Agro Perspectiva - NewsCopyright 2002 Agrarika, ltd.tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//12024-03-29T10:40:48ZAgro Newshttp://www.agroperspectiva.com/en/news/info@agroperspectiva.comCouncil compromise on Ukraine ATMs – Only a half step forward in the right directiontag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1916642024-03-28T10:55:042024-03-28T10:55:04ZAgro NewsEU Ambassadors agreed yesterday on a new compromise to extend trade measures for Ukraine, with an unexpected approach that from farmers and manufacturers’ perspective does not provide a real answer to the key issues from the trilogue outcome. This new compromise will now be presented to the European Parliament. <br>In yesterday’s Coreper negotiations, the Belgian Presidency proposed to extend the reference period for the triggering of safeguard measures with the inclusion of the second half of year 2021 as a solution for the concerns raised by many Member States to the initial trilogue outcome. This half-response does not provide a real answer to farmers’ and manufacturers concerns and would only bring very limited relief for our producers.<br>Without the inclusion of common wheat and barley in the automatic triggering of the safeguard measures and without the inclusion of the full 2021 in the reference period it remains unsustainable from farmers and manufacturers.<br>Finally, it is important to underline once again, that this agreement and these renewed ATMs which still need to be approved by the European Parliament and will most likely constitute the bases for further re-negotiation of the association agreement with Ukraine, providing additional concerns for the sector on the long-term effects of Ukrainian imports.<p>Commission approves amendment to Italian State aid scheme to support companies in Friuli Venezia Giulia in the context of Russia's war against Ukrainetag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1916532024-03-28T07:18:372024-03-28T07:18:37ZAgro NewsThe European Commission has approved an amendment to an existing Italian scheme, including a ˆ150 million budget increase, to support companies in the agricultural, forestry, fishery and aquaculture sectors in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The amendment of the scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023, to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies.<p>The Commission approved the original scheme on 22 April 2022 (SA.102522). Under the scheme, the aid takes the form of direct grants and subsided loans. The measure is open to companies active in the agricultural (including primary production, processing and marketing of agricultural products), forestry, fishery and aquaculture sectors in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, that are at risk of losing financial liquidity due to the difficulties in the markets provoked by the Russia’s war against Ukraine.<p>Italy notified one amendment to the existing scheme, consisting solely of a budget increase of ˆ150 million leading to an overall budget of ˆ250 million. The Commission concluded that the amended scheme remains necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the amendment under EU State aid rules.<p>Source: ec.europa.euProjected famine in Gaza: FAO urges immediate access to deliver urgent and critical assistance at scale. About 1.1 million people are experiencing catastrophic food insecurity tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1916162024-03-26T08:55:432024-03-26T08:55:43ZAgro NewsThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) raises alarm over rapidly deteriorating hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, where famine is projected to occur anytime between now and May 2024 in the northern governorates, according to a new report published today by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) global initiative. The rest of the Gaza Strip is also at the risk of future famine in the worst case scenario if the hostilities do not cease and humanitarian assistance at scale does not reach those most in need.<p>The new data released today indicates that the entire population in the Gaza Strip is facing high levels of acute food insecurity classified in IPC Phases 3 (Crisis), 4 (Emergency) or 5 (Catastrophe). This includes half of the population or about 1.11 million experiencing catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5). Compared to the IPC previous analysis issued in December 2023, acute food insecurity in the Gaza Strip has deepened and widened with 79 percent and 92 percent more people sliding into catastrophic levels of hunger in the current (mid-February - mid-March) and the projected period (mid-March - July), respectively.<p>"This updated IPC analysis validates what we all feared - a deepening and rapid deterioration of the food security situation in Gaza. Half of the population are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity," said FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol. "This reaches the highest ever recorded level, unlike anything we have ever seen before. In December, the previous IPC report signalled that famine was likely. If no steps are taken to cease hostilities and to provide more humanitarian access, famine is imminent. It could already be occurring. Immediate access is needed to facilitate delivery of urgent and critical assistance at scale."