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On 14/01/2020, the European Commission published the European Green Deal's Investment Plan. The plan aims to "mobilise EU funding and create an enabling framework to facilitate and stimulate the public and private investments needed for the transition to a climate-neutral, green, competitive and inclusive economy". The Plan is based on three dimensions - financing, favourable investment conditions, and practical support. As regards funding, the Commission states that "it will mobilise at least one trillion euros of sustainable investment over the next decade. Climate and environmental spending will account for more of the EU budget than ever before, attracting private funding". A key instrument should be the Just Transition Mechanism, which provides targeted support to help mobilise at least €100 billion over the period 2021-2027, including EUR 7.5 billion of fresh EU funds. The European Investment Bank will play a key role in funding, but funding will also be provided by the European Regional Development Fund or the loan mechanism.
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During the EP plenary session on 15/01/2020, the European Parliament approved its resolution on the European Green Deal. Parliament underlines that the Green Deal should be at the heart of Europe’s strategy for new sustainable growth; that large public and private investments will be needed; Parliament also asks all Member States to agree on a single seat of the European Parliament. Resolution calls on the Commission to present a proposal for a European climate legislation by March 2020; stress the role of energy in the transition to a zero greenhouse gas economy and welcomes the Commission's objective of continuing to decarbonise the energy system so that the EU could achieve zero net emissions by 2050 at the latest; it calls on the Commission to revise the Renewable Energy Directive in line with these ambitions and to set binding national targets for each Member State. Parliament also insists on an accelerated phased withdrawal from direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies by 2020 in the EU and in each Member State. Parliament also calls for a new ambitious action plan for the circular economy, aiming at reducing the overall environmental and raw material footprint, with the main priorities being resource efficiency, zero pollution and waste prevention. On the agri-food strategy From Farm to Fork, Parliament stresses the need to strengthen farmers' position in the supply chain, tackle unfair commercial practices, reduce dependence on pesticides, reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, and calls on the Commission to consider better labelling foodstuffs, such as nutrition labelling, country of origin labelling of certain foodstuffs, and environmental and animal welfare labelling, while avoiding fragmentation of the single market. Parliament also calls for introduction of a global ban on single-use plastic.
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Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Janusz Wojciechowski said last week that he would steadily defend a strong budget for the Common Agricultural Policy with a view to reinforcing funding to help European farmers. Wojciechowski refused to cut the CAP budget under the 2018 proposal, supporting the CAP budget at least at its current level. According to Wojciechowski, more mandatory animal welfare standards will have to be introduced under the new CAP, and farmers should receive more support to ensure better animal welfare.
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Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Janusz Wojciechowski and Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides supported last week the achievement of an agreement on the CAP by the end of 2020, Farm to Fork Strategy should also be presented by the end of the year (According to the Commission in May 2020). According to both Commissioners, the main priority of the Commission will be the European Green Deal; Wojciechowski also mentioned the need to prevent the loss of other small farmers in the EU. According to the Commissioners, the new CAP should make the agricultural sector more environmentally, climate and animal welfare friendly. During the International Green week conference, the Commissioners were asked whether at least 20% of the envelope of the first pillar should be dedicated for eco-schemes, and whether promoting and enhancing sustainability in the food chain means a greater shift towards vegetable alternatives to meat products. Both Commissioners stated that competences should be left to Member States.

Croatia took over the Presidency of the EU Council after Finland in January. According to the Croatian Presidency's plan, HR should seek to achieve a general approach to the future CAP in the Council during the March Ministerial Council on 23-24/03/03. During this Council, HR should also reach an agreement on the rules for the transitional period for 2021. However, according to more realistic estimates, the final agreement on the CAP should not be reached until the second half of 2020 under the DE Presidency. Croatia is also awaiting discussions on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Brexit, which should take place on 31/01/2020. HR will continue to strengthen the prevention, control and eradication of animal diseases in the EU; in the debate on the adoption of the European Forestry Strategy; in the discussions on the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy.