French Agriculture Minister, Julien Denormandie, visited Koblenz (Germany) on Tuesday yesterday before the informal Council of Agriculture Ministers at the invitation of the German Presidency. This informal Council was mainly dedicated to the lessons to be learned from the Covid-19 health crisis for the agricultural and agri-food sector, as well as to consumer information issues on the origin of products and animal welfare in the framework for the implementation of the European strategy “From farm to table”.

On this occasion, the minister highlighted the importance of asserting food sovereignty at the European level, which is based on the proper functioning of the single market, security of supply and the development of strategic autonomy for sectors such as oilseeds.

He also reiterated his adherence to legitimate information that consumers have the right to expect, both about the origin of food products and their ingredients, as well as about animal husbandry and welfare conditions. the minister called for a harmonized approach at the European level, allowing consumers to make informed choices.

During bilateral meetings with the German and Italian ministers on the sidelines of the Council, Julien Denormandie insisted on the French priorities for the reform of the CAP. He recalled the importance of the environmental ambition of the future CAP, which must be based on criteria common to all Member States, to avoid any distortion of competition linked to production methods. He also recalled his desire to encourage the development of protein-rich crops by mobilizing the coupled aid lever. Finally, the minister expressed his attachment to maintaining the vine planting authorization system beyond 2030 to give visibility to producers and asked the Council to take up the issue in relation to the proposals already made by the European Parliament.

At the invitation of his German counterpart Julia Klöckner, Minister Julien Denormandie visited Bad Kreuznach, a place steeped in history that hosted a 1958 summit between General de Gaulle and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. In the company of the German minister, he exchanged with a panel made up of young farmers, winegrowers and representatives of a rural women's association about Franco-German cooperation and the expectations of the agricultural world for the future. "Generational renewal and support for agricultural facilities are a priority for France," he said in particular on this occasion.