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On 29/05/2020, the European Commission launched another public consultation on the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. A new public consultation on the sustainable use of pesticides has been launched, with the aim of revising current legislation and subsequently adapting it to comply with the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Green Deal. The public consultation will run until 07/08/2020 (here). The Commission is also preparing a draft legal act on the EU’s emissions trading system (EU ETS) for 2021-2030, and a public consultation has been launched on this initiative, lasting until 24/07/2020 (here and here). The Commission is also preparing an update of the concentration limits for persistent organic pollutants in waste, the consultation lasts until 07/08/2020 (here). There are still running public consultations on the revision of animal welfare legislation to strengthen the rules to be in line with Farm to Fork Strategy, the consultation is open until 29/07/2020 (here); evaluation of the animal welfare strategy for 2012-2015 with the possibility to participate until 15/06/2020 (here); evaluation of agricultural promotion programs to strengthen the emphasis on sustainable production, deadline for participation until 11/09/2020 (here); on the 2030 climate target - Commission proposes 50-55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (already pressure to boost ambitions and up to 80% reduction by 2030 as part of contributions), consultation open until 23/06/2020 (here); to adapt to climate change in order to promote an economically favourable economy, consultations will run until 30/06/2020 (here); and the European Climate Pact with the possibility to join 17/06/2020 (here).

On 27/05/2020, the European Commission published a document summarizing the economic impacts of Covid-19 on individual EU sectors. According to the document, the most affected sectors will be the tourism sector with an estimated loss of € 171-285 billion and the construction sector with an estimated loss of € 113-188 billion. According to the Commission document, the agri-food sector should suffer losses of € 22 to 37 billion. The Commission calculated losses in two different scenarios - for a total decline of € 720 billion and € 1.2 trillion, depending on the severity and duration of the crisis. As part of the Next Generation recovery package, the EU Commission for Agricultural Policy has proposed to provide support (from borrowed funds) of € 15 billion for the second pillar, also in the updated proposal of the Multiannual Financial Framework, proposed to strengthen the CAP budget by 9 billion compared to the 2018 proposal. According to European media, the CAP budget would remain more than € 30 billion below the current budget. According to Irish representatives, the estimated financial loss of farmers in Ireland, for example, could reach up to € 1.6 billion. Revenues from the sale of Irish beef are estimated to fall by as much as 78% in 2020, while revenues from other vulnerable sectors will fall by as much as 50-60%.
More information is available here and here.

Norbert Lins (EPP, DE), Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, sent a written request on behalf of the Committee to Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski to ensure that market measures were put in place to help the cheese, wine, beef, fruit and vegetables sectors due to coronavirus. However, the Commissioner refused to introduce further market measures. According to the Commissioner, increased private storage of cheese would lead to further support for production, but the lack of financial resources is also a problem. On the EP's proposal to relax the rules for agricultural promotion programs to help the wine sector, the Commissioner emphasized that the Commission would not approach the promotion of alcoholic beverages in the EU internal market, especially for health reasons.

The Council of the European Union is chaired in turn by each Member State for six months. However, to ensure continuity, successive Presidencies work closely together in groups of three. The Presidential Troika is thus preparing the Council's plan for 18 months ahead. The forthcoming troika of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia last week presented its own plan by the end of 2021. During this time, the Council should implement all measures necessary to overcome the consequences of Covid-19, rebuild the European economy and restore the functioning of the Single market. The Troika emphasized the commitment to reach an agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework as soon as possible, and the countries will also work towards an agreement on the CAP during their presidency.

The largest recipients of CAP subsidies in Germany are federal states (Länder), municipalities and producer organizations, not individual farmers. According to the German media, in 2019 there were 179 recipients of subsidies in the Germany who received over € 1 million from the CAP, 45 recipients with subsidies over € 2 million, and 16 recipients with subsidies over € 3 million from the CAP. In this context, the German branch of the environmental organization Greenpeace calls for a thorough reform of the CAP rules.
More information is available here.