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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE

AN ROINN TALMHAÍOCHTA, BIA AGUS MARA

SIX-MONTHLY REPORT ON DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EU

July to December 2019

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INDEX Part I Introduction Part II Overview of the Finnish Presidency

2.1 Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) Post 2020 2.2 International Trade Developments 2.3 Rural Development Programme 2.4 Transitional Regulations

2.5 Forestry

2.6 Fisheries 2.7 Bioeconomy

Part III Preview of the Croatian Presidency Table A: Draft legislative measures submitted for scrutiny from 1 July to 31 December 2019 Table B: Previous legislative measures adopted in the period from 1 July to 31 December 2019

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PART I

Introduction This report is submitted in accordance with the requirements of Section 2(5) of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002. The report outlines progress on EU agriculture and fisheries issues under the Finnish Presidency for the period 1 July to 31 December 2019, and a preview of the Croatian Presidency for the period 1 January to 30 June 2020. The report also provides an overview, in tabular form, of the draft legislative measures laid before the Oireachtas during the period 1 July to 31 December 2019 on the basis of information notes (Table A). A total of 25 Information Notes were submitted by the Department between 1 July and 31

December 2019, 17 of which have been adopted and published in the Official Journal. A further 6 previous legislative proposals were adopted during this period. (Table B) Useful Websites EU Legislation printed in the Official Journal: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/JOIndex.do?ihmlang=en Website search for EU legislation: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html EU Agriculture Information: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/index_en.htm EU Fisheries Information: http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/index_en.htm EU Animal Health and Welfare Information: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/index_en.htm EU Animal Health Strategy: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/strategy/whatis_cahp_en.htm Department’s website: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/ Commission webpage on CAP post 2020: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/cap-future-2020/ Finnish Presidency website: https://eu2019.fi/en/frontpage Croatian Presidency Website: https://eu2020.hr

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Part II

General Information This was the third time Finland held the six-monthly rotating Presidency of the European Union. It was the second Presidency of the trio of Presidencies which was preceded by Romania and will be followed by Croatia in January 2020. The next trio of Presidencies will commence with Germany in July, 2020, followed by Portugal and Slovenia. Overview of the Finnish Presidency Following the general elections and the establishment of a new Government in Finland, the Presidency published their Work Programme on 26 June, 2019. The Programme outlined the overarching objectives, with a particular emphasis on the EU becoming a global leader in climate action, which was mirrored in the slogan for their Presidency “Sustainable Europe – Sustainable Future”. At the minimum, the Finnish Presidency undertook to present revised consolidated texts for all three draft CAP post-2020 regulations. They had hoped to achieve a Council General Approach on the draft CAP post-2020 proposals, but this was very much dependent on the outcome of the parallel budgetary negotiation process on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) post-2020 proposals. CAP post-2020 featured at almost all the Special Committee of Agriculture and at every Agri-Fish Council of Ministers meetings. The main focus of discussions centred around Climate Ambitions, Financial Flexibility, Sectoral Interventions, Direct Payments, the Rural Development Programme and the New Delivery Model. The Presidency prepared consolidated revised texts on all three draft regulations. The CMO Regulation and the Horizontal Regulation are considered to be broadly stable. However, elements of these Regulations cannot be fully agreed until the MFF negotiations are concluded. While good progress has been made on the CAP Strategic Plan Regulation, there are outstanding issues to be resolved, in particular in relation to the New Delivery Model and the increased climate and environmental ambition. Despite their best efforts, it was not possible for the Finns to achieve a Council General Approach. Instead, at the December Agri-Fish Council, they presented a Progress Report which set out the work done to date on the CAP proposals. Given the difficulties in achieving agreement on the CAP post-2020 proposals, the Finnish Presidency also saw Member States begin to discuss transitional arrangements for the current CAP. The EU Commission published two proposals for CAP transitional rules. Such transitional measures are normal practice between consecutive programming periods, in order to provide legal and financial certainty where a gap arises due to any delays in finalising a new EU Budget and/or CAP regulations. The first and most urgent of the transitional regulations was the financial flexibility regulation, which was adopted on 31 December 2019. The second, and more substantial, regulation proposes a number of changes to the Rural Development Programme. Member States have raised a number of queries around these changes and discussions will continue into 2020. The Commission expects the transitional arrangements to be in place by mid-summer 2020, subject to agreement on the MFF post-2020, which will clarify the position regarding the future EU budgetary allocations.

