minister Tsaftaris, noted that "all member states had the opportunity to give their view on this issue and the discussion will continue in the Council". For most of the member states there is a need to simplify the current system in order to increase the overall organisation rate of producers, and reduce the imbalance in levels of organisation between regions and member states. Milk quota system The Council discussed the question of the legal basis for the payment of the surplus levy due when quotas are exceeded after March 2015 when the EU milk quotas will be abolished. The Council legal service took the view that the provisions concerning the milk quota system will continue to apply for the whole campaign 2014-2015, including the operations of recovery and payment of the surplus levy to be carried out after 31 March 2015. Other items approved The Council decided not to oppose a set of eleven Commission delegated acts in the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package which was adopted last year. This first wave of delegated regulations implements significant elements of the CAP reform. "In this way, the last regulatory package concerning the new CAP was finalised by the Council today", Minister Tsaftaris said. In the field of the internal market, the Council formally adopted a number of decisions, including a legislative package for the reform of the audit market in the EU, a directive laying down harmonised rules for placing radio equipment on the internal market and a directive aimed at spreading the use of electronic invoicing in public procurement. As regards environment the Council adopted a regulation amending the EU Emissions trading scheme directive (2003/87/EC). Furthermore, it adopted an amended environmental impact assessment directive. It also adopted a regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), which will allow a reduction of F-gas emissions in the EU by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030. Concerning health, the Council adopted a regulation aimed at facilitating and speeding up the authorisation procedure of clinical trials.   Watch the press conference after the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Follow us: http://politikinewsint.blogspot.gr