Agriculture and rural development

REFORM OF THE I. PILLAR OF THE CAP

Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy introduced direct payments based on the adopted single payment scheme, which Slovenia introduced on 1 January 2007. By the end of 2007 all procedures and activities with regard to payment entitlements had been carried out, and in the first months of 2008 payments will be made.

One of the Ministry’s priorities is also collaboration in drafting Commission’s implementing regulations for the adopted reform of the fruit and vegetable market and drawing up national regulations and programmes for the implementation of the reform. Intense discussions are being held on proposals for wine market regulation reform, where the priority is drawing up views and proposals, which would help to increase the competitiveness and restructuring of the sector within the reform framework.

In addition, the drafting of the new Agriculture Act, which will provide the legal basis for the more efficient and transparent implementation of agricultural policy measures in Slovenia, is in its final stage. In the next few months, particularly in the first half of 2008, we will focus on the proposed amendments of the CAP within the so-called health check, which is also a priority of our Presidency. During this time, key aspects of the CAP reform will need to be discussed within the current Financial Perspective, as well as some elements of more long-term reform.

IMPLEMENTING THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 2007-2013

The Rural Development Programme (RDP 2007-2013) approved by the European Commission on 24 July 2007 is a joint programming document of Slovenia and the European Commission, which provides the programme basis for drawing funds from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). In 2008 the Ministry’s activities will focus on successfully carrying out public procurements. With regard to promoting the sustainable development of rural areas, current policy stresses three objectives:

• improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry, 
• supporting land management and improving the environment, 
• improving the quality of life and encouraging the diversification of business activities.

Each RDP goal has a corresponding thematic axis, complemented by the ‘methodological’ axis for the LEADER initiative/axis, which seeks to improve development opportunities in rural areas by using local resources and actively involving local inhabitants.

One significant new measure in RDP 2007–2013 is aimed at improving and developing infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture, which will earmark more funds for large irrigation systems and the modernisation of hydro-melioration systems. This is a new measure, which has not been implemented in this form yet and is particularly significant in the light of climate change.

Safe and quality food and feed

One of the most important tasks of the Ministry and its bodies is ensuring safe and the quality of food and feed. The Ministry will continue its work on preparing and implementing EU legislation, especially new EU legislation on food labelling and feed labelling.

With good coordination between the Ministry, bodies within the Ministry and other competent authorities, we will ensure a strong, complex network for assuring safety of food and feed.

In the field of food safety the Ministry will, in accordance with its competencies, continue to intend financial founds for ensuring improved safety and quality of food and feedstuffs. The Ministry will also protect consumers. Funds will be divided between food and feed. The main emphasis will be on the most pressing issues concerning feed, such as GMO’s, mycotoxins, and also on the quality parameters of different foodstuffs. The Ministry will continue to work on expanding laboratory capacity relevant to its duties.

With a view to maintaining a high level of foodstuff safety, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food operates a system of traceability of livestock from the animals’ birth to slaughter which is equivalent to EU standards.

The Ministry will continue activities such as informing consumers, educating them and raising consumer awareness.

By introducing measures in the food and feed safety and quality area, the Ministry aims to enhance consumer confidence and producers’ responsibilities. The Quality schemes (geographical denominations, traditional speciality guarantees, higher quality, organic, and integrated farming) enable the RS to strengthen and upgrade its quality systems for specific agricultural products and foodstuffs which offer the consumer products of higher quality. The producers see their inclusion in quality schemes as an opportunity to attain greater competitiveness in the market, more specific product presentation, and an improved cooperation of all the links of the chain, which promote themselves together on the market. Due to the increasing interest of potential investors regarding the possibilities of protecting new products in the Republic of Slovenia, there is an existing interest in future support for measures, which enhance quality regimes for specific agricultural products or foodstuffs. For sustaining quality schemes, we introduced measures under SPD 2004-2006 and RDP 2007-2013, which are aimed to increase and support the producers included in the quality schemes.

Forestry

The implementation of the new National Forestry Programme based on the amended Law on Forests will be directed towards the intensified sustainable and multi-purpose management of forests. Environmental functions, including biodiversity, will be respected further, implementing sustainable and adaptive close-to-nature forest management as a basis for the optimal functioning of the forests as ecosystems, and the realisation of all their functions. The intensification of forest management will be achieved through forestry measures as specified in the Programme of Rural Development: improving technological equipment; increasing the competence of forest owners, as well as professional forestry contractors in the use of advanced technologies; investing in forest infrastructure; bringing together forest owners; improving the use of wood as a renewable source of energy; increasing the rate of processing or converting various other material goods from the forest, etc.

There will also be intensive work to implement the EU Forestry Strategy, the EU Forestry Action Plan, the commitments of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulations, as well as participation in preparations for the United Nations Forum on Forests – UNFF sessions and FAO and UNECE activities

Fisheries

The adoption of the National Strategic Plan for Fisheries Development in the Republic of Slovenia 2007-2013, the Operational Programme for Fisheries Development in the Republic of Slovenia 2007-2013, and the Management Plan for Fisheries in Waters under the Jurisdiction of the RS are of crucial importance for the development of the fisheries sector in Slovenia.

They will enable Slovenia to follow the goals of the Common Fisheries Policy – for Slovenia, most important of these are reaching a balance between the fishing effort and the available fisheries resources, fostering the socio-economic development of the coastal fisheries areas, promoting the development of sustainable and environment-friendly aquaculture, as well as increasing awareness among consumers of the benefits of fish as food.

The National Strategic Plan and the Operational Programme will enable Slovenia to draw funds from the European Fisheries Fund in order to reach these goals, and the Management Plan for Fisheries will allow for the protection of marine resources in Slovenian territorial waters. In the field of sustainable management of inland fisheries and game, the RS will grant new concessions for management to hunters’ associations and fishing societies on the basis of new legislation.

Presidency of the EU

Slovenia is the first of the Member States which joined the European Union (EU) in the last wave of its enlargement in 2004 and 2007 to hold the Council Presidency. At the same time Slovenia is closing the first Trio Presidency and its 18-month programme. The main aim of the Slovenian Presidency is to achieve the goals set out in this programme, to sustain the continuity of EU policies, and to ensure a smooth transition to the next Trio Presidency. Achieving these ambitious goals will require a continuous and sustained effort.