EU and candidate countries start negotiations on agriculture 

The EU presented its common position on agriculture, adopted by the 15 Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs Council on 17 June. The common position tackles all agricultural issues except for the direct payments to farmers in the candidate countries. This issue will be dealt with separately, and the EU decided at its Seville Summit (21-22 June) to reach a common position in early November.

On 28 June, the agricultural chapter was discussed with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The following chapters were closed on 28 June:

• Estonia: Taxation;
• Malta: Fisheries;
• Romania: Economic and Monetary Union.

The number of chapters closed out of total 30 after 28 June:

• Bulgaria: 20;
• Cyprus: 28;
• Czech Republic: 25;
• Estonia: 27;
• Hungary: 24;
• Latvia: 27;
• Lithuania: 28;
• Malta: 23;
• Poland: 25;
• Romania: 12;
• Slovakia: 26;
• Slovenia: 27.