EU agriculture ministers on the situation of the market for agricultural products following the war in Ukraine

Minister Irena Šinko participated in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, where various important topics were addressed. The council began with the presidency providing updates on the proposed regulation concerning packaging and packaging waste. The ministers engaged in discussions regarding the agricultural market situation following the war in Ukraine. Furthermore, they deliberated on current practices related to marketing frozen products and the necessity of implementing effective strategies to manage and respond to the increasing risks in agricultural markets.

The council meeting in May also focused on agricultural matters. During the initial part of the session, the presidency informed the ministers about the food safety and food waste aspects of the proposed regulation on packaging and packaging waste. The primary objectives of the legislative proposals were to mitigate the adverse environmental effects of packaging waste and enhance the functioning of the single market. Minister Irena Šinko expressed her support for modernizing the legislative proposal and Slovenia's commitment to establishing a circular economy, preserving the environment, and achieving climate goals. She emphasized the importance of safeguarding human and animal health, highlighting that food packaging serves the purpose of protecting food and ensuring its hygiene, organoleptic qualities, and safety. However, she also acknowledged that implementing these measures might increase the administrative burden for authorities and producers who need to adapt accordingly.

The Croatian delegation raised the issue of regulating the maximum shelf life of frozen products at the EU level. While the legislation on food hygiene mandates operators to provide downstream food business operators with the production and freezing dates for frozen food of animal origin, there is no defined shelf life for frozen meat. Currently, each operator determines the shelf life individually, resulting in products with several years of shelf life in the market. Thus, there is a need to harmonize regulations and establish uniform rules regarding the maximum shelf life for frozen meat. Minister Irena Šinko suggested electronic reporting systems as a potential solution, aiming to simplify and streamline the value chain for all stakeholders, including food business operators involved in marketing frozen products within the EU. The first part of the meeting concluded with a report by the European Commission on the 5th European Union–African Union summit.

In the second part of the meeting, the ministers focused on the market situation, particularly in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. Mykola Solskyi, the Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food, joined the ministers for a working lunch and presented the challenges faced by Ukraine and the share of Ukrainian products in EU markets. The European Commission provided insights into the market situation and proposed actions. The Croatian minister introduced an initiative aimed at assisting member states in addressing future crises in the long term. Several member states raised concerns about various agricultural sectors, such as fruits, vegetables, and livestock, which were experiencing difficulties beyond those covered by existing measures. Extreme weather conditions in previous years and the current year contributed to the exceptional situation in these sectors. Minister Šinko highlighted that Slovenia's small market size made it highly vulnerable to secondary effects resulting from surplus in the EU market and market fluctuations. The cereal sector, particularly wheat, was facing significant challenges, including declining buying prices, warehouses reaching capacity, and rising input costs. Minister Šinko supported the adoption of the third package of measures at the EU level and utilizing the remaining funds from the agricultural reserve. However, she also stressed the importance of allowing member states to choose the sectors and providing co-financing options. Minister Šinko endorsed the Croatian delegation's call for an improved Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) system to better manage risks and crises.

At the initiative of the Portuguese delegation, the ministers discussed the adverse climate conditions prevalent in several European countries. Minister Šinko acknowledged that extreme weather events like frost, heavy precipitation, and strong winds were already affecting this year's crops, including permanent crops. Detailed information regarding the extent of the damage caused