Ref. Ares(2016)5579867Ref. Ares(2016)1927860 - 27/09/2016- 22/04/2016

Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Mecklenburg ЦХI Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz Vorpommern įSp! Der Minister Vorsitzender der Agrarministerkonferenz 2016

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan Rue de la Loi 200 / Wetstraat 200

1049 Bruxelles/Brussel Belgique

Schwerin,'/-SApril 2016

Dear Commissioner Hogan, agriculture is currently facing a lot of challenges on national and international level. Especially the continuously worsening economic situation of dairy and pig-meat producing companies is in the focus of agricultural policy actions at all levels. This issue will also dominate the discussions of the Agricultural Conference in this year. The Conference consists of the 16 responsible Ministers of the Lander besides the Federal Minister of and is organized by the yearly changing chairmanship. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is presently chairing in which course of this it focusses on the actual market situation as well as on the common agricultural politics regarding the health check, the possible future use of funding resources after the recent funding period as well as the possible progression of the present pillar structure. Being Minister of Agriculture for 18 years now I always knew about the importance of communication with the European institutions wherefore I would welcome it if you would join us to elucidate your point of view. Following this idea I cordially invite you to the Conference of Agricultural Ministers from the 7th to 9th September 2016 to -Warnemünde, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Being most flexible with the program I offer you to choose the day which suits you most. It is nevertheless a good tradition that the ministers meet internally on the first evening of the conference to have an informal talk at dinner. In this so-called "Kamin­ Gespräch", literally translated as "fireplace-talk", particularly important political issues are discussed without any pressure to take serious actions. It would be a great honor if you would be our guest in this round. Furthermore it would be our pleasure if you could participate and enrich our discussion in the Ministerial Conference on September 9th, beginning at 09:00 am. In anticipation of an enlightening and constructive gathering I remain with Kind regards Yours

Dr. Till Backhaus

Hausanschrift: Postanschrift: Telefon: 0385 588-0 Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Telefax: 0385 588-6026 Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz E-Mail: [email protected] Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern E-Mail: [email protected],de Paulshöher Weg 1, 19061 19048 Schwerin Internet: www.mv-reaieruna.de Internet: www.agrarministerkonferenz.de