Journalists Rose O’Donovan and Ed Bray discuss the work programme, where organic reform plans will be scrapped, if MEPs and the Council do not strike a deal in six months. Overhaul of the school food schemes has also been put on hold and seed law is set to be withdrawn.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan called on farmers to reduce milk production to avoid superlevy penalties next year and showed openness to the idea of introducing private storage for pigmeat in January.

The Commission also approved the first wave of nine Rural Development programmes.