EU agriculture and fisheries ministers agree on fishing opportunities for next year. The task is also to put the new Common Agricultural Policy into practice
The Council of Ministers agreed on fishing quotas for the member states concerned in Union waters and in certain waters outside the Union for 2023. Ministers also reviewed the current situation on agricultural markets in the context of the war in Ukraine and highlighted the challenging preparations on the part of farmers and paying agencies in putting the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans into practice. The last Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers under the Czech Presidency took place on Sunday and was chaired by Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL).
The EU wants to protect forests and rainforests even more. Commission, Council and Parliament agreed on compromise on anti-deforestation regulation
The Council of the European Union (EU), the European Commission (EC) and the European Parliament (EP) met yesterday for the last trilogue on the Anti-Deforestation Regulation. Representatives of the institutions have tentatively agreed on the text of the Regulation, but the agreement still needs to be confirmed by both the EU Council and the European Parliament.
Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula: Innovation in agriculture is essential to ensure food security
Innovation in agriculture, scientific progress, shortening the food chain and reducing waste - this is the sustainable way to ensure quality and affordable food for the population. These topics were addressed by Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL) at today's international scientific conference on agri-food sustainability and innovation organised as part of the Czech EU Presidency. The conference will continue tomorrow.
EU water directors meet in Prague to discuss how to improve the state of groundwater and surface water
On 20-22 November 2022, an informal meeting of water directors from EU Member States, representatives of the European Commission, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and candidate countries was held in Prague. The main topic was the Water Framework Directive and its implementation. The aim of the Directive is to ensure that Europe's surface and groundwater is in good condition. The event took place under the Czech Presidency.
AGRIFISH: agriculture depends on a healthy nature. It is important to strike a balance between its protection and food security
A New EU Forest Strategy for 2030, the Regulation on nature restoration or the availability of affordable fertilisers were discussed by EU Agriculture Ministers at the Council in Brussels today. Ministers discussed the conditions for putting the forest strategy into practice. The European Commission (EC) has proposed to address problems on the fertiliser market, for example through the use of a temporary crisis framework for public support or a crisis reserve. It has also pledged to set up a system to monitor market developments and fertiliser prices across the EU. The objectives for nature restoration fall under the environment, but also have important implications for agriculture, forestry and aquatic ecosystems. The meeting was chaired by the Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL).
After six years of mandatory nutrition labelling on food, a review is underway. Around half of the EU countries are in favour of voluntary
Front-of-pack nutrition labelling and its implications for sustainable food labelling were the focus of a conference hosted by the Czech Presidency in Brussels yesterday. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the forthcoming revision of the current nutrition labelling requirements, based on the Farm to Fork strategy. The potential impact on small farmers and producers must also be considered before new rules are introduced.
FSA Advisory Board in Prague discusses protection against risks in the food chain
Ways to further strengthen mutual cooperation in protecting consumers, plants, animals and the environment from risks in the food chain have been discussed yesterday and today in Prague by members of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Advisory Board. The meeting is being held in the Czech Republic on the occasion of the Czech Presidency. The Czech Republic is represented by the Food Safety Department of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). The meeting was opened by Jindřich Fialka, Deputy of the Food Section of the Ministry of Agriculture. The EFSA delegation is led by its Executive Director Bernhard Url.
Committee on World Food Security: Russia's invasion of Ukraine is to blame for the current food insecurity in the world
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Jiří Šír was representing the European Union as part of the Czech Presidency at the 50th session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), which was taking place from 10 to 13 October in Rome. In a discussion on the global food crisis, he praised, on behalf of the Member States, the joint report on the state of food security in the world prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and other organisations. Deputy Minister Šír reiterated food security as one of the main priorities of the Czech Presidency.
European organic ambassadors recommend organic food in schools and in public catering
Organic food in schools and public catering, experiences in marketing organic products and research in organic farming were the main topics of the 3rd meeting of the EU National Organic Ambassadors. The event took place on Wednesday 5 October in Prague as part of the Czech Presidency with the participation of experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, the European Commission, academia and companies.
