"Croatia can be satisfied with the agreement on key issues from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package, because it takes into account its most important demands," Agriculture Minister, Marija Vuckovic, said in Luxembourg on Tuesday, according to state agency Hina.

At a two-day meeting in Luxembourg, EU agriculture and fisheries ministers on Monday confirmed the agreement on the reform of the CAP, reached with the European Parliament last week.

Vuckovic said Croatia was glad its most important demands had been taken into account, concerning the treatment of areas with natural constraints, animal welfare and certain exemptions and flexibility regarding small farmers.

The new CAP rules, to be in force from 2023 to the end of 2027, oblige member states to respect the social and labor rights of agricultural workers, encourage farmers to apply greener farming practices, envisage incentives for smaller farms and young farmers and advocate making financial support to farms more conditional on their results and performance.

Now that political agreement has been reached on the new CAP, the path is clear for both legislative institutions, the Council and the Parliament, to formally vote the new rules in. The ministers also reached agreement on a control regulation that refers to fisheries.

Vuckovic said that monitoring and control in the fisheries sector were very important and that Croatia had made significant progress in recent years, notably regarding the application of innovations and new technologies in control and monitoring.

She commended the Croatian fisheries sector for undergoing a very important and difficult transformation, underlining the need to preserve the country’s fishing resources, fishing fleet, small fishermen and their traditional way of life.

Vuckovic also called at the Luxembourg meeting for the continuation of support to wine makers, beekeepers and fruit and vegetable farmers.