<p>According to the IPC latest data, virtually all households are skipping meals every day and adults are reducing their meals so that children can eat. In the northern governorates, in nearly two thirds of the households, people went entire days and nights without eating at least 10 times in the last 30 days. Recent data shows that, in the northern governorates, one in three children under the age of two is acutely malnourished.<p>FAO has repeatedly called for urgent measures to save the population of Gaza. In November, Director-General QU Dongyu called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza to ease civilian suffering and to facilitate the delivery of urgent assistance. In March, Qu reiterated FAO’s alarming concerns in a statement delivered during an event organized by the Italian Government: "Peace is a prerequisite for food security and the Right to Food is a basic human right."<p>The escalation of hostilities has halted supplies of water, food and fuel, causing the collapse of all food-related sectors, including vegetable production, livestock production, and fisheries and aquaculture.<p>Around 60 to 70 percent of meat and dairy-producing livestock in Gaza have been either killed or prematurely slaughtered to meet the dire food needs stemming from the conflict.<p>FAO is deeply concerned about significant livestock losses, which is indispensable for the livelihoods and the survival of families in Gaza. Providing animal feed is not just a way to sustain rural livelihoods or an economic asset for the families involved: keeping a family’s animal alive and productive gives them an at-hand source of protein, nutrition, and milk - especially critical for children.<p>"As FAO, it is vital that we focus on everything around keeping livestock alive, which is about ensuring access to milk particularly for children who are malnourished or at risk of malnourishment. Additionally, people need access to nutritious foods and vegetables," said FAO Director for Emergencies and Resilience, Rein Paulsen.<p>FAO has mobilized to provide key agricultural supplies into Gaza as soon as conditions allow. The Organization’s initial priority has been to move animal feed, specifically 1 500 tonnes of barley, through one or two of the remaining open border crossings where food distribution is taking place. The 1 500 tonnes of barley FAO hopes to deliver should be sufficient to provide milk for all children under 10 years of age in Gaza, providing around 20 percent of the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum daily requirement in terms of caloric intake.<p>In addition, FAO is mobilizing other vital agricultural supplies such as water tanks, veterinary kits and fuel to Gaza, once access is made available, to protect livestock and sustain livelihoods.<p>About IPC<br>The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is an innovative multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making. By using the IPC classification and analytical approach, Governments, UN Agencies, NGOs, civil society and other relevant actors, work together to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity, and acute malnutrition situations in a country, according to internationally recognised standards.EU makes major step forward in the delivery of 2024 humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza*tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1916112024-03-26T06:44:012024-03-26T06:44:01ZAgro NewsThe Commission has now contracted ˆ81 million out of the overall humanitarian aid allocation of ˆ125 million and is working on its disbursement to humanitarian partner organisations.<p>The EU has to date organised 41 air bridge flights to deliver over 1800 tonnes of aid to Palestinians via Egypt and is exploring further means of delivering lifesaving supplies.<p>This comes as Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič is in Israel today to conclude his visit to the Middle East, after visiting the West Bank and Jordan yesterday. The objective of the visit is to reiterate the EU’s commitment to mobilising all possible means to provide humanitarian aid for Palestinians in need.<p>In Israel, the Commissioner met with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and shared the EU’s unequivocal call for the protection of civilians, unhindered and safe access for humanitarian aid into and across Gaza, whilst also reiterating the EU’s request for the release of all hostages. He also met with EU’s humanitarian partners on the ground.<p>Today the Commissioner has visited Kerem Shalom, the Israeli border crossing with the Gaza Strip, to emphasise the vital importance of allowing unimpeded and safe humanitarian access through all crossing points, while opening additional ones, including to the north of Gaza. The Commissioner has also visited the Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the multiple sites targeted by the heinous 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas.<p>Yesterday in Jordan, the Commissioner Lenarčič met with the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and humanitarian partner organisations. He also visited a UN-led girls school in the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank and met with the caretaker representatives of the Palestinian National Authority.<p>The protracted humanitarian situation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has reached unprecedented levels, with conditions rapidly deteriorating due to the continued intensification of hostilities.<p>The full-scale Israeli military operation which followed the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack, along with the blockade of Gaza, brought the already dire humanitarian situation to a catastrophic level for the 2.2 million population.