On 25 January 2021, Maria do Céu Antunes, Portuguese Minister for Agriculture, and Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, gave a joint press conference following the informal video conference of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries, held remotely from Brussels, Belgium, and Lisbon, Portugal, due to the coronavirus context.On this occasion, ministers touched upon guidance on the start of the formal bilateral EU-UK consultations on setting definite fishing opportunities for 2021 and for some stocks for 2022, the impact and perspectives of the latest trade developments on EU's agricultural sector and the current state of play regarding the interinstitutional negotiations of the post-2020 Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform package.This video shows the online joint press conference followed by a questions/answers session with Janusz Wojciechowski and Maria do Céu Antunes.

On 15 December 2020, Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, attended a plenary session of the EP in Brussels, Belgium, on the end of the derogation for slaughter establishments laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/185.Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 lays down the specific hygiene rules applicable to food of animal origin. Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/185 provides by way of derogation that the provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 do not apply to the direct supply, by the producer, of small quantities of meat from poultry and lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm to the final consumer, or local retail establishments supplying directly to the final consumer. This derogation will no longer be possible from 31 December 2020 onwards, as Regulation (EU) 2017/185 will cease to apply on that date.The derogation allowed producers to supply local markets directly with processed poultry meat and lagomorphs that they had produced. Short marketing circuits have also been developed to meet high consumer demand for local products and provide better remuneration for local producers.In her letter, and when addressing the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 19 October 2020, Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, confirmed the end date of the derogation, and stressed that the only way forward to allow certain producers not to comply with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 would be to amend it, which would require an ordinary legislative procedure. Most of the Member States concerned have already asked for a prolongation of this derogation.This video shows an opening statement given by Nicolas Schmit on this occasion.

On 15 December 2020, Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, attended a plenary session of the EP in Brussels, Belgium, on the end of the derogation for slaughter establishments laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/185.Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 lays down the specific hygiene rules applicable to food of animal origin. Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/185 provides by way of derogation that the provisions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 do not apply to the direct supply, by the producer, of small quantities of meat from poultry and lagomorphs slaughtered on the farm to the final consumer, or local retail establishments supplying directly to the final consumer. This derogation will no longer be possible from 31 December 2020 onwards, as Regulation (EU) 2017/185 will cease to apply on that date.The derogation allowed producers to supply local markets directly with processed poultry meat and lagomorphs that they had produced. Short marketing circuits have also been developed to meet high consumer demand for local products and provide better remuneration for local producers.In her letter, and when addressing the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 19 October 2020, Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, confirmed the end date of the derogation, and stressed that the only way forward to allow certain producers not to comply with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 would be to amend it, which would require an ordinary legislative procedure. Most of the Member States concerned have already asked for a prolongation of this derogation.This video shows a closing statement given by Nicolas Schmit on this occasion.

On 16 November 2020, Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, participated in the informal video conference of European agriculture and fisheries ministers.The main items discussed were sustainable food systems, the situation in the European agricultural market as well as specific challenges related to COVID-19 and African swine fever. Ministers also touched upon the EU forest related policies and the EU forest strategy.This video shows the joint online press conference given by Julia Klöckner, German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, and President in office of the Council of the EU and Janusz Wojciechowski, and the following question and answer session.

On 21 October 2020, Julia Klöckner, German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, and Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, gave a joint press conference in Luxembourg, following the 3776th meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council.On this occasion, the Council reached three important political agreements for Europe's agriculture and fisheries sectors during the two-day Council on 19-20 October 2020. Ministers agreed a general approach on the common agriculture policy (CAP) reform package, adopted conclusions on the farm to fork strategy and decided the fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2021.This video shows Julia Klöckner and Janusz Wojciechowski's joint press conference on the outcome of the meeting, followed by a questions/answers session held by video conference due to the coronavirus context.

On 20 July 2020, Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, and Julia Klöckner, German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture and President in office of the Council, gave a joint press conference following the 3766th meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels, Belgium. This was the first physical meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council since January 2020. On this occasion, Ministers discussed in detail the farm to fork strategy, the green architecture of the common agriculture policy (CAP) reform package and the market situation in the context of the coronavirus crisis. The German Presidency also presented its work programme and priorities in the area of agriculture and fisheries: CAP reform, farm to fork strategy, animal welfare, food labelling, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the 2021 fishing opportunities.This video shows the entire joint press conference given by Stella Kyriakides and Julia Klöckner on 'Farm to Fork Strategy'.

On 20 July 2020, Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, and Julia Klöckner, German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture and President in office of the Council, gave a joint press conference following the 3766th meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels, Belgium. This was the first physical meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council since January 2020. On this occasion, Ministers discussed in detail the farm to fork strategy, the green architecture of the common agriculture policy (CAP) reform package and the market situation in the context of the coronavirus crisis. The German Presidency also presented its work programme and priorities in the area of agriculture and fisheries: CAP reform, farm to fork strategy, animal welfare, food labelling, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the 2021 fishing opportunities.This video shows the entire joint press conference given by Janusz Wojciechowski and Julia Klöckner.

On 17 June 2020, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Nikolina Brnjac, Croatian Secretary of State for Foreign and European Affairs, gave an opening statement at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on the preparation of the European Council meeting and recommendations on the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.On this occasion, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed the outstanding issues: fair competition, fisheries, police and judicial cooperation.

On 6 April 2020, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission delivered a message on measures to support farmers during the coronavirus crisis.The Commission further increased its response by proposing to set up a €100 billion solidarity instrument to help workers keep their incomes and help businesses stay afloat, called SURE. It also proposed to redirect all available structural funds to the response to the coronavirus. The EU committed in support to farmers and fishermen, as did the most deprived.

On 18 December 2019, Jari Leppä, Finnish Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, and of Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, gave a joint press conference in Brussels, Belgium, in the framework of the 3740th meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council.On this occasion, Virginijus Sinkevičius presented 4 key highlights that were agreed on.This video shows the entire joint press conference by Jari Leppä and Virginijus Sinkevičius.