Press Release: Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, Brussels, 25-26 February 2013

The Council meeting addressed agricultural and fisheries issues.

As regards agriculture, ministers held a public debate on the direct payments regulation and the horizontal regulation within the framework of the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform.

Specific issues discussed included the basic payment scheme and transparency as to the beneficiaries of CAP payments.
Concerning fisheries issues, ministers reached agreement on a general approach on the basic provisions of the common fisheries policy (CFP). The Council was then briefed on the state of play of the negotiations on the EU/Morocco fisheries partnership agreement.

Finally ministers were briefed on mislabelling of beef products and a new European protein strategy.