<p>Tensions and settler violence in the occupied West Bank also significantly worsened following the war outbreak in Gaza.<p>The EU is responding to the population’s most pressing needs in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need since 2000.<p>The EU also launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge operation consisting of 41 flights transporting humanitarian cargo supplied by humanitarian partners, EU-owned stockpile items, and donations from Member States.<p>Furthermore, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated 7 times to support countries affected by the spill-over of the crisis and support repatriations from Israel and Gaza.<p>Source: ec.europa.euCommission approves ˆ86.9 million Bulgarian State aid scheme to support farmers in the context of Russia's war against Ukrainetag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1916042024-03-25T14:17:472024-03-25T14:17:47ZAgro NewsThe European Commission has approved an approximately ˆ86.9 million (BGN 170 million) Bulgarian scheme to support farmers in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023, to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies.<p>Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of limited amounts of aid in the form of direct grants. The measure will be open to primary agricultural producers in the sectors of livestock farming, beekeeping, production of fruit and vegetable, oilseed roses, wine and tobacco, that are at risk of losing financial liquidity due to the difficulties in the agricultural market provoked by the Russia’s war against Ukraine.<p>The aid (i) will not exceed ˆ280,000 per beneficiary; and (ii) will be granted no later than 30 June 2024. The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules.<p>More information on the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine and foster the transition towards a net-zero economy can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.112734 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.<p>Source: ec.europa.euCommission takes action to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EUtag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1915592024-03-21T09:15:022024-03-21T09:15:02ZAgro NewsThe Commission has proposed a series of targeted actions to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU. The Communication on Building the future with nature identifies the challenges and barriers and proposes to tackle them, in line with the Communication on the long-term competitiveness of the EU.<p>The advances in life sciences, supported by digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), and the potential of solutions based on biology to solve societal issues, make biotechnology and biomanufacturing one of the most promising technological areas of this century. They can help the EU to modernise its agriculture, forestry, energy, food and feed sectors and industry. In addition, these technologies can contribute to a more competitive and resilient EU, that provides better healthcare to its citizens, and succeeds in its green and digital transitions.<br>Reaping the benefits of the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector<p>The EU biotechnology and biomanufacturing sector is facing several challenges: research and technology transfer to the market, regulatory complexity, access to finance, skills, value chain obstacles, intellectual property, public acceptance and economic security.<p>This is why the Commission is putting forward a set of actions:<p> Leveraging research and boosting innovation: To help to identify drivers and bottlenecks of innovation and of technology adoption, the Commission has launched a study to investigate the EU’s position compared to other global leaders in emerging biotechnology generation and transfer to the biomanufacturing industry. To facilitate a more productive use of Research Infrastructures, the Commission will explore ways to accelerate the development and use of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation and Synthetic Biology Accelerator (EU IBISBA) as a trusted digital repository and service network for the sector.<br> Stimulating market demand: To succeed on the market, bio-based products need to prove their lower environmental impact when compared, for instance, to petrochemical products. The Commission will review the assessment of fossil-based and bio-based products to ensure equivalence of treatment and incorporate methodologies for carbon storage in construction materials. To accelerate the substitution of fossil feedstock and to stimulate the demand and market uptake of bio-manufactured products, the Commission will conduct an in-depth impact assessment of the feasibility of bio-based content requirements in specific product categories and in public procurement. Furthermore, the Commission will explore how bio-manufactured non-food products could profile themselves better through labelling of bio-based products.<br> Streamlining regulatory pathways: The Commission will assess how EU legislation and its implementation could be further streamlined to reduce any fragmentation, explore potential simplification, and shorten the time to market for biotech innovations; as well as regulatory obstacles that arise at national or other governance levels which impede an effective single market. The study will lay the foundations for a possible EU Biotech Act. The Commission will also work towards establishing an EU Biotech Hub, an operational tool for biotech companies to navigate through the regulatory framework and identify support to scale up, by end of 2024. The Commission will further promote the establishment of regulatory sandboxes that allow to test novel solutions in a controlled environment for a limited amount of time under the supervision of regulators, as a way of bringing more of them quickly to the market.