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The European Commission should present its opinion on 02/06/2021 on the call for the end-of-cage civic initiative in the EU (according to the civic initiative, the ban should apply to laying hens, rabbits, geese, ducks, calves, and sows). Indeed, according to unofficial information, the European Commission could be ready to present a legislative proposal to ban cage farming in the EU. Information on the introduction of a transitional period and its possible duration is not yet available, but the Commission could be inspired by the Austrian approach and introduce a transitional period of ten to thirteen years. According to unofficial information, the team of the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Franz Timmermans, and the Commissioner for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, are currently working on the preparation of the European Commission's opinion.
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The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued an opinion last week on titanium dioxide (E 171), a long-discussed food additive used in food bleaching. According to the EFSA opinion, titanium dioxide can no longer be considered as a safe food additive. The European Commission requested the opinion as early as March 2020. According to EFSA's conclusions, titanium dioxide can no longer be considered a safe food additive as its possible genotoxicity cannot be ruled out.
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The Court of Justice of the European Union confirmed on 06/05/2021 the validity of the European Commission's decision to ban the three neonicotinoids, imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam. Bayer, which produces the above-mentioned pesticides, appealed against the Commission's decision. According to the European Commission, neonicotinoids are a direct threat to the lives of bees and other pollinators, so it has decided to ban their use. The Commission took the first steps as early as 2013. Bayer lodged a complaint against the ban in 2018. However, according to the Court's findings, the Commission acted in accordance with its powers, and Bayer's arguments are unfounded. In addition, according to the Court of Justice, Bayer should reimburse legal costs incurred during the proceedings by environmental groups (including Greenpeace, BugLife, Bee Life, or PAN Europe).
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The Council of EU agriculture ministers met on 26/04/2021, the agenda included the Common Agricultural Policy, the aim of which was to discuss some of the Council's opinions before the trilogue on the CAP strategic plans, which took place on 30/04/2021. The Portuguese Presidency has put forward a compromise proposal on the allocation of the first pillar for eco-schemes, with the Presidency proposing a gradual increase in the budget from 22% in 2023 to 25% in 2025. Ministers generally supported ensuring maximum flexibility for Member States in setting up green architecture, some ministers opposed 25% ring-fencing for eco-schemes (ES, LV, LT, RO, HU, EL, BG), and called on Council to defend the Council's original position (20%). However, most countries welcomed the Council's compromise proposal (CZ, SK, NL, EE, SE, IT, FR, CY, BE, PL, DE, MT), if flexibility is maintained for Member States. A two-year learning phase (2023 and 2024) should be introduced for eco-schemes. Ministers also supported the possibility of transferring any unused funds between the individual pillars. There was also general agreement on the Presidency's plan to reach agreement on all three parts of the CAP reform package by the end of May 2021. The Council was also attended by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, who pointed out that setting GAEC 9 (good agricultural and environmental condition of the soil; non-productive features and areas) was crucial for the European Commission, he supported setting a certain minimum percentage for non-productive areas on arable land (the Commission has so far supported non-productive elements on agricultural land, not arable land). During the Council, the ministers also discussed the issue of setting the definition of a real farmer. While DK, EE, IT, LU and DE supported the introduction of a voluntary definition, LT and MT supported a mandatory definition. Representatives of the NL criticized the attempt to assess the share of agricultural activities in the overall profit of farmers, especially given the significant administrative burden. Representatives of DK and LV also criticized the mandatory introduction of any of the tools of degressivity, capping and redistributive payment, which should be voluntary. The Romanian representatives stated that they would be able to accept a compromise and introduce only one of these tools on a mandatory basis. Ministers also supported the strengthening of animal welfare, with several ministers emphasizing in this context that European rules should also apply to imports from third countries. The strengthening of animal welfare during animal transport was also discussed, with Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, underlining animal transport as one of her main priorities. Animal welfare was supported, among others, by French Minister Julien Denormandie, who said that strengthening welfare would also bring added economic value to European farmers. The Italian Minister supported the introduction of a European animal welfare labelling system. The Czech Minister Miroslav Toman drew attention to the decision of the Czech parties to ban cage farming of laying hens and called for a ban on cage farming of laying hens throughout the EU by 2030.
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Pascal Canfin (Renew, FR), chair of the ENVI Committee of the European Parliament, said last week that Renew Europe would reject a draft CAP agreement reached during the current trialogues during a final vote in plenary by the European Parliament if the draft agreement was not ambitious enough in terms of green architecture and green standards. According to Canfin, the new CAP should reflect European climate goals, set robust eco-schemes, and the European Commission should be very careful in approving national strategic plans. According to Canfin, part of the S&D is similar on the subject, so Peter Jahr (DE), EPP rapporteur for the CAP strategic plans, would not have to have a majority for the final vote in plenary.