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The European Commission is preparing a package of simplification measures for the Common Agricultural Policy to reduce the administrative burden on farmers. The package is expected to be presented on 26/02/2024, during the Agriculture Council. In this context, the Belgian Presidency has asked the Member States to submit their proposals and ideas on how to improve the CAP directly or indirectly by 14/02/2024. The package under preparation should cover various aspects of the CAP (aid applications, monitoring, controls) and should also reflect the obligations arising from other EU legislation. In this context, an exchange of views on the current crisis situation in the agricultural sector and the need for rapid and structural solutions should take place during the February Agriculture Council. The future of the EU agricultural sector could also be discussed at the European Council of Member States' leaders on 21-22/03/2024 and at the next European Council on 17-18/04/2024.

The European Union is investing €897 million in 135 new research projects in food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment, the European Research Executive Agency announced on 07/02/2024. Research findings are expected to play a key role in advancing the ambitions and commitments of the European Green Deal - to reduce environmental degradation, halt and reverse biodiversity loss, improve natural resource management and ensure food and water security.
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On 14/02/2024, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (COMENVI) adopted its opinion on waste, including food waste. The Commission presented its proposal in July 2023, proposing to set legally binding targets that Member States would be obliged to meet by 2030. The Commission proposed two targets in total, namely a 10% reduction in food waste for food processing and production and a 30% reduction in food waste per person for retail, restaurants, catering and households. The results of the first EU-wide monitoring of food waste levels carried out in 2020 will serve as a basis for assessing progress - 2020 should therefore be the reference year for the food waste reduction targets. The opinion was adopted with 73 votes in favor, 3 abstentions and no votes against. The plenary is expected to vote on the proposal in the week after 11/03/2024. The Council of the European Union is still negotiating its position, and the Belgian Presidency is aiming for a general approach from the Council by 17/06/2024.

The European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) adopted its opinion on plant health legislation on 13/02/2024. COMAGRI members supported the increase of plant protection in the European Union and proposed the creation of a pest emergency team. The emergency team should be made up of experts appointed by the Commission and the Member States and should help EU countries and countries neighboring the EU to deal with pest outbreaks. MEPs also proposed a five-to-ten-year period for multi-year risk-based survey programmes to ensure early detection of dangerous pests, including a requirement that these surveys be reviewed and updated based on the phytosanitary situation in the area. The Committee also supported the introduction of phytosanitary passports covering plants, plant products or other objects. The passports should be issued at the latest when the plants or plant products are first moved by the importer to an operator in the EU. According to COMAGRI, importers should use an information management system for official controls in order to provide the authorities with the results of official controls. The opinion was adopted by 36 votes to 1, with 1 abstention. The plenary of the European Parliament is expected to vote on the opinion at the end of February, between 26-29/02/2024.
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On 09/02/2024, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz called on the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Janusz Wojciechowski, to resign. The call was also supported by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, President of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which Wojciechowski represented in the European Parliament from 2010 to 2016. Kaczynski added that the decision on whether Wojciechowski resigns is in the hands of the commissioner alone. Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the work of Commissioner Wojciechowski has resulted in the majority of European farmers opposing the rules proposed and adopted by the European Commission for the agricultural sector. Following waves of protests in European countries, protests have also been launched in Poland, from 09/02/2024 to at least 09/03/2024.