Estonian rural affairs minister to introduce EU presidency priorities in Brussels

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Rural Affairs Tarmo Tamm on Tuesday will introduce Estonia's priorities for its presidency of the Council of the European Union at the European Parliament in Brussels.

Estonia's priorities in the field of agriculture include modernizing and simplifying the joint agricultural policy of the European Union, the fast processing of the Omnibus regulation, the fight against the globally spreading antimicrobial resistance, ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of the European Union's agricultural sector, an open trade policy and strengthening the position of producers in the supply chain. As the presidency holder, Estonia also considers important raising the topic of changes in the market situation, the sustainable use of soils, raising awareness in the field of plant health and discussions about the implementation of effective control measures which take into account modern digital opportunities.

The minister will be accompanied by deputy secretary general for food safety, research and development in the Ministry of Agriculture Toomas Kevvai, deputy secretary general for fisheries policy and foreign affairs Olavi Petron, deputy secretary general for agricultural and rural life policies Marko Gorban, and head of the ministry's European Union affairs department Madis Partel.

The minister is also scheduled to meet with Ulrike Muller, a member of the European Parliament's committee on agriculture and rural development.