EU sheep-meat fall of 20% to be discussed
Production has fallen by 20% in 15 years, leaving the EU only 80% self-sufficient for sheep-meat.
Average annual consumption in the EU has declined to 3.4kg, down from 3.7kg in 2000. Agriculture ministers will attend from Ireland, Britain, Spain and Romania, and from the countries that follow France’s EU presidency in 2009 (Sweden and the Czech Republic). The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, industry experts, and stakeholders have been invited to discuss ways to ensure the sector’s viability.
