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Here you will find the latest news on agriculture, food, rural development and forestry from the European Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament.

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30/04/2024 - Austrian wine Ruster Ausbruch added to EU register of Protected Designations of Origin
The Commission has approved the addition of the traditional Austrian wine ‘Ruster Ausbruch' as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).‘Ausbruch' has been produced mainly in the municipality of Rust on the banks of the Neusiedlersee in Burgenland.…
30/04/2024 - Main results Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Rapid and structural responses to the current situation in the agricultural sectorThe Agriculture and Fisheries Council discussed the EU's response to the current concerns in the agricultural sector.Agriculture ministers took stock of the measures…
29/04/2024 - Council adopts revised 'breakfast directives' to strengthen marketing standards and improve consumer information
Today, the Council formally adopted updated rules on the composition, labelling and naming of honey, fruit juices, fruit jams and dehydrated milk.The updated 'breakfast directives' aim to help consumers make more informed choices, ensure more…
25/04/2024 - Member States endorse withdrawal of smoke flavourings from EU market
Yesterday, the Member States of the European Union have endorsed a proposal from the European Commission to not renew the authorisation of 8 smoke flavourings for food, which was requested by the manufacturers. After a phase-out period, these…
24/04/2024 - EP | Parliament approves a revision of the EU’s common agricultural policy
Revised environmental “conditionalities” may already be used to claim EU support in 2024More exemptions from some CAP standards possible in case of extreme weather Smaller farms to be exempt from controls and penalties for non-compliance with…
23/04/2024 - Commission delivers report on the implementation of EU rules against unfair trading practices in the food supply chain
Today, the Commission publishes a report on the implementation of the Directive on unfair trading practices (UTP) in the food supply chain. This was one of the Commission’s commitments, presented on 15 March, to strengthen the position of farmers in…
22/04/2024 - JRC | Warm spring weather benefitted crops in most of Europe
According to the April edition of the JRC MARS Bulletin crop monitoring in Europe, most parts of Europe experienced exceptionally warm spring temperatures between early March and mid April. These exceptionally warm spring temperatures,…
16/04/2024 - The European milk market observatory celebrates its 10th anniversary
On 16 April 2014, ten years ago to the day, the European milk market observatory was launched. It was the first ever observatory for agricultural markets to be set up by the European Commission. Since then, this successful format has been replicated…
12/04/2024 - Simplification survey sheds light on the specific issues faced by farmers across the EU
oday, the European Commission presented the preliminary results of its simplification survey for farmers. Available online in all languages from 7 March to 8 April, the survey received close to 27 000 replies. A detailed analysis of the replies…
11/04/2024 - Commission consults Member States on a limited prolongation of the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework to further support the agricultural sector
The European Commission has sent to Member States for consultation a draft proposal for a limited prolongation of the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (‘TCTF') in order to allow continued support for the primary agricultural…
11/04/2024 - ‘Wędzone jabłko sechlońskie' dried apple slices from Poland added to register of Protected Geographical Indications
The EU Commission has approved the addition of the Polish smoked and dried apple slices product ‘Wędzone jabłko sechlońskie' to the register of Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). ‘Wędzone jabłko sechlońskie…
11/04/2024 - InvestEU and European Investment Fund support sustainable agri-food investments with €40 million
European Agri Transition Fund finances small businesses and mid-caps in the farm and food sectors, particularly in Eastern Europe. The EIF has committed €40 million to a fund aiding the transition to a fairer, healthier and more sustainable…
10/04/2024 - JRC | Wildfires: 2023 among the worst in the EU in this century
A sharp increase in burnt areas was recorded during the summer months of 2023, mostly affecting the Mediterranean region. By total burnt surface area, 2023 was the fourth worst year since 2000. In 2023, an area around twice the size of…
09/04/2024 - European agriculture ministers gathered in Limburg to work on food as strategic sector for Europe
The Belgian federal and regional agriculture ministers invited their European colleagues to Belgium to discuss food, and especially proteins, as a strategic sector for the future of Europe. The European Union is determined to achieve more open…
09/04/2024 - EP | Deal on trade support for Ukraine with more protection for EU farmers
Duties and quotas temporarily suspended for Ukraine until June 2025 Reinforced safeguard measures to protect EU farmers Emergency break for sensitive products with longer reference period Talks with Ukraine on…
09/04/2024 - 'Meli Kissouri' honey from Greece added to the register of protected designations of origin (PDO)
The European Commission today added 'Μέλι Κισσούρι/Meli Kissouri' flower honey from Greece to the register of protected designations of origin (PDO). The product 'Μέλι Κισσούρι/Meli Kissouri' is a flower honey, more specifically an autumn…
09/04/2024 - Commission starts setting up the Agriculture and Food Chain Observatory
