On 1-2 June, the informal meeting of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries will take place in Riga during which the Latvian Presidency will initiate discussions about the current situation on organic agriculture and its development in the European Union.

The subject of the meeting is: Organic production: Sustainability, growth and consumer needs before and beyond 2020. The Presidency has prepared a discussion document on the current situation and the development of organic agriculture in the European Union.

Member States will be asked to assess which of the existing policy instruments have been successful in addressing the challenges in organic farming and which instruments should be used in the future.

During the informal Council meeting, participants will visit Buku audzētava organic farm in Valgunde parish.

Live broadcast will be available on the Presidency website:

2 June

8:15-9:15

Doorstep by Mr Jānis Dūklavs, Minister for Agriculture, Republic of Latvia

Arrivals/doorsteps by Agriculture ministers; handshakes

Tour-de-table before the meeting

12:30-13:00

Press conference:

• Mr Jānis Dūklavs, Minister for Agriculture, Republic of Latvia 
• Mr Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development
• Mr Czesław Adam Siekierski, Chair of EP Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development