The Agriculture Ministers of the European Union discussed the European model of agriculture and the future challenges of the agriculture sector at an informal meeting in Oulu on 26 September. All the Ministers supported the common European values, increasing competitiveness and simplification of the common agricultural policy.

According to the Agriculture Ministers, the future agricultural policy must ensure that the production is market-oriented and environmentally-friendly and takes account of the consumer needs. The policy also needs to be flexible enough to adapt to the challenges ahead. At the same time we need to make sure that agricultural production continues in the less favourable production regions as well.

The informal meeting dealt with the content of the European model of agriculture and assessed its evolvement over the ten years of its existence and after the agricultural policy reforms. The objective is, in particular, to focus on the challenges ahead in the agriculture sector.

Further information at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:
Mr Pekka Pesonen, State Secretary, tel. +358 (0)9 160 53323, 0400 664 840
Mr Ilkka Ruska, Director-General, tel. +358 (0)9 160 53311, 040 504 0192