Planas: Spain will work to maintain the personality of the CAP, with more funds and preserving its European character

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries European Ministers

The minister insisted on "rebuilding the CAP as a European policy, ensuring sufficient funds to maintain its effectiveness and rejecting the systematic co-financing proposed by the European Commission (EC), because it could break the unity of the market".

At the European Union Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers, being held today and tomorrow in Luxembourg, Planas argued that the CAP and the Common Fisheries Policy are European pillars and "we must not accept proposals that weaken them".

According to the minister, the environmental approach proposed by the Commission includes more co-financed measures and this poses a risk, because "we cannot lose the progress that eco-regimes have brought about in the current CAP. "Spain has made an enormous environmental effort, with more than 75% of the beneficiaries and 90% of the declared area covered by this environmental measure," he stated.

In addition, the possible introduction of co-financed environmental measures could lead to inequalities between farmers in different member states by opening the door to the renationalisation of the CAP, according to Planas.

He welcomed the European Commission's progress in simplification, but pointed out that "there is still much to be done" and that "the reduction of administrative burdens must continue to be a priority of the CAP".

Market situation

During the meeting, the situation of agricultural markets was also discussed in the presence of Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Taras Kachka. Planas reported on the sector's health situation and confirmed that "in Spain, we have detected outbreaks of lumpy skin disease, which we are combating with control zones and extraordinary vaccinations".

He also noted that Spain is also affected by avian flu, a disease that has forced the culling of more than two million laying hens-out of a total population of more than 50 million-"which has had a small impact on the price of eggs," the minister acknowledged. Spain has asked the European Commission to "monitor and take action against these market impacts, which directly affect prices and daily life".

Planas acknowledged the "concern about the entry of rice from third countries at very low prices and standard quality". He therefore requested that the European Commission "monitor closely and take the opportunity to activate safeguard measures if necessary".

In the wine sector, Luis Planas stressed that, although the market shows general stability, imbalances between regions persist, making it a priority to adopt the package of wine-related measures presented by the Commission as soon as possible.

Support for young people and rural women

The EC has presented the new generational renewal strategy in the agricultural sector, which Luis Planas has praised. "I am particularly pleased that the majority of the technical contributions to the European document come from Spain, which demonstrates that our national and regional policies are aligned with the European strategy", the minister commented.

Fisheries and sustainability

Luis Planas emphasised the importance of basing all decisions on Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas on rigorous scientific assessments of resources and recalled the importance of "maintaining a balance between the environmental, economic, and social pillars of fisheries management".

With regard to the upcoming meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will be held in Seville from 17 to 24 November, the minister emphasised that "scientific reports show a very notable recovery of the bluefin tuna population, with a 19.3% increase in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean". For this reason, Spain will advocate "that the potential increase in catches be around that percentage" and will ask the Commission not to reopen the allocation key.

For tropical tunas, such as bigeye tuna, the situation is also positive, as the circumstances are ideal for reducing the current ban on Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), floating structures designed to attract fish. Spain supports the EC in its policy against shark finning and in requiring the landing of whole sharks.

Planas also addressed Ireland's proposal for pelagic species, "especially mackerel, for which scientific reports propose a 70% reduction". According to the minister, "if the European Union (EU) adopts restrictive measures, other non-EU countries must also make equivalent efforts". "It would not be acceptable for the EU to reduce its catches while others increase theirs unchecked," he said. The minister understands that the Commission must use all the tools at its disposal to deal with situations in which other states fail to respect the agreements reached.

Non official translation