Mariann Fischer Boel at the Green Week in Berlin: "2007, a year of delivery"

"This will be a decisive year for European agriculture, with crucial reforms to two major farm sectors and reflections due to start on what can be done to make the Common Agricultural Policy work more effectively in future." This was the message of Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, at the start of the 2007 Green Week, a major international exhibition for the food, agricultural and horticultural industries. It takes place in Berlin from 19 to 28 January 2007.

"By the end of this year, I hope we will have been able to agree on fundamental reforms to our wine and fruit and vegetable markets," Mrs Fischer Boel said. "We must be bold if we are to give our producers the ability to compete in an increasingly tough marketplace."

Proposals to reform the €1.5 billion Common Market Organisation for fruit and vegetables are due to be adopted on 24 January and legislative proposals on wine will follow before the summer.

"These are the last two sectors which are not yet part of the reform process we began in 2003. We need to move away from old-fashioned methods of support and allow producers to become more competitive and market-orientated," the Commissioner said.

"Our wines are the best in the world, yet we are losing ground to the 'New World' wine producers. We need to win back markets, and remove some of the obstacles which are holding back our wine producers," she added.

"Fruit and vegetables are vital to promoting healthier eating. Our reforms aim to strengthen growers, modernise the system of support and encourage consumption, especially amongst the young," Mrs Fischer Boel said. "We will also take measures to boost organic production, which will be assisted further by the anticipated final agreement on a new Organic Regulation during the German presidency."

Last week, the Commission unveiled an ambitious strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce Europe's dependence on imported fossil fuels.

"Agriculture can play a key role in this strategy. I am delighted with the decision to propose a compulsory target of 10 percent biofuels in the fuel mix by 2020. This is an excellent opportunity for European agriculture to play a part in one of the greatest challenges facing the European Union today. Our CAP reforms have already given biofuel production a major push – now I want to build on this further," the Commissioner said.

Simplifying the Common Agricultural Policy is also high on Commissioner Fischer Boel's priorities for 2007.

The Commission has already proposed a number of important technical changes, which will make life easier for farmers and administrators. The next step is to look at the system of Cross Compliance – the set of environmental, animal welfare and food quality standards farmers have to respect to receive their direct subsidies.

"Cross Compliance is crucial if we are to maintain public support for our payments to farmers. But I am not deaf to farmers' concerns. I have therefore promised a report on the system in time for the March meeting of the Agriculture Council. I will work closely with Minister Seehofer to look at how we can streamline the system, without losing sight of the principles behind it."

2007 will also be a year of intensive work behind the scenes to prepare for the so-called "Health Check" of the CAP reforms.

"My proposals for the Health Check will be unveiled in 2008, but we are clearly already looking in great detail at the issues. This will not be a fundamental reform, but rather an effort to make things work better. After the reforms of the past few years, farmers need a period of consolidation," Mrs Fischer Boel concluded.