The European Commission has proposed a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU for the industries and sectors related to oceans, seas and coasts. A sustainable blue economy is essential to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and ensuring a green and inclusive recovery from the pandemic.

Once in place, the new measures will allow the Commission and other EU agencies and bodies to import and purchase goods and services VAT-free when those purchases are being distributed during an emergency response in the EU. The recipients might be Member States or third parties, such as national authorities or institutions (for example, a hospital, a national health or disaster response authority).

The Commission has presented an Action Plan for the development of organic production. Its overall aim is to boost the production and consumption of organic products, to reach 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030, as well as to increase organic aquaculture significantly.

EU agriculture and fisheries ministers met to discuss fishing opportunities for stocks shared with the United Kingdom, the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and measures against plant pests.

The EU trade agenda is set to have an overall positive impact on the EU economy and the agri-food sector, according to a new study. Trade agreements are due to result in substantial increases in EU agri-food exports, with more limited increases in imports, creating a positive trade balance overall.

The Commission has published recommendations for each Member State to assist in the drafting of their Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans, accompanied by a Communication.

Ministers reached an agreement on the three regulations fixing fishing opportunities for 2021 in certain areas of the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean and Black Sea as well as for certain deep-sea stocks (the latter also for 2022). They also approved Council conclusions on an EU-wide animal welfare label.

The Council reached three important political agreements for Europe's agriculture and fisheries sectors during the two-day Council in Luxembourg. 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.

EU agriculture ministers met in Brussels to advance discussions on the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and exchange views on trade-related issues in the agricultural sector.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on its future Action Plan on Organic Farming. This sector will play an important role in achieving the European Green Deal ambition, and reaching the objectives set out in the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies.

The Commission today adopted its proposal for fishing opportunities for 2021 for the Baltic Sea. The Commission proposes to increase fishing opportunities for herring in the Gulf of Riga and main basin salmon, whilst maintaining the current levels for herring in the Gulf of Bothnia, sprat and plaice. The Commission proposes to decrease fishing opportunities for the remaining stocks covered by the proposal.

In the first physical meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council since January 2020, 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 COVID-19 crisis. The German presidency presented its work programme and priorities in the area of agriculture and fisheries.

Agriculture and fisheries ministers exchanged views on the progress achieved on the common agricultural policy reform and the road ahead. They also discussed the fishing opportunities for 2021.

The Commission adopted a report on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) which reveals that, while the EU's framework for marine environmental protection is one of the most comprehensive and ambitious worldwide, persistent challenges remain, such as excess nutrients, underwater noise, plastic litter, and other types of pollution as well as unsustainable fishing.

MEPs denounced racism and police violence and called for progress on EU-UK negotiations and recovery plans during a packed plenary session on 17-19 June.

Today, the European Commission published “The EU Blue Economy Report 2020”, providing an overview of the performance of the EU economic sectors related to oceans and the coastal environment.