Meeting of the Steering Committee of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources
The renewal of the mandate of the Working Group on Strengthening the Functioning of the Multilateral System and Benefit Sharing from the Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was one of the main achievements of the 9th Session of the Steering Committee of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Veterinary authorities of the European Union countries discussed African swine fever in Prague
An informal meeting of the members of the Working Party of the Heads of Veterinary Services of the European Union) was taking place in Prague on 28-30 September as part of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council. The main topic of the meeting of the highest veterinary authorities of the EU countries was the current issue of African swine fever (ASF).
Minister of Agriculture Zdeněk Nekula at the African swine fever conference: The virus has been spreading through Europe for 15 years, the public does not realize the seriousness of the problem
A successful fight against the African swine fever (ASF) virus is only possible if the public is sufficiently informed about the risks and preventive measures to combat the disease. This was stated by Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL) at today's ministerial conference on ASF in Brussels. According to him, it is necessary to set clear rules for fighting the disease and to communicate and enforce them effectively. The conference was also attended by EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.
AGRIFISH: EU will continue to assist in transporting agricultural commodities from Ukraine
Agricultural production and logistics in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, agricultural aspects of industrial emissions, fishing opportunities for 2023 and food labelling were discussed today by EU Agriculture Ministers at the Council in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL) and attended by Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi.
Press Release - Agriculture Ministers in Prague: EU must strengthen food security, improve sustainability of agriculture and promote the use of modern techniques in agriculture
Informal meeting of Ministers for Agriculture Press release - Food security and the role of European agriculture and food in sustainable global food production were the main topics of today's informal meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Prague. Ministers agreed that the EU must now act in a coordinated way to maximise sustainable increases in agricultural production and accelerate the use of modern techniques in agriculture. The meeting was chaired by Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL) and attended by Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, representatives of NGOs, the European Parliament, academics and the Ministers of Agriculture of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.
Invitation to an off-record briefing on the program of the Informal Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture
(PDF, 114 KB)
Ministry of Agriculture: states must take effective new measures to protect critically endangered river eels
The Directors-General and representatives of fisheries of the European Union Member States and representatives of the European Commission (EC) discussed in Prague today how to halt the decline and restore the critically endangered river eel. The Czech Presidency aims to reopen the debate on the protection of this fish. The Czech Republic was represented at the meeting by Martin Žižka, Director for State Administration of Forests, Hunting and Fisheries, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Invitation to the informal meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers
The Informal Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture and the Special Committee on Agriculture will be held in Prague from 14 to 16 September 2022. The event will be attended by the Commissioner for Agriculture, the General Secretariat of the Council, the Chairman of the AGRI Committee of the European Parliament and other organisations. In addition to the ministers of the EU Member States, the Ministers of Agriculture of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova also accepted a special invitation. The topic of the meeting will be Ensuring Food Security - The role of EU agriculture and food in sustainable global food production.
AGRIFISH: Ministers urged the Commission to swiftly approve strategic plans and agreed on conclusions on aquaculture
For the first time, under the chairmanship of Czech Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula (KDU-ČSL), EU Agriculture Ministers met today at the regular meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels (Agrifish). In particular, they called for the rapid approval of the strategic plans of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and approved the Conclusions on aquaculture.
Minister of Agriculture presents priorities of the Czech Presidency in the European Parliament committees
As part of the Czech Presidency, Minister of Agriculture Zdeněk Nekula attended hearings in the European Parliament on 11 and 12 July. In the Committees on Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, he spoke about the priorities and tasks that we will be tackling in agriculture by the end of this year.
Food security, reducing pesticide use in the EU and prevention of deforestation will be priorities in the agricultural resort during the Czech Presidency
Food security in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, reducing pesticide use across the European Union, preventing deforestation and supporting forestry will be the main priorities in the agricultural sector during the Czech EU Presidency. Other topics to be addressed over the next six months include fishing rights, aquaculture, food labelling and animal health. The Czech Presidency will be tasked with seeking consensus among Member States.
