Press release no. 041 from 01.03.10For a strong common agricultural policy in the EU

Bundesministerin Aigner und Agrarkommissar Cioloş, Source: BMELV

Both agricultural policy-makers discussed current issues of European agricultural policy in an open and intensive exchange of views. The talks focused on the future direction of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2013.

"I am delighted that the Agriculture Commissioner is visiting Germany so shortly after having assumed office and is giving us the opportunity to discuss with him issues related to agricultural policy and rural development. I promised him our intensive and constructive cooperation. The future structure of the Common Agricultural Policy and the availability of funds to implement policies that support the interests of consumers, producers and the rural population will be the major challenges facing us in the months to come. We want to tackle these challenges together", said Aigner. She stressed their consensus that "it will remain necessary in the future to pay due regard to the diversity of European agriculture as the basis of our food security".

Ciolos welcomed the opportunity for an open exchange of views and reaffirmed his commitment to a strong European agricultural policy. "We will now develop the proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy of the coming decade. To this end, we need an open debate in the general public. We will listen very carefully in the weeks and months to come. It is no coincidence that I have chosen Berlin as the first stop in this consultation progress", said Ciolos. It remains indispensable that funding should be commensurate with the aims of the European agricultural policy. "I will support this in the Commission and in my talks with the Member States", emphasized the Commissioner.

Ciolos will visit a farm near Berlin on Tuesday as part of his trip to Germany. It is also planned to hold talks with representatives from the German Farmers' Union and the Raiffeisen cooperative society. The EU Commissioner will present the main focuses of his policy at a special meeting of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Forestry in the German Bundestag and discuss current issues of agricultural policy with the Members of Parliament.