News

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a study on forest health on 17/08/2023. The results of the study show that there has been a slight improvement in the health of forests in the Union since 2000, but that one third of the forest area is still in decline and deteriorating. Forest degradation has been signalled in particular by poorer soil health (reduced soil organic carbon), lower tree density and reduced species richness of endangered birds. Although there has been a slight improvement in the health of Europe's forests since 2000, the authors of the JRC report warn that there is a need to promote further forest regeneration in the Union, to improve forest management and to provide longer reforestation periods to bring stands closer to natural conditions.
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Last week, the statistical body Eurostat released a report focusing on beer production in the European Union. According to Eurostat's results, nearly 34.3 billion litres of beer with an alcohol content and 1.6 billion litres of beer with a low or zero alcohol content will be produced in the EU in 2022. Alcoholic beer production increased by 7% compared to 2021, which is close to the 34.7 billion litres in 2019, i.e., from before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Czech Republic exported 0.6 billion litres of beer to non-EU countries in 2022, which represents 6% of EU exports (the Netherlands leads with 27%).
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The European Commission has published Implementing Regulations 2023/1619 and 2023/1620 setting out a flexibility package for the fruit, vegetable and wine sector in 2023. The Implementing Regulations were presented in light of the impact of adverse climatic conditions, including drought or flooding, which have significantly damaged fruit and vegetable production in some European regions. The negative effects of the weather have had an impact not only on production levels but also on the quality of production. The Implementing Regulations allow beneficiaries and national authorities to exercise flexibility as regards the implementation of programmes in 2023 by granting derogations, flexibilities to fruit and vegetable producer organisations and wine producers implementing operational or support programmes under the rules of the CMO Regulation or the rules of the Strategic Plan Regulation. Derogations from the vine planting permit scheme should also be allowed for growers who could not use their permits in the last year of their validity or whose new planting has been seriously affected.
More information is available here.

The European Commission is trying to find funds for Ukrainian grain transit in order to resolve the dispute with the eastern countries of the European Union without jeopardising relations with Ukraine. Restrictions preventing imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower into Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia expire on 15/09/2023. Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said the only way to ensure the smooth operation of land export routes for Ukrainian products is to subsidise transit through the EU to other regions. Moreover, Wojciechowski said import restrictions should be extended until the end of this year. According to Polish media reports, the EU is negotiating with five Central and Eastern European countries (PL, RO, HU, BG, SK) on subsidies for the transit of Ukrainian grain; the subsidies could amount to EUR 30 per tonne - i.e., €300 million for the transport of 10 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain. According to Polish media, the European Commission is currently trying to allocate these funds in the budget but is not in favour of extending import restrictions. The Romanian Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, has already commented on the Commission's intention that if subsidies for agricultural exports are allocated to Ukraine, Romania will also apply for them. According to Barbu, since the Russian invasion, Romania has become a key export destination for Ukrainian products, costs for Romanian farmers have increased and therefore, according to Barbu, Romania should be entitled to subsidies of €30 per tonne of grain, on the same basis as Ukraine.
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On 24/07/2023, the Commission launched a feedback loop on the transition to a more resilient, sustainable and digital agri-food ecosystem. The initiative aims to launch a transition process for the agri-food ecosystem in the framework of the update of the EU Industrial Strategy. The consultation is open until 19/09/2023, available here.