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Environmental and Forestry measures were a high priority for the Finnish Presidency, with both areas debated in isolation and as part of other items, such as the MFF negotiations and the CAP post-2020 Negotiations. The Finnish Presidency continued to monitor trade-related agricultural issues, with the EU-Mercosur FTA, the Airbus Boeing WTO dispute and the EU-China GI agreement being discussed at both SCA and AgriFish Council. In November 2019, the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy was adopted at Competitiveness Council. Information on this long-term vision for the European Union’s industrial future was presented to delegations at December AgriFish Council. SCA and Council Meetings The Finnish Presidency scheduled eleven SCA meetings over the duration of its Presidency along with five Council Meetings, including the Informal Agriculture Council which took place in Helsinki on 22–23 September 2019. Minster Creed attended all of the Council Meetings under the Finnish Presidency.

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2.1 Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) Post 2020 The CAP legislative proposals have been discussed at length during each of the Presidencies (Austria, Romania & Finland), since their introduction in June 2018. At the outset of their Presidency, the Finns undertook to present revised consolidated text for all three draft Regulations at the very least. At best, they hoped to achieve a Council General Approach, but this was very much dependent on the parallel budgetary negotiation process on the MFF post-2020. The Finnish Presidency made great efforts to address Member States’ concerns, in particular when it comes to the New Delivery Model and the increased climate and environmental ambition. However, it was not possible for the Finns to achieve a Council General Approach. Instead, at the December Agri-Fish Council, they presented a Progress Report which set out the work done to date on the CAP proposals. In addition, the Presidency prepared consolidated revised text on all three draft regulations. The Horizontal Regulation (financing, managing and monitoring) and the Amending Regulation (amending the current CMO Regulation) are considered to be largely stable. However, there are elements within each of these Regulations that cannot be fully agreed until the MFF negotiation process has been concluded. While considerable progress has been made on the CAP Strategic Plan Regulation, there are outstanding issues that need to be resolved before agreement can be achieved, such as the New Delivery Model and reporting requirements around non-area/non-animal based interventions, as well as environmental and climate-related aspects. Discussions on the CAP post-2020 proposals will now continue under the Croatian Presidency. 2.2 International Trade Developments EU-Mercosur On 28 June 2019, European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmstrom, and European Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, announced that political agreement had been reached on a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur countries, marking the end of a 20-year negotiation process. The Commission described the agreement as one of the largest FTAs in the world. From an EU perspective, it establishes access to a market of more than 260 million people and will save EUR 4bn in tariffs annually for European exporters. The agreement of quotas for EU exports of cheese, milk powders and infant formula, as well as the full liberalisation in the case of spirits, chocolate and other goods will provide opportunities for Irish exporters to experience growth and increased exports. The agreement also included a significant Tariff Rate Quota for South American beef. Ireland has made concerted efforts over the full 20-year history and in particular during the latter stages of the negotiation process, working closely with other Member State colleagues and engaging directly with the European Commission, in order to minimise the EU offer in terms of beef. A whole of Government review fn the impact on Ireland of the EU-Mercosur Political Agreement will now take place. Particular attention will be paid to all sensitive Irish products included in the agreement, including beef. The next step in the process is the legal scrubbing and translation of the Agreement, which will take up to two years. The ratification process will commence after the legal scrubbing and translation phase. Ratification will be required at both EU and individual MS level because the agreement contains elements which fall under both EU exclusive competence and MS competence.

