Luxembourg held the six-month presidency of the EU Council, which will last until December 31. Among its priorities, regarding the food sector, Luxembourg will have to track the consequences that the Russian veto has on European farmers.
According to the priorities that were made public on Monday, regarding the Russian veto, the Luxembourg Presidency will pay particular attention to the developments in the agricultural product market and the effects they have on farmers. "The European agricultural and food sectors are key global players and the Luxembourg Presidency will closely monitor the evolution of bilateral and multilateral trade policy."
FEPEX will reiterate the need to expand the crisis management measures for the fruit and vegetable sector because of the Russian veto, measures which concluded this week, even though Russia announced the veto would be maintained.
Another priority of the Luxembourg Presidency will be the simplification of the CAP. Special emphasis will be placed on the simplification of rules and procedures. "We will also ensure that the Council is fully involved in the process of simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy."
Luxembourg has also stated that its main priorities include plant protection, trying to streamline regulations that are pending in the European Parliament to harmonize the trade of plants and plant products in the EU market.
The Luxembourg presidency also intends to complete the regulation of official controls of the food chain in order to promote technical harmonization for the benefit of the internal market, in particular by standardizing fees related to the controls performed by the competent authorities in the EU and its borders.
Luxembourg succeeds Latvia in the presidency of the EU Council until December 31. On January 1, 2016 it will be replaced by the Netherlands.