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The European Parliament is finalising its position on the European Commission's proposal on New Genomic Techniques (NGTs). Jessica Polfjärd (SE), EPP rapporteur for the Committee on the Environment (COMENVI), has confirmed her ambition to have the position adopted in the plenary session in January 2024, before the European Parliament elections next June. The rapporteur warned that the negotiations on the proposal could be considerably prolonged if the position is not finalised until the new European Parliament. However, the timetable has been criticised by some COMENVI MEPs because it does not leave enough time for translation of the text and shadow negotiations. In addition, the controversial topic in COMENVI is the draft report itself, in which Polfjärd includes the authorisation of NGT category 1 in organic farming and the non-labelling of NGT plant seeds due to discriminatory barriers. The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) will vote on its opinion on 11/12/2023, COMENVI is expected to vote its opinion in mid-January 2024.
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At the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), which opened on 30/11/2023 in Dubai, the European Commission plans to call on all Parties to take action this decade to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to meet the Paris Agreement commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Specifically, the negotiating objectives include: accelerating the phase-down of fossil fuel emissions, starting work on setting post-2030 climate commitments, promoting implementation of existing commitments, adapting to climate change through nature-based solutions, and supporting developing countries on climate change. At the conference, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will launch, together with the COP28 Presidency, the "Global Commitment on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency", which aims to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency measures by 2030. In addition, the COP28 Presidency will present a "Food Systems and Agriculture Agenda" made up of four pillars (national leadership, private actors, finance and innovation) and calls on governments to sign a "Leaders' Declaration" committing to improving soil health, biodiversity and food security.

On 29/11/2023, the European Commission published an implementing regulation renewing the approval of the active substance glyphosate in plant protection products for ten years, until 15/12/2033. Under the implementing regulation, pre-harvest drying is not allowed and the use of glyphosate in sensitive areas must be minimised or banned. The placing on the market of products containing glyphosate remains the responsibility of the Member States. Maximum doses shall not exceed 1,44 kg/ha/year for agricultural use, 1,8 kg/ha/year for the control of invasive species and 3,6 kg/ha/year for non-agricultural use, unless a risk assessment by Member States demonstrates unacceptable effects on small herbivorous mammals.
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EU ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 27/11/2023 approve a free trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand. The trade agreement has already been approved by the European Parliament on 22/11/2023, thus completing the ratification of the agreement by the European Union. The FTA will eliminate 100% of New Zealand's tariffs on EU exports on entry into force and will eliminate 98.5% of EU tariffs on trade with New Zealand after seven years. EU exports are expected to increase by up to €4.5 billion a year. The trade agreement must now also be ratified by New Zealand, a process that should be completed during the first half of 2024.
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On 23/11/2023, the European Commission issued an evaluation analytical report summarizing the impact of the strategic plans of the Common Agricultural Policy on the fulfilment of its objectives, with a focus on climate and environmental objectives. According to the Commission's findings, the strategic plans represent a shift towards a sustainable model of agriculture in the European Union - the Commission confirms in the report that the objective of the CAP strategic plans is to create the most ambitious CAP to date in terms of the environment and climate, but points to the need to strengthen risk prevention and management tools and strengthen approaches to climate adaptation. For the period 2023-2027, the CAP is supported by EUR 307 billion, of which EUR 264 billion comes from the EU budget and another EUR 43 billion from national funds. The CAP Strategic Plans show significant concerted efforts to support farm incomes, ensure a fairer distribution of income to smaller farms and reduce income gaps in the most vulnerable sectors and disadvantaged areas. Joint efforts to modernize agricultural holdings and strengthen the sector's competitiveness are also increasing. According to the report, CAP is key to maintaining agricultural activity and jobs in remote rural areas, slowing land abandonment and rural depopulation. More than 10% of EU direct payments, or around €4 billion per year, will be redistributed through redistributive payments. National CAP Strategic Plans also allocate 32% of the total CAP budget to voluntary measures that support environmental, climate and animal welfare objectives. According to the Commission, the plans show the potential to contribute to climate change mitigation, in particular through significant efforts on processes for carbon sequestration and storage in biomass. A total of 35% of agricultural land in the EU should use measures for carbon sequestration and reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions.
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