On Tuesday, September 8th, an informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers will take place in Dublin, Ireland, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Ministers will discuss the EU Livestock Strategy and the EU Protein Action Plan, with particular focus on the role of research and innovation. Latvia will be represented at the meeting by Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Normunds Šmits.
The EU Livestock Strategy and the EU Protein Action Plan were published on July 7th this year. The EU Livestock Strategy provides a long-term strategic framework for the development of a viable, competitive, sustainable and resilient livestock sector in the EU.
The EU Protein Action Plan, in turn, sets out a range of measures to increase protein production in the EU and reduce dependence on protein imports. At the informal meeting, ministers will discuss the role of research and innovation in implementing both initiatives.