<br> Fostering public and private investments: The EU has a broad range of financing instruments to support biotechnology and biomanufacturing such as Horizon Europe, including the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) and the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU); EU4Health; the Innovation Fund; and now also the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). To develop and scale up innovations with the potential to create new markets, the Commission will advocate the inclusion of specific challenges on biotech and biomanufacturing in the European Innovation Council (EIC) accelerator Work Programme 2025. In line with the recent Eurogroup statement on Capital Markets Union, the Commission will launch a study by the end of 2024 to identify barriers and ways to support the consolidation of investment funds, stock exchanges and post-trading infrastructure in order to enable the development of the necessary scale, enhance the knowledge base, create deeper pools of liquidity and help lower the cost of financing for high-growth companies.<br> Strengthening biotech-related skills: Large-Scale and Regional Skills Partnerships can play a significant role in providing upskilling and reskilling opportunities on biotech and biomanufacturing. A specific large-scale partnership for the biotech and biomanufacturing could be explored, which can be co-financed through the Blueprint Alliances activity of the Erasmus+ programme. The expanding number of dynamic European Universities alliances and Erasmus+ partnerships and alliances for innovation can also strengthen the development of skills required by the biotech sector.<br> Elaborating and updating standards: The Commission will continue to encourage the elaboration and updating of European standards for biotechnology and biomanufacturing to facilitate market access and innovation.<br> Supporting collaboration and synergies: The Commission will encourage the deployment of technologies related to biotechnological processes and biomanufacturing across EU regions through relevant Regional Innovation Valleys.<br> Fostering engagement and international cooperation. The Commission will explore the possibility of launching international biotech and biomanufacturing partnerships with key international partners, such as the US, India, Japan, and South Korea, to collaborate on research and technology transfer, and to explore possibilities for strategic cooperation on regulatory and market access-related topics. Through the Global Gateway and in line with its Global Health Strategy, the Commission will advance existing partnerships with Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean on manufacturing health products aiming to diversify global supply chains, overcome shortages of critical health products and reduce the global burden of disease.<br> Using AI and generative AI: the Commission will support structured exchanges with stakeholders to accelerate the uptake of AI, and in particular Generative AI, in biotech and biomanufacturing (in the context of GenAI4EU). The Commission will also raise awareness of facilitated access to the EuroHPC supercomputers for AI startups and the science and innovation community, in the course of 2024.<br> Reviewing the Bioeconomy strategy: The Commission will review the EU Bioeconomy Strategy by end 2025. The review will take into account the current societal, demographic and environmental challenges, reinforcing the bioeconomy’s industrial dimension and its links to biotechnology and biomanufacturing to contribute to a stronger EU economy.<br>Deal to extend trade support for Ukraine with safeguards for EU farmers tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1915422024-03-20T09:13:592024-03-20T09:13:59ZAgro News Duties and quotas temporarily suspended for another year for Ukraine <br> Safeguard measures to protect EU farmers in case of market disruptions <br> Emergency break for the most sensitive products <p>On Wednesday, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on extending trade liberalisation measures for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war of aggression.<p>The temporary suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU will be renewed for another year, until 5 June 2025, to support Ukraine amidst Russia’s continuing war of aggression.<p>The Commission can take swift action and impose any measures it deems necessary should there be significant disruption to the EU market or the markets of one or more EU countries due to Ukrainian imports.<p>The regulation also provides for an emergency brake for particularly sensitive agricultural products, namely poultry, eggs, and sugar. MEPs secured the expansion of this list to include oats, maize, groats and honey. They also attained firm commitments from the Commission to take action if there is a surge of Ukrainian imports of wheat. The reference period for triggering the emergency brake will be 2022 and 2023, meaning that if imports of these products surpass the average volumes of these two years, tariffs would be re-imposed. EP negotiators also ensured that the Commission would act faster — within 14 days instead of 21 days — if trigger levels for the automatic safeguards were reached.