(L-R) Silvia Bender, State Secretary of the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture; Maria do Céu Antunes, Portuguese Minister of Agriculture and Food; Claude Haagen, Luxembourg Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development; Credit: EU

From Monday 26 to Tuesday 27 June 2023, Claude Haagen, the Luxembourg Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development, took part in the meeting of the European Union's Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which was held at the European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL).

Regarding the regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products, the Luxembourg Minister Haagen considered that certain provisions relating to the compulsory registration by professional users of crop protection interventions would amount to an excessive and disproportionate administrative burden in relation to the objectives pursued.

While Luxembourg welcomes the Presidency's proposals relating to rules and guidelines specific to the different cultures in terms of integrated pest management, it remains of the opinion that the establishment of a compulsory advice system is not effective, and that advice sought voluntarily by users of plant protection products is to be preferred. "Perhaps a reinforced obligation in terms of continuous training for professional users would be a more sensible alternative", proposed Claude Haagen, adding that "we also look forward to the Commission's study on the overall impact of the proposal, so that we can move this file forward as soon as possible".

The German, Austrian and Dutch delegations had asked to put the ban on fur farming on the agenda. Together with several other countries of the Union, Luxembourg supported this demand: “The farming conditions for fur animals are often incompatible with a minimum level of animal welfare. Furthermore, breeding and slaughtering animals for the sole purpose of obtaining their fur is not ethically acceptable. In Luxembourg, we have therefore banned these activities since 2018. And I am also in favour of a ban on fur farms in the Union, which is the only solution to both protect animals and reduce health risks.”

Regarding trade-related agricultural issues, Luxembourg is in favour of fair and balanced trade agreements with third countries that share its societal and environmental aspirations, the ministry reported. Minister Haagen stressed on this subject that it is essential for Luxembourg that these agreements meet the criteria of sustainable development and the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and that a level of reciprocity of standards is applied to imported products.