Estonia - Agriculture

Short-term priorities

Agriculture

• to continue aligning and improving animal and plant health inspection;
• to continue modernising the food industry, particularly the processing of milk products, meat and fish.

Assessment (November 2000)

There had been progress on veterinary inspection. However, no progress had been made on the treatment of animal waste or on animal welfare. The modernisation of food processing establishments had not been completed.

Assessment (November 2001)

Progress had been recorded as regards veterinary and plant health inspection. The modernisation of food processing establishments had not yet been completed.

Assessment (October 2002)

Estonia is continuing its efforts in the veterinary sphere. It will have to improve its plant health inspection system and border controls. Compliance with quality standards for food products will also have to be monitored.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities

Agriculture

• aligning with Community rules on agriculture (in particular animal and plant health, with particular emphasis on inspections at the external frontiers);
• completing the land restitution process;
• developing the capacity to implement and enforce the common agricultural policy, in particular the fundamental management mechanisms and the administrative structures to monitor the agricultural markets;
• implementing structural and rural development measures;
• adopting and implementing veterinary and plant health rules;
• bringing certain food processing centres and testing and diagnostic facilities up to scratch;
• restructuring the agri-food industry.

Assessment (October 1999)

No progress had been made in this area.

Assessment (November 2000)

No progress had been made in this area.

Assessment (November 2001)

Work had continued on the mechanisms for managing the agricultural policy and on administrative structures. Progress was needed as regards modernising the food industry and in the veterinary sector.

Assessment (October 2002)

Progress has been achieved, but the paying authority will require further reinforcement.

Fisheries

Assessment (November 2001)

Revision of the fishing plan and creation of a fishing fleet register, which are priorities, had been accomplished in part. However, inspection capacity needed to be stepped up.

Assessment (October 2002)

Progress has been limited. The Fisheries Information System, and structural and market policies will have to be put in place. At the same time, efforts will have to be made to improve administrative capacity and strengthen coordination between the different Ministries responsible for fisheries. Otherwise, preparation of legislation on markets, fisheries registers and producers' organisations is well under way.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 98/264/EC of 30.3.1998Official Journal L 121, 23.04.1998

Decision 1999/855/EC of 6.12.1999Official Journal L 335, 28.12.1999

Commission opinion COM(97) 2006 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(98) 705 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(1999) 504 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(2000) 704 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1747/2Not published in the Official Journal

Commission report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1403Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1201Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004