This was an introductory meeting, the aim of which was to make arrangements for the upcoming meeting of the AGRI Council in Luxembourg (19–20 October 2020), at which the German Presidency intends to reach a compromise on the ‘general approach’ to reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

When setting out the expectations concerning the discussions to be held at the EU level, Minister Puda outlined Poland’s  main proposals regarding the direction in which the CAP should develop in the future.. Poland is against setting minimum budget limits for eco-schemes, is seeking exclusion of small farms from control of conditionality, and is advocating for exemption  from financial discipline for those farms which receive direct payments of up to EUR 2,000.

The talks also concerned cooperation between Poland and Germany in the fight against African Swine Fever (ASF). Referring to the efficiency and experience of Poland and the Czech Republic in their fight against the virus, J. Klöckner proposed discussing this issue in detail in the group of the ministers of agriculture and chief veterinary officers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Minister Puda declared Poland’s full readiness to continue joint efforts to contain ASF, highlighting the importance of dialogue with ecological organisations and a balanced approach to this issue.