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Airbus-Boeing WTO dispute: impact on the agri-food sector The US and EU have been in a long-running dispute regarding subsidies to their respective major Aircraft manufacturers, Airbus (EU) and Boeing (US). Both sides have submitted two individual cases to the WTO for adjudication. The WTO Appellate Body has passed judgement on both, with the EU and US being found at fault. The arbitration ruling outlining the tariffs that can be imposed by the US on the EU were announced on 2 October 2019. The equivalent parallel ruling permitting EU tariffs to be applied to US imports is due in 2020. The WTO arbitration ruling of 2 October 2019 set the maximum level of tariffs the US may apply on EU exports to the US at $7.496 billion. The US subsequently published a list of EU imports to the US to which it applied tariffs from 18 October 2019. In the case of Irish exports to the US, the tariff rate was 25% ad-valorem. This will have a significant effect on a number of our high value exports to the US, including liqueurs, butter and certain cheeses. Discussions will continue into 2020 with a view to reaching a fair and balanced agreement between the US and EU. 2.3 Rural Development Programme In August, the Commission approved the seventh amendment to the Irish Rural Development Programme 2024-20, which introduced two alterations to current LEADER arrangements to ensure the continued smooth running of the Programme. The first ensured that, after the transfer of some geographical areas from Cork County Council to Cork City Council in May, all areas would remain eligible for LEADER. The second allowed for the reallocation of an amount originally intended for a REDZ/rural town initiative, to the best performing Local Action Groups. 2.4 Transitional Regulations COM(2019) 581 The Transitional regulations require amendments to seven specific regulations, including the four CAP Regulations. The Regulations aim to provide certainty and continuity in the granting of support to European farmers and ensuring the continuity of support for rural development in the transitional period for those Member States who have used their 2014-2020 EAFRD allocations, by extending the current legal framework until the new CAP has been finalised. The Commission proposed two regulations to fulfill these aims during the Finnish Presidency. The first, and most urgent, regulation was the financial flexibility regulation, which was adopted on 31 December 2019. The second, and more substantial, regulation proposes a number of changes to the Rural Development Programme. Member States have raised a number of queries around these changes and discussions will continue into 2020. The Commission expects the transitional arrangements to be in place by mid-summer 2020, subject to agreement on the MFF post-2020, which will clarify the position regarding the future EU budgetary allocations. 2.5 Forestry Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests The European Commission adopted its Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests on 23 July 2019. (Doc No: 15151/19) The Communication sets out to protect and improve the health of forests (especially primary forests) as well as to significantly increase sustainable, biodiverse forest coverage worldwide. The Communication includes five priorities:

1. Reduce the EU consumption footprint on land and encourage the consumption of products from deforestation-free supply chains in the EU;

2. Work in partnership with producing countries to reduce pressures on forests and to “deforest-proof” EU development cooperation;

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3. Strengthen international cooperation to halt deforestation and forest degradation, and encourage forest restoration;

4. Redirect finance to support more sustainable land-use practices; 5. Support the availability of, quality of, and access to information on forests and

commodity supply chains, and support research and innovation. The Council of the European Union adopted Conclusions on the Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests on 16 December 2019. These conclusions

noted that current actions are not enough to halt deforestation and forest degradation; endorsed the objectives and scope of the European Commission’s Communication; and called for coherent implementation between the five priority areas.

Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe Informal consultations were held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) on 31 October/1 November 2019 to consider resumption of negotiations on a Legally Binding Agreement on Forests in Europe. The European Union participated in consideration of possible text for a UNECE Executive Committee Decision as well as development of draft terms of reference for a UNECE Negotiating Group. 2.6 Fisheries During the Finnish Presidency, discussions continued on the Fisheries Control Proposal (COM (2018)368). The first ‘bible’, a summary of Member States’ comments, was published in November 2019. This proposal suggests improvements to modernise and simplify the way in which fisheries are monitored and complied with within the EU. This is an important proposal for Ireland and will continue to be monitored closely. Work is also continuing on the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) (COM (2018)390). The first trilogue took place in December with further trilogues due to take place in 2020 under the Croatian presidency. This is an important proposal from an Irish perspective and will continue to be monitored closely. In September, the Commission put forward a proposal (COM (2019)398) to extend until 31 December 2020 the temporary framework to enable the EU and the UK to grant access for each other’s fleets, should reciprocal access rights to waters be confirmed in a “no deal” situation. The Regulation, which was adopted in October 2019, does not provide a commitment of ongoing reciprocal access – it simply creates the necessary legal framework to allow for the possibility of such access. The Commission proposal (COM (2019)483) detailing fishing opportunities for 2020 was circulated in October and was discussed at Working Party throughout November and December. This led to agreement at the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council on the Annual Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and Quotas for 2020. The Minister secured a total package of fish quotas worth €275 million for 2020 with increases in quotas for a number of our important stocks – including Mackerel (+41%), Monkfish (+7%) and Megrim (+3%) in the Celtic Sea, in line with scientific advice. Agreement was also reached on the introduction of important additional safeguards designed to rebuild Cod and Whiting stocks in the Celtic Sea. This year marked the deadline set under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) to end overfishing by setting TACs in accordance with scientific advice. This means that for most stocks, where sufficient advice is available, quotas have been set at levels that ensure long-term sustainability, in line with the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) principle. The annual Coastal States consultations on Mackerel, Blue Whiting, Atlanto-Scandia Herring and the EU-Norway consultations took place throughout the autumn.