<p>Rapporteur Sandra Kalniete (EPP, LV) said: "Tonight’s agreement reinforces the EU’s continued commitment to stand by Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression until Ukraine’s victory. Russia’s targeting of Ukraine and its food production also impacts EU farmers. The Parliament heard their concerns, and bolstered safeguard measures that would alleviate the pressure on EU farmers should they be overwhelmed by a sudden surge in Ukrainian imports."<p>Parliament and Council will now both have to give their final green light to the provisional agreement. The current suspension expires on 5 June 2024. The new regulations should enter into force immediately following this expiration date.<p>The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, has ensured that Ukrainian businesses have preferential access to the EU market since 2016. After Russia launched its war of aggression, the EU put in place autonomous trade measures (ATMs) in June 2022, which allow duty-free access for all Ukrainian products to the EU. These measures were extended by one year in 2023. In January, the EU Commission proposed that import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports should be suspended for another year. For Moldova, similar measures were extended for another year after the current measures expire on 24 July 2024. Russia has deliberately targeted Ukrainian food production and Black Sea exporting facilities to undermine the country’s economy and threaten global food security.<p>Source: European Parliament<br>CAP - The Commission proposes simplifications that safeguard agricultural transitions!tag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1915252024-03-19T07:43:202024-03-19T07:43:20ZAgro NewsTo "adapt to changing realities" in the words of President Ursula von der Leyen, it was essential to carry out a rapid analysis of the situation and propose specific adjustments to make the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) implementation more efficient. This is what the European Commission has done swiftly. Copa and Cogeca share the Commission’s analysis and support these simplification measures that do not undermine farming transitions. <br>Following the presentation of its non-paper last February as an emergency response, the European Commission today presented a second set of simplification CAP adjustments to address medium-term concerns. The chaotic implementation of the new, highly complex CAP in January 2023 collided with climatic, geo-political and economic events that made it difficult, if not impossible, to meet certain technical or timetable obligations. Farming is an open-air activity that doesn’t take kindly to overly rigid administrative timetables. The Commission has reacted to some of the concerns expressed across Europe considering that "(…) adjustments are necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plans and cut red-tape." The Commission also acknowledged that those elements where part of the reasons for the widespread protest of famers across the Member States. <br>The objective is therefore clearly stated by the Commission and should be supported by all; to review the elements that are too rigid, complex, and overly administrative, without calling into question the direction of the agricultural transitions envisioned in the CAP. This also explains why the Commission planned no impact study on these adjustments. Therefore, one can only regret the polarisation campaign that started even before the publication of the proposed regulation creating a disconnection between the content of the actual text and its presentation in the European public debate. It is important to understand what the Commission has truly proposed:<br>• The changes to GAECs 5, 6 and 7 do not remove the obligations to comply with these standards but offer Member States and farmers a more flexible manner of attaining them considering the local extreme weather events and soil conditions. Regarding GAEC 7 we consider that this flexibility does not go far enough.<br>• The proposals regarding GAEC 8 make it now possible to achieve these objectives through voluntary measures in Pillar 1 (eco-schemes). However, the European Commission should allow the use of agro-environmental climate commitments for the same purpose.<br>• We believe that the proposal for exempting farmers under 10 hectares from CAP conditionality controls and penalties will greatly reduce the administrative burdens they face. <br>• In what regards the proposals impacting on the functioning of the food supply chain, we support measures to improve and strengthen farmers’ positioning in the chain especially those through producer organisations with the aim to ensure a fair remuneration. These must however be supplemented by an increased transparency in the functioning of the food chain and reduction of the associated administrative burden. We hope that both the Council and the European Parliament can rapidly go ahead with the analysis of the proposals in this area.