BRUSSELS 18 Jan 2010 European Agriculture and Fisheries Council meets

The European Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting could make history -- the schedule is unsettled, so there's a chance another council meeting will be first -- as the first ministerial-level event of the European Union in its post-Lisbon Treaty form. Whichever meeting is first will be scrutinized for signs that the hardwon Treaty is fulfilling a key aim -- streamlining the workings of the 27-nation bloc. New EU president Herman Van Rompuy plans to attend all ministerial-level events.

Agriculture ministers are confronting farm crisis conditions in their home countries. The agriculture ministers face discontent from European Union farmers, whose incomes fell by their largest margin in a decade this year as the economic recession hit agricultural prices and production, according to the European Union statistics agency. Real agricultural income per worker tumbled 12.2 per cent compared with a 2.5 per cent decrease in the previous year, Eurostat said.

Reuters reported in December that European farmers have staged protests, strikes and supply boycotts in recent months over low prices, demanding that the European Union implement market regulations to control price volatility. EU Commissioner for Agriculture Marianne Fischer Boel said the figures pressed the case for a strong EU agricultural policy and continued direct aid to farmers.

Fisheries ministers should have an easier time as they will be tweaking a deal they made in December at their last meeting. They agreed a new system to control fish quotas and fight illegal fishing. New, stronger rules entered into force on Jan 1. Jan/10

RELATED READING:

European Commission-Fisheries
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/index_en.htm

Ministers agree deal on EU fish quotas (Irish Times 16 Dec 2009)
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1216/1224260764159.html