The European Commission has launched the call for applications to set up the EU agri-food chain Observatory (AFCO). The creation of this Observatory that will look at production costs, margins and trading practices was announced mid-March as one of…
09/04/2024 - Commission approves €20 million Slovak State aid scheme to support companies in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine
The European Commission has approved a €20 million Slovak scheme to support companies active in the primary production of agricultural products and/or in the fishery and aquaculture sector in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme…
08/04/2024 - Council of the EU | Ukraine: Council backs the renewal of EU’s autonomous trade measures
EU member states’ representatives (Coreper) confirmed today the provisional deal reached earlier on the same day between the Council presidency and the European Parliament representatives to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on…
08/04/2024 - Commission approves amendments to Dutch State aid schemes to reduce nitrogen deposition on nature conservation areas
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, amendments to two existing Dutch schemes to compensate livestock farmers for the voluntary definitive closure of livestock husbandry sites, aimed at reducing nitrogen deposition in…
05/04/2024 - Commission finds investment support to certain large Czech agricultural companies to be incompatible State aid
The European Commission has concluded that Czechia's investment support granted to certain large Czech agricultural companies in 2017 and 2018 is not in line with EU State aid rules. Czechia must now recover the incompatible State aid, including…
05/04/2024 - Eurostat | Price of meat up 3.3% in one year
In February 2024, the price of meat in the EU was 3.3% higher than in February 2023. Pork meat recorded the highest increase at 5.7%, ahead of lamb and goat (+4.5%) and beef and veal (+3%). Poultry, in contrast, registered a decrease of 1.6%…
05/04/2024 - EU agri-food trade achieved a record surplus in 2023
EU agri-food trade balance reached its record level in 2023, according to the latest report published today by the European Commission. After a good performance of the EU agri-food trade in 2022, the most recent report released by the European…
03/04/2024 - EFSA | Avian influenza: One Health surveillance is key to prevent virus evolving
Avian influenza ( AI ) virus continues to spread in the EU and beyond, causing high mortality in wild birds, spillover to wild and domestic mammals, and outbreaks in farms. A scientific report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the…
03/04/2024 - Croatian horseradish root ‘Ludbreški hren' added to register of Protected Designations of Origin
The European Commission has today added the Croatian horseradish root product ‘Ludbreški hren' to the register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO). The name ‘Ludbreški hren' refers to the raw, i.e. unprocessed, root of the horseradish variety…
02/04/2024 - "Abricot des Baronnies" added to the register of protected designations of origin (PDO)
The European Commission today added the "Abricot des Baronnies" to the register of protected designations of origin (PDO). The "Abricot des Baronnies" is a fresh fruit grown in the foothills of the Alps. It is particularly sweet and can be orange,…
28/03/2024 - Eurostat | International trade in chocolate in 2023
In 2023, 867 000 tonnes of chocolate and chocolate bars were exported by EU members to countries outside the EU (extra-EU). This marks a 2% increase compared with 2022 (852 000 tonnes) and a 35% boost compared with 2013 (643 000…
27/03/2024 - Report highlights good progress made on long-term vision for EU rural areas
The European Commission has today published a report outlining the good progress made so far under the EU's long-term rural vision, highlighting positive outcomes delivered since 2021 and presenting ideas for future work. The report…
26/03/2024 - Main results - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 26 March 2024
Rapid and structural responses to the situation in the agricultural sector The Agriculture and Fisheries Council discussed the EU's response to the current concerns in the agricultural sector, based on the guidance from the European Council…
26/03/2024 - Support for farmers: Council endorses targeted review of the common agricultural policy
Today member states' representatives in the Special Committee on Agriculture endorsed a targeted review of certain basic acts of the common agricultural policy (CAP) proposed by the European Commission as a response to the…
25/03/2024 - Commissioner Wojciechowski held a meeting with a delegation of 60 members of the Romanian Farmers’ Club
Commissioner Wojciechowski held a meeting with a delegation of 60 members of the Romanian Farmers’ Club today, Monday 25th of March. They engaged in an enriching dialogue concerning CAP simplification, the future of EU agriculture and the central…
25/03/2024 - Background brief - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 26 March 2024
Agriculture: Rapid and structural responses to the current situation in the agricultural sector: follow-up Against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis situation in the agricultural sector and based on the guidance from the European Council…
25/03/2024 - JRC | Winter crops in large parts of Europe in mediocre condition despite fair spring weather
According to the March edition of the JRC MARS Bulletin crop monitoring in Europe, winter crop areas in several parts of Europe have been negatively impacted by unfavourable weather conditions since the start of the season. In the north, the most…
22/03/2024 - Opening remarks by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel following the meeting of the European Council of 22 March 2024
