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Environmental organizations, including WWF and BirdLife, have called for a link between the objectives of Farm to Fork Strategy and the European Green Deal with the CAP. The organizations supported the transition to agri-organic farming and linking CAP payments to meeting the objectives of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. Last week, the environmental organization Greenpeace launched a questionnaire in which MEPs should comment on the future and required changes in livestock production in the EU. Greenpeace plans to publish the names of MEPs who do not take part in the survey on its website. Greenpeace's activity has already been opposed by Europe's largest agricultural organization, Copa and Cogeca, which called Greenpeace's approach blackmail. The European Parliament will vote on the CAP in plenary in the week of 19/10/2020.
More information is available here, the Greenpeace questionnaire for view here.

A total of eleven EU Member States - PL, CZ, SK, HU, HR, SI, LT, LV, EE, BG and RO - called on the European Commission last week to voluntarily implement the objectives set out in the Farm to Fork Strategy. The targets should be adapted to the realities of the Member State, taking into account inequalities in the payment of direct aids - according to the common position of these eleven countries, external convergence will not be achieved by 2027, which should be reflected. Last week, the European Commission launched negotiations with third countries to ensure that the Farm to Fork Strategy is adopted outside the European Union.

The European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety discussed climate targets with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, on 28/09/2020. During September, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed her interest in strengthening the Commission's ambitions and raising the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 55% by 2030. The European Parliament will even vote in plenary next week on a possible increase in ambitions to 60%. The 2030 target should help meet the main target of climate neutrality by 2050. According to Chinese officials, China should also achieve climate neutrality by 2060. According to Timmermans, the 2030 target should have been raised to 55%, because the current reduction in emissions has not been effective enough. The Commission is expected to present legislative proposals during June 2021. The Commission will also review the Union's greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme (ETS), as well as the revision of the framework for land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). The Commission will also propose a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to motivate sectors to set their policies in the right direction. According to Timmermans, the main tools will include the Farm to Fork Strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy.
More information is available here.

The European State Forest Association (EUSTAFOR) has called on the European Commission to give greater recognition to the role of forests in the 2030 climate plan. In a statement of 25/09/2020, the association points to the significant impact of climate change on forests, with a total of 1.2 million hectares of forests in the European state sector suffering serious damage from extreme weather and climatic events, pests and diseases. The association calls on the Commission to reduce overall EU greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable forest growth and support for the bioeconomy. EUSTAFOR also calls for additional funding and incentives for the adaptation and restoration of EU forests affected by climate change.
More information is available here.

The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) ruled on 01/10/2020 on the introduction mandatory indication of the country of origin for milk. According to the CJEU, this is only possible in cases where it is demonstrated that the reason is the specific characteristics of the product or that the label is beneficial to competition in the single market. The CJEU stated that the introduction must also be supported by evidence that most consumers consider it important to provide this information. The decision will now be sent to the French Council of State, which has asked the CJEU for an opinion. As part of the Farm to Fork Strategy, the European Commission is considering allowing mandatory origin labelling for other foods beyond milk and dairy products.
More information is available here.