European Commission to propose a one-year postponement of the EUDR regulation implementation

State secretary Maša Žagar. | Author Council of the European Union

The date of implementation of the EUDR was initially scheduled for the end of 2025; however the European Commission will propose that it be postponed for one year. Together with other EU Member States, Slovenia made intensive efforts to secure the postponement of the implementation and therefore regards this announcement as a significant success.

On its first day, the meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers opened with fisheries items, including a legislative proposal on the implementation of the Union's support policy for the fisheries and aquaculture sector for the period 2028-2034. The support will henceforth be included within the framework of a single fund for national and regional partnership plans, with resources being limited. The priorities include promoting generational renewal and the energy transition of fisheries, sustainable aquaculture, as well as improving the processing and marketing of fish and fishery products. State Secretary Žagar emphasised the importance of supporting small-scale coastal fisheries, strengthening the resilience of coastal communities and ensuring stable and flexible financing for the sustainable development of the sector. According to her, it is necessary to promote innovation, digitalisation and technological progress in order to preserve traditions and ensure the competitiveness of fisheries.

In addition to exchanging views on the annual consultations between the EU and the United Kingdom, and between the EU, Norway and the coastal states on fishing opportunities for 2026 - which are not relevant for Slovenian fisheries - the Council also discussed, over a working lunch, the simplification of existing rules in the fisheries and maritime sector. The State Secretary stressed that the simplification of the Common Fisheries Policy is essential for sustainable, competitive and stable fisheries, while legislation must remain flexible and take into account national and regional specificities in order to preserve the traditions of small-scale coastal fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic.

In the afternoon, the Council held its first discussion on the package of proposals for the future Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2028-2034, which - like the support for the implementation of the fisheries and aquaculture policy - will henceforth be included in the single fund for national and regional partnership plans. State Secretary Maša Žagar highlighted the importance of a strong, adequately funded and future-oriented Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which supports competitive and resilient agriculture, preserves social cohesion and contributes to environmental sustainability and vibrant rural areas. She welcomed the preservation of the existing implementation model and the key CAP measures, while particularly emphasising generational renewal, effective risk management and support for the green and digital transition. According to her, the European Commission's proposal does not currently address all the key needs of Slovenian agriculture, in particular with regard to CAP financing, investment in infrastructure, the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS) support framework and the school scheme. Slovenia will therefore advocate greater flexibility and adequate support for these measures during the negotiations. Slovenia will actively participate in shaping the future CAP to ensure the objectives of competitive, sustainable and vibrant agriculture for future generations.

On the second day, the Council was briefed on current issues relating to international trade in agricultural products and held a discussion on them. The State Secretary stressed that international trade policy must promote cooperation in a balanced manner while safeguarding the interests of European producers and the EU standards on food, the environment and animal welfare. According to her, Slovenia supports further assistance to Ukraine and the strengthening of relations with the United States, but only if fair and sustainable conditions for European farmers are ensured. She called for strategic prudence and political courage, emphasising that agriculture is a strategic priority of Europe that must be protected and developed sustainably.

Several information items were also addressed. Among them, Slovenia joined Slovakia's call for greater flexibility of the financial rules of the Strategic Plan, in particular regarding the extension of the automatic decommitment period to 'n+3', in order to enable the implementation of sustainable and long-term projects and to ensure stability for farmers and rural entrepreneurs. Slovenia also supported Germany's call to ensure the permanent approval of basic substances in plant protection and to maintain their equal status even in the event of their subsequent approval as active substances. In connection with the Commission's presentation of the key elements of the Water Resilience Strategy, the State Secretary emphasised that Slovenia supports the introduction of innovative and sustainable practices for the efficient use of water and for strengthening the resilience of agriculture. She also emphasised the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation, investment in knowledge and innovation, and flexible measures, as water is essential for food security and the sustainability of future food systems.