<br>There are still many lessons that could have been learnt from the CAP implementation. For instance, it is fundamental that the Commission adjusts its process of analysis and approval of the National Strategic Plans to ensure that it becomes faster and more responsive to the need of Member States and farmers. In the end, farmers, foresters, and their cooperatives are the ones who will actually implement the requested transitions while ensuring EU food security, so it is necessary to hear them and build effective responses that work on the ground. We call upon the Council and the European Parliament to rapidly deliver on these proposals to allow an implementation by all Members States already in 2025, ensuring predictability and stability for the European farming community until 2027. <p>Copa and Cogeca are the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Together, we ensure that EU agriculture is sustainable, innovative and competitive, while guaranteeing food security for 500 million people throughout Europe. <br>The European Union and Switzerland launch negotiations to deepen bilateral relationstag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1915212024-03-18T21:10:232024-03-18T21:10:23ZAgro NewsPresident Ursula von der Leyen and President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd launched today the negotiations on a broad package of measures to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship.<p>This follows the adoption of the Swiss and EU negotiating mandates on 8 and 12 March 2024, respectively. The two mandates authorise the Commission and Switzerland to negotiate the package outlined in the Common Understanding, endorsed by the Swiss Federal Council and the European Commission in November 2023.<p>The Common Understanding confirms both sides’ ambition to conclude the negotiation this year. The negotiating teams will meet tomorrow.<p>Mutual benefits of European and Swiss citizens and businesses<p>The negotiations aim at ensuring a level playing field for competition between EU and Swiss companies operating within the EU internal market and guarantee the protection of the rights of EU citizens working in Switzerland, including non-discrimination between citizens of different Member States.<p>Key elements of the package include:<p> Institutional provisions to be included in existing and future agreements with Switzerland related to the EU internal market, providing for dynamic alignment with EU law, its uniform interpretation and application, and dispute settlement;<br> State aid provisions in several existing and in future agreements with Switzerland related to the internal market;<br> An agreement allowing for Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes, including Horizon Europe;<br> An agreement on Switzerland’s regular and permanent financial contribution to social and economic cohesion in the EU as a counterpart to its participation in the internal market;<br> A relaunch of negotiations towards agreements on electricity, food safety and health and on the participation of Switzerland in the European Union Agencies for the Space Programme and for Railways.<p>Moreover, following the launch of the negotiations, the Commission opens the possibility to Swiss entities to apply for the European Research Council calls opening in 2024. Swiss applicants will be treated as if Switzerland is an associated country from admissibility and eligibility to evaluation, up until the preparation of grant agreements.<p>The EU and Switzerland are close neighbours with strong cross border links. The EU is Switzerland’s first trading partner, while Switzerland is the fourth largest partner for the EU. About one and a half million EU citizens live in Switzerland, and around 450 000 Swiss citizens live in the EU. A few hundred thousand of EU citizens cross the border daily to work.<p>Between March 2022 and November 2023, the EU and Switzerland were engaged in exploratory discussions on the future of their bilateral relations. On 15 December 2023, the Commission and the Federal Council published the Common Understanding that provides a written record of the outcome of the exploratory talks.<p>The EU mandate has been agreed in line with this Common Understanding, reflected in the Commission’s recommendation for a mandate, presented on 20 December 2023.<p>The mandate builds on the 2014 mandate for an institutional framework agreement as well as earlier mandates for agreements on electricity, health, food safety and the participation of Switzerland in the European Union Agencies for the Space Programme and for Railways.<p>Source: commission.europa.euCommission proposes targeted review of Common Agricultural Policy to support EU farmerstag:agroperspectiva.com,2004:/news//1915112024-03-18T08:05:382024-03-18T08:05:38ZAgro NewsDelivering on its commitment to ease administrative burden for EU farmers, the European Commission has today proposed to review certain provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), aiming to deliver simplifications while maintaining a strong, sustainable and competitive policy for EU agriculture and food.<p>These proposals, related to conditionality and CAP Strategic Plans, aim to reduce the burden related to controls for EU farmers, and provide them with greater flexibility for complying with certain environmental conditionalities. National administrations will also benefit from greater flexibility to apply certain standards.<p>Today’s legislative proposal is a direct response to the hundreds of requests received from farmers’ representative organisations and Member States, and complements the Commission’s short-term actions already under way to help reduce administrative burden for farmers.<p>The proposal strikes the right balance between the necessity to maintain the CAP’s role in supporting the transition of European agriculture to more sustainable farming, the expectations of farmers and Member States, and the objective to reach a quick agreement between the European Parliament and the Council.