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2.7 Bioeconomy Bioeconomy Strategy Discussions on the Bioeconomy Strategy have been taking place at EU level since 2018. These discussions intensified during 2019, culminating in the adoption of Council Conclusions on the Bioeconomy Strategy in November. The Strategy applies a cross-sectoral, holistic approach, which aims to connect the potential of renewable natural resources with the needs of society, and with the need to protect, maintain and restore eco-systems and biodiversity. The Council Conclusions also include references to the CAP, in particular in relation to the potential use of CAP rural development instruments such as EIP-AGRI, AKIS and LEADER to support the development of a local, sustainable and circular bioeconomy.

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Part III

Preview of the Croatian Presidency This is the first time Croatia will hold the six-monthly rotating Presidency of the European Union. It is the third Presidency of the trio of Presidencies which was preceded by Romania and Finland. The next trio of Presidencies will commence with Germany in July 2020, followed by Portugal and Slovenia. Overall priorities for the Croatian Presidency The Croatian Presidency has outlined the following four basic principles which will be key during their Presidency:- A Europe that develops A Europe that connects A Europe that protects A Europe that is globally influential

Priorities in the Agriculture Sector The Croatian Presidency comes at a time of great changes for the European Union, at the beginning of a new institutional and legislative cycle following the new composition of the European institutions, as well as at a time of challenges resulting from the process of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. The Croatian presidency has outlined the following priorities in the Agriculture Sector which will be key during their Presidency:-

Agriculture The Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) post 2020 negotiation process remains a priority for the new Presidency. The Croatian Presidency intends to advance the negotiation process as far as possible with a view to reaching an agreement on legislative proposals. The Croatian Presidency aims to define the rules of the new CAP, which will be aligned with the new common priorities of the EU. The Presidency will organise a conference to intensify the discussions on the promotion of bioeconomy. The agricultural opportunities arising from the new Horizon Europe programme and other appropriate programmes and initiatives will be considered. The Croatian Presidency will continue to monitor the market situation as well as trade-related issues.

Food safety, veterinary and phytosanitary issues

The Presidency will work towards achieving an equal level of phytosanitary protection throughout the European Union, and equal conditions for European manufacturers and traders. Emphasis will be placed on promoting common EU rules related to the production, inspection, sampling, import, circulation and certification of plant material, as well as to the notification, detection and eradication of pests. Within the field of food safety, animal health and animal wellbeing, the Presidency will continue discussions on measures for the prevention, control and eradication of animal diseases at European level.

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In the context of the new European Green Deal and the new sectoral ‘Farm to Fork Strategy’, consumer protection and food safety issues will be a key priority.

Forestry

Forests play a central role in mitigating the consequences of climate change and in adapting to this change, and they are of crucial importance for the preservation of biodiversity. The existing EU Forest Strategy has highlighted the economic, social and environmental importance of sustainable forest management. In response to the challenges faced by forestry, the Presidency will continue discussions on the adoption of a new EU Forest Strategy for the period after 2020.

Fisheries

The priority of the Presidency will be to achieve significant progress in negotiations on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for 2021-2027. Special importance in this segment is given to measures that can contribute to the development of and investment in sustainable fisheries. Croatia will pay particular attention to the socioeconomic importance and sustainability of small-scale coastal fisheries. Efficient supervision and control in fisheries are the basic prerequisites for ensuring sustainable EU fisheries management. The Presidency will therefore make every eort to achieve progress on the proposal for a fisheries control Regulation. The priority in the field of aquaculture will be to continue with the implementation of goals relating to the European Commission’s de-ned points of reference for aquaculture development in the EU, as well as to revise and adapt the guidelines for the new programme cycle after 2020. The Croatian Presidency will ensure the coordination and drafting of positions of the European Union and its Member States for participation at the meetings of international bodies and the international agreements in the field of fisheries.

SCA and Council Meetings The Presidency has so far scheduled 10 SCA meetings for the January – June period, along with 6 Council Meetings, including the Informal Agriculture Council which will take place in Zagreb from the 7– 9 June 2019.

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Table A - Draft legislative measures submitted for scrutiny from 1 July to 31 December 2019

COM(2019)284 Proposal for a Council Decision on the position be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission.

