Speaking in a press conference at the end of the Council, which was held on Monday the 18th in Brussels, Ms Espinosa said that all the ministers had welcomed the initiative. She also stated that the ministers shared information on the measures applied at the domestic level and then went on to discuss “future Community measures”.

According to the Spanish minister, several states, including Spain, have a price observatory, although the information they obtain is not subsequently shared. Ms Espinosa also advocated for “sharing information on profit margins and determining where the most significant distortions are emerging”.

First and foremost, she said, is the need to “take measures that allow distributing the added value in an equitative manner, so that each link in the chain obtains a fair remuneration”. 

“We are all confident that the European food chain will be the driving force of a new sustainable agriculture,” she asserted.
During her presentation to the Agriculture Council  on the priorities of the Spanish Presidency on agricultural and fishery matters, Espinosa asked her equivalents to do their bit to overcome the economic crisis with Community measures in the agricultural sector.

She stated that Spain seeks to promote the discussion on the future of aid to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013, when the current Community budget comes to an end.
During these six months, Spain will compile the results of discussions on the CAP. It will also promote discussions between the Twenty Seven in the informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers to be held at the end of May in Mérida.

Espinosa underlined the “strength” of the agricultural sector, but stated that it has “weaknesses” and the Spanish Presidency will therefore work to maintain investments and diversification.
Before entering the meeting, the Minister stressed the importance of “strengthening the agricultural sector as a one that generates employment and wealth, provides us with food and also helps to preserve the environment and fight against climate change”.

Espinosa mentioned that “another of the Presidency's central themes is going to be the role of women in the rural world”. “If we are saying that we want a strong agricultural sector, the first thing we have to do is to maintain our population in the rural environment, and to do so, it is essential for women to remain there”, said the Minister.

Speaking before the Council Meeting, she warned about the “masculinisation” of the countryside and the scarce recognition of women's work in the rural environment, where there are very few women registered as farm owners.

To raise awareness about this issue, the Presidency has organised a seminar on the role of rural women from 27 to 30 April in Cáceres.

On fishing matters, before entering the meeting, Espinosa said that the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy is being discussed, in parallel with the agricultural issues.
She added that the management of some fisheries resources should not be forgotten “to also strengthen responsible and sustainable fishing”.

Espinosa included in the meeting agenda the Haiti situation after the earthquake and the ministers unanimously approved the results of the extraordinary Council of the EU which on Monday promised more than 420 million euros in aid to Haiti.