<p>It is carefully calibrated and targeted to maintain a high level of environment and climate ambition in the current CAP.<p>To respond to all concerns expressed in the past weeks, the Commission is also sending to the Council and the European Parliament a reflection paper outlining several measures to improve the position of farmers in the food supply chain. This list of possible actions will be discussed with agriculture ministers in the next Council meeting.<p>Today’s package of support for EU farmers delivers on the last conclusions from the European Council that called on the Commission and Council to address the challenges facing the EU agricultural sector.<p>President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: "The Commission is taking strong and swift action to support our farmers in a time when they are dealing with numerous challenges and concerns. Today’s proposals — crafted in close cooperation with farmers, key stakeholders, our Member States and MEPs — offer targeted flexibilities to help farmers do their vital work with greater confidence and certainty. We are sending a clear message that agricultural policy adapts to changing realities while staying focused on the key priority of protecting the environment and adapting to climate change. The Commission will continue to stand steadfastly by our farmers, who maintain EU food security and serve at the frontline of our climate and environment action."<p>Adapting conditionalities to new realities<p>In the first year of implementation of the current CAP (2023–2027), EU farmers faced challenges to fully comply with some of the standards beneficial to the environment and climate called "good agricultural and environmental conditions" (GAECs). Because most of the CAP payments that farmers receive are linked to this set of nine standards, they are also referred to as conditionalities.<p>The Commission therefore proposes a targeted review of certain conditionalities in the Regulation on CAP Strategic Plans. The review relates to the following conditionalities:<p> GAEC 8 on non-productive features: EU farmers will have to maintain existing landscape features on their land but will no longer be obliged to dedicate a minimum part of their arable land to non-productive areas, such as fallow land. Instead, they may choose, on a voluntary basis, to keep a share of their arable land non-productive — or establish new landscape features (such as hedges or trees) — and thereby receive additional financial support via an eco-scheme that all Member States will have to offer in their CAP Strategic Plans. All EU farmers will be incentivised to maintain non-productive areas beneficial for biodiversity without fearing loss of income.<br> GAEC 7 on crop rotation: EU farmers will be able to fulfil this requirement by choosing to either rotate or diversify their crops, depending on the conditions they are facing and if their country decides to include the option of crop diversification in their CAP Strategic Plan. Flexibility to carry out crop diversification instead of crop rotation only will enable farmers affected by regular drought or excessive rainfall to comply more easily with this requirement.<br> GAEC 6 on soil cover during sensitive periods: Member States will have much more flexibility in setting what they define as sensitive periods, and the practices allowed to fulfil this requirement, in light of their national and regional conditions, and in the context of increasing weather variability.<p>In addition to these specific changes, the Commission proposes that Member States may exempt certain crops, soil types or farming systems from complying with requirements on tillage, soil cover, and crop rotation/diversification (respectively GAECS 5, 6, 7). Targeted exemptions to allow ploughing to restore permanent grassland in Natura 2000 sites in case it is damaged due to predators or invasive species could also be possible (GAEC 9). These exemptions may be set for the whole CAP period in the CAP Strategic Plans. They should be limited in terms of area and established only where they prove necessary to address specific problems. The European Commission will review the necessary amendments to validate the exemptions and maintain the consistency with the overall environmental objectives of the Plans.<p>In extreme cases of adverse weather conditions preventing farmers to properly work and comply with the GAEC requirements, Member States may also introduce temporary derogations. These derogations should be limited in time and only apply to the beneficiaries affected.<p>To ensure that EU countries can adapt more frequently their CAP Strategic Plans to changing conditions, the Commission proposes to double the number of amendments allowed each year. Any successful simplification exercise must be carried out in close cooperation with national administrations.<p>Last but not least, the Commission proposes to exempt small farms of under 10 hectares from controls and penalties related to compliance with conditionality requirements. This will significantly reduce the administrative burden related to controls for small farmers who represent 65% of CAP beneficiaries.<p>The CAP Strategic Plans allocate 32% of the total CAP budget (around ˆ98 billion) to voluntary actions advancing the environmental, climate and animal welfare objectives. These proposed changes maintain this unprecedented budget and provide increased flexibility to reach the CAP’s environmental objectives.