News




The European Parliament adopted a resolution on climate change, calling for an end to the payment of subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy for peat drainage and excessive water abstraction for irrigation

The European Parliament adopted on 28/11/2019 the European Parliament resolution on the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid (COP25), this resolution is not legally binding. Parliament states in the Resolution that the CAP should no longer subsidize activities that are harmful to the environment and the climate, including peat drainage and excessive water abstraction for irrigation, and should not penalize the occurrence of trees in agricultural areas; notes that soil's ability to absorb carbon further weakens its degradation caused by human activity, mostly as a result of unsustainable farming practices; and expects the European Green Agreement to set out a comprehensive ambitious strategy for achieving a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050 at the latest, including a target to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, calling on the Commission to adapt all its policies accordingly, particularly in the areas of climate, agriculture and cohesion. According to the Resolution, 37% of the EU budget is currently earmarked for funding the Common Agricultural Policy, so that substantial resources could be mobilized to create incentives and reward climate and environmentally friendly practices in agriculture.
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The European Commission has issued a regulation on the recovery of funds from the unused agricultural crisis reserve

On 27/11/2019, the European Commission issued a regulation on the reimbursement of appropriations carried over from the financial year 2019 in accordance with Article 26 (5) of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council. It concerns the return of funds from the unused agricultural crisis reserve to Member States and subsequently to farmers. A total of € 467 million will be reimbursed to Member States, € 11 451 014 for the Czech Republic and € 5 973 155 for Slovakia.
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The European Commission plans to present the first outlines of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy on 11 December 2019

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in her previous observations that the European Commission will present the main European strategies, including the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy, within 100 days of the commencement of the new Commission. The Commission takes over the mandate from 01/12/2019; the 100-day deadline expires 09/03/2020. However, according to recent observations, strategies could be presented as of 11/12/2019 after approval by the College of Commissioners - but it should not be a legislative proposal, but rather the initial ideas of the European Commission, the main pillars and aspects of the strategies. In January 2020, the Commission should organize a workshop for Member States to discuss the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy, in February a public consultation on the strategies should be launched.

Representatives of industry and producers of agricultural commodities, food and feed presented their own requirements for the new European Commission - asking to strengthen access to finance, to preserve the single market, or to support research and innovation

A total of 149 organizations, including representatives of the FoodDrinkEurope producers and dairy producers of the European Dairy Association, presented on 26/11/2019 a common long-term EU strategy for industrial sectors in the European Union. The strategy has been developed to support the requirements of the new European Commission, which will take over the mandate from 01/12/2019. Representatives of the organizations in this strategy ask the Commission to ensure an ambitious European strategy for industry. Sustainability, strengthening research and innovation, strengthening access to finance, strengthening the EU single market or improving the conditions for European industry in the framework of international trade agreements should be a key aspect of the new strategy. According to industry representatives, the new strategy should be ambitious so that European industry will be able to compete with other world countries and communities. According to industry, there should be stable, predictable and coherent legislation in the EU.
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European farmers across EU Member States protest against trade agreements, bans on active substances, and attacks by environmental organizations

European farmers in a number of member countries, including Germany, France, Poland and Lithuania, have organized a number of protests in recent weeks. About 10,000 farmers took part in agricultural protests in France, partially blocking tractors in one of the main thoroughfares Champs-Élysées in Paris - farmers demonstrated against European Union trade agreements with Canada and Mercosur, banning the use of active substances, to ensure government support in negotiations on prices with representatives of retail chains, as well as against attacks by environmental organizations. French Minister of Agriculture Didier Guillaume said that the French government will support farmers in negotiations with retail chains, but according to protest organizers, it is now necessary to turn words into action. There were protests in Germany on 26/11/2019 in Berlin, where thousands of tractors crippled the city - farmers protested against dumping prices in supermarkets and against the introduction of strict environmental rules limiting the use of fertilizers and insecticides.
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