Material2001@foreign.ministry.se / Policy area: Agriculture / News item: Press release
"Today's meeting has shown that there is strong support for changing the way we produce our food. The meeting in Ostersund and today's discussions have provided a basis, a point of departure, for a deeper debate on the EU's future food policy", said Swedish Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Margareta Winberg today in her summary of the proceedings of the informal Agricultural Council.
The meeting was largely devoted to a discussion of future EU policy on food and agriculture. Many ministers focused on the crisis currently engulfing European agriculture. Mad cow disease, foot-and-mouth disease and unacceptable methods of transporting livestock were just some of the issues that have prompted growing numbers of delegations to call for a change of policy. Many also emphasised the deficiencies associated with numerous aspects of traditional regulatory policies. Several speakers declared that the common agricultural policy had helped to promote intensive farming methods.
"We cannot go on subsidising intensive and uniform farming methods that damage the environment, create massive food surpluses and adversely affect poor peasants in developing countries. I am delighted that all the Members States share my views on the need to change the common agricultural policy," said Ms Winberg.
"Recent developments underline the urgency of discussions aimed at bringing about the necessary changes. The wide-ranging, acute crises we are now seeing are merely the symptoms of a series of underlying problems," she added.
Several delegations agreed that food production should be more closely linked to consumer needs. The role of governments is to establish frameworks for ethical and sustainable production that safeguards the environment, animal health and the development of the countryside. In many cases, however, scope for public investment in the environment, rural areas and animal protection is restricted by market regulations.
"It is time to start the discussion about what we want to achieve in the future and how to attain these goals in the best way," continues Ms Winberg. "It is important that discussions include politicians, agriculturists, consumers and other interested parties. Producers and consumers - indeed society as whole - must all play their part in breaking the present trend and moving development in a new direction."
An informal meeting cannot adopt binding conclusions or decisions. In addition to agricultural and food policy reform, the ministers discussed a Commission status report on the development of foot-and-mouth disease in the EU.
- I can say that the present EU policy for combating animal diseases remains unchanged. However changes have taken place since it was introduced in 1992. We will therefore be evaluating the policy when the present crisis is over.:
