Agriculture Ministers met for two days of informal talks on 30 May – 1 June, in Merida, Spain, which afforded an opportunity for discussion over their respective positions ahead of the publication of the Commission’s Communication on a post-2013 CAP.

A new study has been published evaluating the impact that halting direct payments to farmers might have on the viability of farms in the EU-25.

The online public debate on the future of the CAP launched by Commissioner Mr Ciolos in April has been extended by one week to now end 11 June.

Three own-initiative MEP papers were adopted at a mini plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels on 5 – 6 May. The reports, on agriculture in Less Favoured Areas (LFAs), the Animal Welfare Action Plan and EU agriculture and climate change were drafted by MEPs Herbert Dorfmann, Marit Paulsen and Stéphane Le Foll, respectively.