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On 30/06/2021, the European Commission confirmed its interest in introducing a ban on cage farming after 2027. It thus supported the call of the end-of-cage civic initiative, in which over 1.3 million European citizens called for a ban on cage farming. The press conference on 30/06/2021 was attended by Commissioner for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová and Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides. Jourová confirmed the Commission's interest in introducing a ban on cage farming, also following the European Green Deal. Kyriakides presented the more concrete outlines of the future proposal and the next steps the Commission will take in this context. In the first quarter of 2022, a public consultation on the ban on cage farming will be launched. As part of its Farm to Fork strategy, the Commission has already committed itself to proposing a revision of animal welfare legislation, including transport and farming legislation, which is currently undergoing a fitness check. This inspection is to be completed by the summer of 2022, and in 2023 the revision of legislation itself will be presented. By the end of 2022, the European Commission will carry out an impact assessment to introduce a ban on cages, and a legislative proposal for a ban on cages should be presented in 2023. The proposal could introduce a ban on cage farming after 2027 for laying hens, sows, calves, rabbits, chickens, breeding poultry, broilers, quails, ducks, and geese. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is already working on animal-specific assessments to allow a smooth transition from cage systems. EFSA opinions are due to be finalized in the first quarter of 2023. Kyriakides emphasized that a transitional period would be introduced, based on the results of an impact assessment to be presented by the end of 2022. According to the Commissioner, support for the transition to cage-free systems could, for example, take the form of an eco-scheme in the first pillar of the CAP. Kyriakides called on Member States to allocate sufficient resources to animal welfare and a future without cages when setting up strategic plans. Sufficient support for farmers should be provided for the transition, and new EU rules should also be reflected in trade agreements with third countries. Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Janusz Wojciechowski was not present at the press conference.
More information is available here and here, the Commission' Communication is available for download here.

On 30/06/2021, the European Commission presented a Communication entitled A Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas. The long-term vision was prepared based on contributions sent as part of a public consultation held at the end of last year. The long-term vision covers all relevant sectors, rural areas account for 80% of the EU's total area, so all stakeholders need to be involved in their development. Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the Long-Term Vision gathers the challenges facing Europe's rural areas and promises a further range of initiatives that should be taken regarding landscape protection and rural development. Wojciechowski said that the agreement of the European institutions on the CAP, reached in the trilogue on 25/06/2021, was also crucial for the sustainable development of rural areas. Commissioner said that rural development needed to support the development of small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, and again criticized industrial agriculture. Wojciechowski also stressed that one of the problems characteristics of rural areas is the lack of infrastructure and internet connection. The European Commission has drawn up the Rural Pact and the Rural Action Plan, which aim to strengthen Europe's rural areas, make them connected, resilient, and prosperous. In addition to the lack of interconnection, the European Commission aims in the Pact and the Action Plan for generational change, depopulation of rural areas, or investment and innovation to motivate citizens to live in rural areas. The Commission emphasized that focusing on agriculture, farming, forestry, and ecological and digital transformation will help strengthen sustainability as well as improve the environmental impact of rural areas. The new Rural Pact will involve actors at EU, national, regional, and local levels to support the common objectives of the Vision, to promote economic, social, and territorial cohesion and to respond to the common aspirations of rural communities. The Rural Action Plan aims to promote sustainable, coherent, and integrated rural development. Several EU policies already provide support to rural areas and contribute to their balanced, equitable, green, and innovative development. Of these, the CAP and cohesion policy, which will be complemented by other policies, will be crucial for the support and implementation of this action plan. The Commission has also identified agriculture as one of the four main areas in which the Commission will implement new initiatives. The Commission will support the development of organic farming, strengthening education, diversifying economic activities, and strengthening the added value of agricultural and agri-food activities and agritourism. A Rural Observatory will be set up within the Commission to further improve the collection and analysis of data on rural areas. This will provide input for rural development policymaking and support the implementation of the Rural Action Plan. By the end of 2021, the Commission will work with the Committee of the Regions to explore ways to achieve the vision's goals. By mid-2023, the Commission will evaluate what measures funded by the EU and Member States have been implemented and programmed for rural areas. The European Commission's report, to be published in early 2024, will then help identify areas where support and additional funding will need to be stepped up. This report will also serve as a basis for the preparation of proposals for rural development and the CAP for the 2028-2034 programming period.
More information is available here and here, the Commission’s Communication is available for download here.

On 21/06/2021, the Commission launched feedback on official controls for organic products intended for import into the EU. These rules will apply from 1 January 2022. The consultation is open until 19/07/2021, available here.

On 24/06/2021, the Commission launched feedback on the revision of rules on information provided to consumers for alcoholic beverages. The initiative sets out a mandatory list of items and nutrition information for alcoholic beverages in the context of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. The consultation is open until 22/07/2021, available here.

On 14/07/2021, the European Commission will present a package of legislative proposals aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in particular carbon dioxide. The package, called Fit For 55, which refers to efforts to meet the target of reducing 55% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, will also include a proposal to create a Carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). CBAM would levy a charge at the borders commensurate with the amount of carbon emitted in the production of imported goods. The proposal is a central element of the package, which will include, inter alia, a revision of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), a revision of the regulation on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF), amending the Energy Efficiency Directive to implement the ambitions of the new 2030 climate target, and amending the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). CBAM will be closely linked to the revision of the ETS, given the interconnectedness of the level of CBAM ambitions with the ETS. CBAM should ensure that the EU's efforts to combat climate change and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 are effective and that the price of imports into the EU more accurately reflects the carbon content produced. The aim of CBAM is to regulate the greenhouse gas emissions of certain goods when they are imported into the customs territory of the Union to avoid the risk of carbon leakage, the instrument should help reduce this risk by motivating importers in third countries to take measures comparable to EU ambitions. A central CBAM body should also be set up to assess and subsequently authorize applicants wishing to import goods into the EU. According to the provisional versions of the proposal, companies would receive certificates corresponding to the emissions contained in the imported goods, with provisions on the implementation, which would address circumvention practices and sanctions for those who do not submit a certificate corresponding to the emissions contained in goods imported in the previous year by 31 May each year. The first sectors to be included in this new mechanism are the production of cement, electricity, iron, steel, aluminium, and fertilizers. The details of the entry into force and its transitional period have yet to be confirmed, but provisionally, the Commission seems to be considering a three-year transitional period from 01/01/2023.

The European Commission is preparing to present a new EU Forestry Strategy for 2030 in the second half of July 2021, probably 20/07/2021. The new strategy, which falls under both the CAP and the European Green Deal, should help strengthen the protection and restoration of Europe's forests. The aim will be to ensure that the rural development funds available under the new CAP are used to protect and restore forests. Last week, a draft version of the draft strategy leaked from the European Commission, which was of great concern to representatives of the forestry and forestry industries. In a joint statement sent to the European Commission on 23/06/2021, representatives emphasized that the proposal did not consider the views expressed by industry in recent months, e.g., in public consultations, and called for a major overhaul of the document. Representatives criticize especially the disregard for the forest management cycle and the unclear method of financial support provided to foresters for the implementation of the strategy's objectives. Within a group of like-minded member states, Austria has prepared a ministerial letter to the European Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, in which the ministers responsible for forestry also criticize the leaked proposals.
More information is available here.