News

Within the framework of the European Green Deal, the European Commission has set a binding goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, this goal has already been approved by the Council and the European Parliament. However, the institutions are now negotiating what reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions should be set for 2030 and, possibly, for 2040. The Commission is proposing a reduction of 55%, and the Council has taken the same view. However, Parliament is more ambitious in its position, seeking a 60% reduction by 2030 and setting another target for 2040. All three parties have so far insisted on their original positions, no compromise can be found. The European Commission is counting on a 55% target, and in June 2021 should present a comprehensive legislative package called ‘Fit for 55’, which will aim to achieve a reduction of 55% in greenhouse gas emissions in several sectors. Several revisions of existing legislation will be implemented, including the revision of the REDII, the revision of the ETS, as well as the revision of the Land Use Framework, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF). The Portuguese Presidency is therefore under time pressure to reach an agreement in the trialogue before June 2021.
More information is available here.

On his Twitter, Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, supported the introduction of a mandatory definition of a real farmer, and called on the farming community to identify possible criteria for setting this definition. According to him, farmers should now be involved in the debate on setting the definition. The Commissioner himself proposed four own criteria for the definition - the active farmer should be permanently resident on his farm, keep at least a minimum of livestock, make a profit from agriculture of at least 25% of his total income, and should farm on land he received from his ancestors. According to the Commissioner, meeting one of these criteria should be sufficient to meet the definition of a real farmer.
More information is available here.

Last week, the European Commission warned against the Council's lack of ambition in environmental and climate protection in the negotiations between Parliament, the Council, and the Commission on the shape of the CAP. According to Commission representatives, some of the Council's proposals could weaken the Commission's proposed enhanced CAP conditionality, including criticizing the Council's efforts to continue earmarking up to €16 billion from the CAP to support ANC areas in specific environmental and climate objectives in the second pillar of the CAP. However, according to the Commission, the continuation of support for ANC areas through these interventions will only lead to a reduction in the resources available for agri-environmental measures; support for ANC areas is, according to the Commission, income support for farmers and not environmental and climate objectives. The next meeting of the institutions on the CAP is scheduled for 26/03/2021, the setting of eco-schemes and the new CAP implementation mechanism should be discussed.

Last week, Austria, Denmark, France, Ireland, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands disagreed with the European Commission's proposal to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of CAP performance data in the Member States. According to these seven countries, no data other than those listed in Annex I of the Strategic Plans Regulation (impact, outcome, and output indicators / indicators) should be required from Member States. Member States should also not be required to provide individual data at the level of beneficiaries, but only aggregated data for individual impact, outcome, and output indicators. The Commission's proposal would increase the administrative burden, which would run counter to the effort to simplify the new policy.
More information is available here.

On 08/03/2021, the Commission launched feedback on exemptions from the requirements for approving state subsidies in the context of the Green Deal and the EU's industrial and digital strategy. The initiative aims to amend the General Block Exemption Regulation to help domestic companies in each Member State. The consultation is open until 05/04/2021, available here.

On 09/03/2021, the Commission initiated feedback on the authorisation to feed non-ruminants with ruminant collagen / gelatine and with proteins from insects, pigs, and poultry. The initiative aims at the efficient use of feed materials due to the zero incidence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Europe and the focus of the Farm to Fork strategy on better use of proteins and other feed materials produced in Europe. The consultation is open until 06/04/2021, available here.

On 10/03/2021, the Commission launched feedback on updating EU rules to allow for checks on antimicrobial use in imported animals and animal products. The consultation is open until 05/05/2021, available here.