I will be representing the United Kingdom at this month's Agriculture and Fisheries Council.This being the first Council of the Austrian Presidency, the new Chairman of the Council will start by setting out his Presidency work programme.The Energy Commissioner and the Agriculture Commissioner will then jointly present the Commission's Communication on a Biomass action plan. It covers four broad areas: use of biomass in heating and electricity generation; use of biofuels for transport; cross-cutting issues such as information campaigns; and research. There will also be an exchange of views on the action plan, during which I will intervene to welcome the initiative.The Agriculture Commissioner will then present her proposal on organic farming, which aims to simplify and improve the structure of current regulations, setting out the scope of organic production and definitions for organic food. She will also present a proposal on changes to the rules for protected geographical indications and traditional specialties for agriculture products, which need changing to comply with a WTO ruling. These are simply presentations of the proposals to the Council with no discussion likely at this stage.Cyprus will seek Council approval for a national state aid which it wishes to pay farmers and others as compensation for debts arising following the Turkish military intervention there.In the afternoon, the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection will present the Commission's action plan on animal welfare. He will also update the Council on the Avian Influenza outbreak including the outcome of the Donor Pledging Conference in Beijing and the situation in Romania and Turkey.There will be a lunch at which the Agriculture Commissioner will update the Council on the outcome of the WTO agricultural negotiations in Hong Kong and the next steps.

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