16/09/2019 Adopted at General Affairs

Council 19/09/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)326

Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee on Agriculture set up by the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products, as regards the Amendment of Annexes 1 and 2 to the Decision

16/09/2019 Adopted at General Affairs

Council 20/09/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)327 Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Fisheries Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic

16/09/2019 Adopted at General Affairs

Council 20/09/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)338 Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulations (EU) 2019/124 and (EU) 2018/2025 as regards certain fishing opportunities

26/09/2019 Adopted at Competitiveness

Council 30/09/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)296

Proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of an agreement with the United States of America on the Allocation to the United States of a Share in the Tariff rate Quota provided for by Regulation (EC) No 617/2009 of 13 July 2009 opening an autonomous tariff quota for imports of high quality beef

15/07/2019 Adopted at Agriculture and

Fisheries Council 05/08/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)297

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of an agreement with the United States of America on the Allocation to the United States of a Share in the Tariff Rate Quota provided for by Regulation (EC) No 617/2009 of 13 July 2009 opening an autonomous tariff quota for imports of high-quality beef

05/12/2019 Adopted at Economic and Financial Affairs Council

06/12/2019 Published in Official Journal

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COM(2019)344

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Management Sub-Committee established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part

07/10/2019 Adopted at Justice and Home

Affairs Council 22/10/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)375

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Principe and the European Community

24/10/2019 Adopted at Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

27/12/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)376

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community

24/10/2019 Adopted at Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

27/12/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)377

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community

Discussions will continue throughout the Croatian

Presidency

COM(2019)380

Proposal for a COUONCIL REGULATION fixing for 2020 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/124, as regards certain fishing opportunities in other waters.

30/10/2019 Adopted by Council

31/10/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)398

Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 as regards fishing authorisations for Union vessels in United Kingdom waters and fishing operations of United Kingdom fishing vessels in Union waters

24/10/2019 Adopted by Co-Signature

31/10/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)446

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the allocation of the fishing opportunities under the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for a maximum period of one year

08/11/2019 Adopted at Education, Youth,

Culture and Sport Council 18/11/2019

Published in Official Journal

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COM(2019)447

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on an extension to the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, expiring on 15 November 2019

08/11/2019 Adopted at Education, Youth,

Culture and Sport Council 18/11/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)448

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania concerning the extension of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, expiring on 15 November 2019

Discussions will continue throughout the Croatian

Presidency

COM(2019)453 Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION fixing for 2020 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas

16/12/2019 Adopted at Agri-Fish Council

30/12/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)470

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and the provisional application of the Protocol to amend the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

18/11/2019 Adopted at Agri-Fish Council

04/12/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)472

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Protocol to amend the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas

Discussions will continue throughout the Croatian

Presidency

COM(2019)473

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Senegal and the European Union

Discussions will continue throughout the Croatian

Presidency

COM(2019)474

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the allocation of fishing opportunities under the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Senegal and the European Union

14/11/2019 Adopted at Council

20/11/2019 Published in Official Journal

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COM(2019)475

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the Union, and provisional application of the Protocol on the implementation of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Senegal and the European Union

14/11/2019 Adopted at Council

20/11/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)483

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATIONS fixing for 2020 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, application in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters

Discussions will continue throughout the Croatian

Presidency

COM(2019)556

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist republic of Vietnam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Implement Committee

Discussions will continue throughout the Croatian

Presidency

COM(2019)564

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 as regards the introduction of capacity limits for Eastern Baltic cod, data collection and control measures in the Baltic Sea, and Regulation (EU) No 508/2013 as regards permanent cessation for fleets fishing for Eastern Baltic cod

Discussions will continue throughout the Croatian

Presidency

COM(2019)581

Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL laying down certain transitional provisions for the support by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) in the year 2021 and amending Regulations (EU) No 228/2013, (EU) No 229/2013 and (EU) No 1308/2013 as regards resources and their distribution in respect of the year 2021 and amending Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013, (EU) No 1306/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013 as regards their resources and application in the year 2021

Discussions will continue throughout the Croatian

Presidency

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Table B: Previous legislative measures adopted in the period from 1 July to 31 December 2019

COM (2018) 350

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the accession of the European Union to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications

07/10/2019 Adopted at Justice and Home

Affairs Council 24/10/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM (2018) 365

Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the action of the Union following its accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications

23/10/2019 Adopted by Co-Signature

24/10/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)207

COM(2019)207

Add 1

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Cooperation Committee established by the Agreement on Cooperation and Customs Union between the European Economic Community and the Republic of San Marino with regard to applicable provisions on organic production and labelling of organic products, and arrangements for imports of organic products

08/07/2019 Adopted at Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

11/07/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)267

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Union and Ukraine amending the trade preferences for poultry meat and poultry meat preparations provided for by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part

05/12/2019 Adopted at Economic and Financial Affairs Council

16/12/2019 Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)268

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement

18/07/2019 Adopted at General Affairs

Council 06/08/2019

Published in Official Journal

COM(2019)286

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the International Sugar Council with respect to the extension of the International Sugar Agreement, 1992

15/07/2019 Adopted at Agriculture and

Fisheries Council 23/07/2019

Published in Official Journal