... Lastly, let me focus on agriculture. Our farmers work incredibly hard to put best quality food on our tables. But we also know that they face challenges and burdens, be it the instability on the global markets and thus on also the European food…
22/03/2024 - Questions and answers on proposed tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus
How high will the tariffs be? Which goods will be affected? The increased duties will apply to imports of cereals, oilseeds and derived products from Russia and Belarus that are currently classified under Chapters 10, 12, 14, 15 and 23 of the…
22/03/2024 - Commission proposes increased tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain products
The European Commission is today proposing to increase the tariffs on imports into the EU of cereals, oilseeds, and derived products (‘grain products') from Russia and Belarus, including wheat, maize, and sunflower meal. These tariffs, while…
21/03/2024 - 'Araban Sarımsağı' garlic from Türkiye added to register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO)
The European Commission has today added ‘Araban Sarımsağı', a garlic with white bulb skin, white cloves skin colour and cream-yellow gum colour, to the register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO). The bulb of ‘Araban Sarımsağı', which is an…
20/03/2024 - Commission prepares for pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews
The Commission has today adopted a Communication on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews. This document contributes to the ongoing discussion process about the internal reforms the EU will need to make to prepare for an enlarged Union. It…
20/03/2024 - Commission takes action to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU
Today, the Commission has proposed a series of targeted actions to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU. The Communication on Building the future with nature identifies the challenges and barriers and proposes to tackle them, in line…
20/03/2024 - Council of the EU | Ukraine: Council and Parliament reach a deal to renew EU’s autonomous trade measures
The Council presidency and the European Parliament’s negotiators have provisionally agreed to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU for another year, until 5 June 2025. This renewal reaffirms the EU…
19/03/2024 - EP | Plant and forest reproductive material regulations adopted by Agriculture MEPs
Farmers to exchange between each other any type of plant reproductive material Simpler rules and exceptions for conservation varieties of plants Cross-border cooperation to reforest areas affected by extreme weather…
15/03/2024 - Commission proposes targeted review of Common Agricultural Policy
Delivering on its commitment to ease administrative burden for EU farmers, the European Commission has today proposed to review certain provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), aiming to deliver simplifications while maintaining a strong…
14/03/2024 - The sixth Clean Transition Dialogue will focus on harnessing the potential of the sustainable forest bioeconomy
This afternoon, Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice President of the Green Pact for Europe, will chair the sixth Clean Transition Dialogue, which will focus on the role of the forest bioeconomy in the EU as part of the EU's transition to a clean energy…
14/03/2024 - Agricultural SMEs to get €50 million to support decarbonisation as Lithuanian fintech HeavyFinance teams up with EIF and InvestEU
Small and medium-sized agricultural businesses in five European countries will receive a total of €50 million from HeavyFinance, a Lithuania-based financial technology company to support on-farm decarbonisation and greener farming practices. The…
13/03/2024 - EP | MEPs agree to extend trade support for Moldova, continue work on Ukraine
MEPs reinforced safeguards for EU farmers in case of a surge in Ukrainian products Negotiations with Council to extend trade support for Ukraine to start Duties and quotas temporarily suspended for Moldova for another year…
13/03/2024 - 8th EAP mid-term review confirms 2030 climate & environmental targets within reach
The report released Wednesday shows that the EU’s objectives under the European Green Deal are attainable if the actions planned are fully implemented. The 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP) mid-term review underlines the importance of…
13/03/2024 - Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU Agriculture: 2nd Plenary meeting
On the 11th and 12th March, the second plenary meeting of the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU Agriculture took place in Brussels. Launched on 25 January by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Strategic Dialogue is currently fully…
12/03/2024 - Budget 2025: Council agrees on guidelines for next year's EU budget
The Council today reached an agreement on its guidelines for the 2025 EU budget. The approved guidelines will provide political guidance to the Commission in preparing the budget for next year. In its conclusions, the Council underlines…
12/03/2024 - EP | Reducing pollution from industry and large livestock farms
Strictest achievable emissions levels will become mandatory for covered sectors Rules to reduce air, water and soil pollution bring significant health and environmental benefits for citizens Public will have better access…
11/03/2024 - Towards better water quality, quantity management and more sustainable use of seas
The Commission adopted today two new measures to enhance the EU’s water resilience and to improve water quality and quantity throughout the continent. They include a standard methodology to measure the presence of microplastics in water and a…