UPON THE INVITATION OF THE COPA COGECA PRAESIDIUM CZECH MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE PETR GANDALOVIČ INTRODUCED THE PRESIDENCY PROGRAMME TO ITS MEMBERS The presentation of the Presidency programme and the discussion with the representatives of COPA COGECA took place in mid February at the seat of the organisation in Brussels The debate continued at the subsequent reception held under the auspices of the Czech Ambassador to the EU Milena Vicenová and Minister Petr Gandalovič at the seat of the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU COPA COGECA is an umbrella association of nongovernmental agricultural organisations of the EU27 Minister Gandalovič was invited to the regular meeting of the heads of these organisations by the President of the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations COPA Jean Michel Lemétayer and the President of the General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives COGECA Gert van Dijk The Czech Minister as President of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council consults this association on positions concerning current as well as strategic issues of the European agricultural sector before each meeting of the Council In September 2008 the Congress of European Farmers adopted a declaration on the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy beyond 2013 The future form of the Common Agricultural Policy especially direct payments is one of the priorities of the Czech Presidency so the exchange of opinions may provide the Presidency with useful guidance All together From left Petr Gandalovič Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic Jean Michel Lemétayer President of Copa and Pekka Pesonen COPA COGECA Secretary 102 EU matters agriculture

103 CZECH MATE Moravian wines Czech beers and regional foods were in abundance in Brussels on the night of The Parliament Magazine’s New Year reception held on the occasion of the Czech EU presidency MEPs and other well wishers turned out in force at the Parliament Magazine’s New Year reception in the members dining room on 20th January to celebrate the start of Prague’s stint at the EU’s helm This spring’s informal agriculture meeting in the South Moravian capital Brno could be one of the best attended events of the Czech presidency especially after the guest of honour Czech agriculture minister Petr Gandalovič invited the 250 plus audience to turn up and sample even more Moravian wines during the ministers meeting The minister fresh from addressing parliament’s Agriculture Fishery and Environmental committees for the first time broke the ice at the reception with a few wry comments on the controversial Entropa art exhibition However Gandalovič pledged that despite Prague’s Eurosceptic tag the government would do all it could to make the presidency a success From left Milan Horáček European Parliament Lutz Goepel European Parliament Friedrich Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf European Parliament and Petr Gandalovič Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic Petr Gandalovič Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic more photos and electronic version available on www leadersmagazine cz EU matters

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