<p>In addition, Member States will have to review their CAP Strategic Plans by 31 December 2025 if specific environmental and climate acts (for example on conservation of wild birds and natural habitats of wild fauna and flora, and protection of waters) are updated at EU level.<p>Improving farmers’ remuneration and their position in the food supply chain<p>Reinforcing the position of farmers in the food supply chain is one of the key objectives of the CAP. There are already several measures in place at EU level to ensure more fairness and protect farmers against unfair trading practices. While the degree of trust and cooperation between actors in the chain is increasing, the full implementation and enforcement of the available policy tools take time, and more needs to be done.<p>To contribute to the ongoing discussions with agriculture ministers and the European Parliament, the Commission presents several options for actions that could be taken forward in the short and medium term.<p>First, as part of an immediate deliverable, the Commission will launch an observatory of production costs, margins and trading practices in the agri-food supply chain. Composed of representatives from all sectors along the food supply chain and representatives of Member States and the Commission, this observatory will increase the transparency on costs and margins in the chain by making data public, and exchanging information, with a view to building trust between the stakeholders and establishing a common diagnosis of the situation. It is expected to hold its first meeting this Summer.<p>Second, the Commission proposes options for targeted improvements to the current legal framework set in the Regulation establishing a common market organisation of agricultural products (CMO). These options include reinforcing the rules applicable to contracts that farmers conclude with buyers in the food industry or retail, and strengthening producer organisations to allow farmers to cooperate and act collectively in a more effective way vis-à-vis other actors in the food supply chain. The aim is to help correct imbalances in the chain while preserving the fundamental principle of market orientation. In the same vein, the Commission proposes the possibility of new rules on cross-border enforcement against unfair trading practices. Currently, at least 20% of the agricultural and food products consumed in a Member State come from another Member State. There is a need to enhance the cooperation of national enforcement authorities, notably by improving the exchange of information and collection of penalties.<p>Third, the Commission will conduct a thorough evaluation of the Directive on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain, in force since 2021. A first report will be delivered in Spring 2024 presenting a consolidated state of play of the implementation of this Directive by Member States. This report will then feed into a more detailed evaluation that the Commission will present in 2025, which could be accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals.<p>Discussions with Member States on these possible measures will take place in several formats, most notably the upcoming agriculture Council on 26 March.<p>Background<p>The Commission has worked hard to offer timely and concrete actions responding to farmers’ concerns for reducing administrative burden. This work has been conducted in close cooperation with farmers’ representatives and Member States, with the valuable help of the Belgian EU Presidency. It is now of utmost importance that co-legislators find an agreement on today’s legislative proposal in a timely manner to reassure farmers that these new measures can apply as soon as possible.<p>The conditionality system and budgetary ringfencing, alongside an array of other key tools of the CAP’s green architecture, remain in place to ensure an overall higher level of ambition of the current CAP compared to the past. The changes proposed today will lead to a more predictable policy that does not require yearly derogations and disproportionate efforts from farmers.<p>Last year, the Commission already showed a flexible and pragmatic approach by providing derogations on the conditionality on crop rotation (GAEC 7) and land lying fallow (GAEC 8). This year, the partial derogation on land lying fallow for EU farmers for 2024 was confirmed on 13 February. In addition to this derogation, the Commission launched on 22 February a range of short-term actions that are currently ongoing or have already been implemented. For example, the change on the calculation of the area of permanent grassland was adopted on 12 March to take into account the situation of farmers converting from livestock to arable crops.<p>On 7 March, the Commission launched a survey on simplification directly targeted at EU farmers to identify the complexity stemming from CAP rules as well as other EU rules for food and agriculture. In parallel, an online survey gathering the views of farmers and smaller suppliers on unfair trading practices has been running and closed today, 15 March.<p>Member States play a key role in keeping the administrative burden for farmers limited and proportionate to achieving the objectives of EU legislation. It is essential that no requirements that go beyond what is requested in the CAP legislation are imposed. This is why any successful simplification exercise must be carried out in close cooperation with the national administrations and farmers themselves. The Commission will keep facilitating exchanges of good practices.<p>Source: commission.europa.eu