A report by the UK House of Lords on the EU Budget has criticised expenditure on the CAP and concludes by stating that 'in the light of the recession the distribution of the Budget in favour of agriculture is deeply frustrating'.

Following the first Agriculture Council meeting of its Presidency, Sweden has published a discussion document on 'climate change and agriculture' in preparation for the informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers in September. In addition, the Commission has also published a report on market conditions in the dairy sector.

France and Germany have established a new working group on the future of the CAP post-2013. The working group, which intends to engage with other Member States, will hold its first meeting in September with initial positions on the future of the CAP to be put forward prior to this.