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Ministers discussed the reform of the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and focused on agreeing to a general approach on the post-2020 CAP reform package, the single common market organisation and on the CAP’s financing, management and monitoring.

Julia Klöckner, German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture of Germany:

Today's agreement is a milestone for Europe's agricultural policy. Member states demonstrated their ambition for higher environmental standards in farming and at the same time supported the needed flexibility in ensuring farmers' competitiveness. This agreement fulfils the aspiration of a greener, fairer and simpler CAP.

Fixing next year’s total allowable catches (TACs) and member states’ quotas for the most commercially important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea - including salmon, tuna and cod - was another important agenda point for the EU ministers. Quotas are designed to preserve fish stocks, share fishing opportunities between member states and protect marine ecosystems.

Ministers also focused on the adoption of the Farm to Fork Strategy which aims to make food systems healthier and more environmentally friendly. The strategy is a central part of the European Green Deal and was first presented by the European Commission in May 2020. Its main goals include reducing the use of pesticides, tackling food loss and waste and combatting food fraud.