The Ministers Council for Agriculture and Fisheries will meet in Brussels on 19 May, under the presidency of Athanasios Tsaftaris, Greek Minister for Rural Development and Food.

The Council will examine the Commission's Report on the establishment of a European fund for plant protection products used on a small scale (minor uses). These plant protection products are very important for farmers, particularly in countries such as Greece, where plant production is characterized by a wide range of specialized crops such as fruit, vegetables and floricultural plants. At the same time the industry does not intent to produce such plant protection products, for which the cost is high, since their demand cannot be massive. The issue affects 22% of the European plant production value and represents an additional cost to farmers of over € 1 billion a year. The aim of the Presidency is to seek such measures that will ensure farmers for the availability of such plant protection products at reasonable prices.

The Council will also examine a number of other items, precisely the reducing of food loss and waste, the protection of animals during their transport, the agricultural aspects of climate policy and energy by 2030, issues relating to the state aid το young farmer for land acquisition in the framework of the rural development programmes, as well as measures to protect EU citrus from the risk of the "black spot" disease that has occurred in Africa. The Council also will be informed of the outcome of conferences held on the climate-"smart" agriculture and on the future of rural areas.