Whether it will report on the outcome of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 22 July 2003.

The Italian Presidency, in its first meeting in the chair, set out its work programme for the remainder of the year. This will include implementation of the revised Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the adoption of legal texts formalising the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform agreement reached in June 2003, the launching of proposals for reform of the sugar and certain mediterranean regimes, and co-ordinating the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations at Cancun, Mexico in September. The Presidency plans two conferences on mediterranean fisheries and agriculture questions. The relationship between EU agriculture and that in developing countries will be the theme of the informal ministerial meeting in Sicily in September. Other dossiers to be taken forward will include genetically modified organisms (GMOs) (co-existence with non-GMO agriculture), rural employment, organic farming and western waters.On agriculture, the Council concluded its discussions of two food hygiene proposals which impose a new requirement on food businesses to adopt specific hygiene procedures and make changes to the veterinary inspection regime. It was agreed to allow an 18-month implementation period. The Council was thus able to reach a common position on the package and, subject to agreement by the European Parliament, formal texts will be adopted in the autumn.The Commission signalled that it is on the verge of agreeing draft guidance to member states on how to manage the co-existence of genetically modified and other crops. Pending Commission agreement, Commissioner Fischler was not in a position to indicate its likely content. The Commission subsequently issued guidelines on the 23 July.Following on from work under the Greek Presidency, the Presidency proposed some conclusions on the importance of rural employment which, amongst other things, called on the Commission to carry out a broad study of employment prospects (not just in agriculture) in the rural areas. The conclusions were unanimously agreed.Under any other business, Commissioner Byrne gave the customary two-monthly report on developments regarding BSE. There was no discussion. The Commission informed the Council of its plan for a conference on the future for rural development in Salzburg in November. France and a number of delegations reported problems arising from continued drought.The Commission reported on preparations for the WTO Ministerial in Cancun, Mexico, in September 2003 and circulated a paper which set out the impact of the recent CAP reform deal in a WTO context. The UK supported the Commission and other member states in stressing the importance of getting the EU's trading partners to recognise the scale and scope of the newly agreed reforms.On fisheries, only two issues arose. The Presidency produced a short progress report on the Commission's proposal (Com (2002) 739 final) for a new western waters regulation. It indicated that there was not yet a basis for agreement in Council; that bilateral discussion would continue with the member states; and that an agreement would be sought at the Council on 29-30 September. There was no substantive discussion.The Presidency also produced a questionnaire, which formed the basis for a substantive, preliminary discussion on the Commission's latest proposals for cod and hake recovery plans. The discussion centred on the biological and management targets for these stocks, the need for effort control, and the merits of the Commission's proposals as compared with the current, interim regime contained in Annex XVII to last December's TAC and Quota regulation. The discussion did not go into the associated detail, which remains to be discussed in Council working groups in September onwards. Most member states felt the need for such discussion before adopting firm positions on the Commission's proposal. The UK requested a full evaluation of Annex XVII, and re-stated its commitment to effort control as one ele