According to a press release from the Slovenian Agriculture Ministry, the new delivery model would involve member countries having to draw up strategic plans listing measures funded from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Addressing today's meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Pivec said that the new delivery model was a major change of CAP reform proposals, so it was important that the European Commission provided assistance to member countries as they put in place new CAP implementation systems.

"Slovenia would like to emphasize that the strategic plans set out additional contents, not included in the existing rural development schemes, which is why the new model does not bring simplification in this sense. The legislation must also allow for sufficient flexibility," Pivec was quoted as saying.

The minister also noted the significance of the subsidiarity principle. "This is very important for Slovenia, considering the big differences between member countries. Slovenian agriculture is specific in particular because of the features of the natural environment."

The ministers also discussed a joint statement on the future European Maritime and Fisheries Fund put forward by France, Italy and Spain. Slovenia supports simplifying implementation in order to speed up take-up of EU funds, also by avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens.

"Small-scale coastal fishing is of particular significance to Slovenia, as small-scale fishing vessels represent more than 90 percent of the Slovenian fishing fleet. Small-scale coastal fishing is also part of a tradition intertwined with the life of European coastal communities and many families," Pivec said.

At the session, the Commission unveiled a draft of the EU's long-term strategy for climate change by 2050, a document entitled "A Clean Planet for all: A European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy".

The document sets out eight scenarios for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by between 80% and 100% by 2050. The Commission does not want to change the goals of the EU and member countries by 2030, but urges attaining zero net emission rates by 2050 and boosting the EU's role in implementing Paris Climate Agreement commitments.

The Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry noted the importance of stimulating measures to alleviate the consequences of climate change, apart from adapting to climate change.

"Agriculture will be able to play a major role in transition to a circular economy and has the potential to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from other sectors, but not at the expense of the quantity and quality of the food produced," the ministry quoted Pivec as saying.