During Latvia’s EU council presidency in the first six months of 2015, Janis Duklavs, Latvia’s ministry of agriculture, will bring EU attention on long-term agricultural production and future-oriented management of natural resources. Latvian presidency wants EU to promote a sustainable, innovative and environmental-friendly development of agricultural, food and fishery sectors: this will be the way to improve the European Union’s common agricultural policy (CAP). ”The guiding principles of our presidency are sustainability, competitiveness and growth”, Duklavs said. These principles will be applied to the whole programme, including agriculture, fishery, food, forestry and animal health. The presidency will also continue to strengthen health and safety standards in the entire agricultural and food production chain. Enhancing competitiveness of the EU’s agricultural production, both in the EU and in global markets, will ensure the sustainability of agriculture, animal and plant health. Furthermore, the presidency will work on sustainable and responsible forest management, improving the European model and promoting the forest management model globally. Latvian presidency’s purpose is to support an efficient use of the resources gained through a responsible management. Latvian presidency has also organized various events: in February, there will be a meeting at director level on how organic farming and short supply chains will contribute to sustainable development in rural economies. The International federation of organic agriculture movements will participate. In June, the presidency will hold the ninth European organic congress, where non-governmental organizations, the European commission and many decision makers will discuss EU’s propositions for organic farming after 2030. Latvia will also be the mediator of the negotiations among the EU member states, representing the EU council in discussions on agriculture at the parliament, the commission and in global institutions. The gLAWcal Team POREEN project Monday, 16 February 2015 (Source: The Parliament Magazine)