European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer-Boel said in Portugal's Oporto on Monday she expected a lot from Slovenia's spell as EU president in the first half of 2008. She emphasised Slovenia was facing a lot of work on EU dossiers in the area of agriculture and that the interim review of the common agricultural policy would be of key importance.
Speaking at the sidelines of an informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers, Fischer Boel expressed hope that political agreement on the review would be reached during Slovenia's EU presidency. She also finds it important that Slovenia follows the set schedule so that not all topics are inherited by France, which is to succeed Slovenia at the EU's helm.
President of the council of EU agriculture ministers, Portuguese Agriculture Minister Jaime Silva, told today that he would not give any advice to Slovenia as he completely trusted Slovenian Agriculture Minister Iztok Jarc.
According to sources close to the Agriculture Ministry, Slovenia's EU presidency in the area of agriculture will include managing about 70 working groups. But as all groups will not be operative, the government envisaged between 40 and 50 presiding groups, while the ministry is employing 150 experts for the presidency.
During its stint as EU president, Slovenia will host several formal meetings of EU agriculture ministers, who usually meet on monthly basis, and a traditional informal meeting.
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