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Wed 23 October 2024| View online Estimated reading time: 4-5 minutes |
| | | A look at the Commissioners' answers |
| The European Parliament published the written answers of the Commissioners-designate, which are the starting point for the confirmation hearings.
We have had a quick look at the answers of the two Commissioners with more responsibility for the agrifood sector, Christophe Hansen and Olivér Várhelyi, and can offer a few tidbits to start with:
Hansen’s answers: the 100-day vision for the future of agriculture "will look at the entire agri-food value chain", it will be accompanied by a "youth policy dialogue" and a strategy for generational renewal. Other key passages confirm measures to improve the bargaining power of farmers in the food chain, risk management in agriculture and enlargement. Hansen got the thumbs up from S&D agriculture MEPs, coordinator Dario Nardella said in a press release last night.
Várhelyi’s answers: work on food labelling “should continue," with “particular attention” to finding “pragmatic solutions”. The approach to animal welfare must also “be balanced”. On pesticides, biological control and integrated pest management are the way forward. Other key passages: greater coordination with member states on animal health against diseases, higher level of vigilance on controls on imported foods.
We’ll dive into the answers today. Stay tuned. |
| | In the Council the future of the CAP has a taste of déjà vu |
| Two days of negotiations on the Council’s CAP conclusions ended yesterday (22 October) with a sense of déjà vu, as Romania again blocked the full consensus needed to adopt the text, echoing the outcome seen in June under the Belgian Presidency.
Maria brought you the details here.
The bone of contention was once again more the CAP’s external convergence mechanism, aimed at gradually reduce the gap in subsidies between member states, with Romania pushing for a commitment to speed up the process.
Although several agriculture ministers arrived in Luxembourg on Monday (21 October) optimistic of reaching an agreement, the discussions led by the Hungarian presidency ultimately proved difficult.
In the end, the presidency’s document, which includes a call for “dedicated” (weaker than the "separate" in earlier drafts) CAP funds amid speculation that farm subsidies would be merged with the EU’s cohesion policy, was approved by 26 countries and will be published today. |
| | | First trilogue on new food waste rules |
| EU negotiators held an introductory meeting yesterday afternoon (22 October), marking the start of trilogue talks between MPs and the Council on the food and textile waste directive.
The legislation sets legally binding targets for EU member states to reduce food waste by 2030 - by 10% in processing and manufacturing, and by 30% (per capita) in restaurants, food services and households.
However, the Parliament is pushing for more ambitious targets, calling for a minimum of 20% in processing and 40% in consumption. The Council, on the other hand, does not want to go beyond the Commission's proposed targets and wants to give member states more flexibility on the base year for reductions. |
| | Clash of rapporteurs on animal transport rules |
| The Parliament still hasn’t made any headway on new animal welfare rules for transport, almost a year after the Commission rolled out its legislative proposal.
The two lead MEPs—Luxembourg’s Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA) from the transport committee (TRAN) and Romania’s Daniel Buda (EPP) from the agriculture committee (AGRI)—can’t agree on when (and how) to move forward with the draft report.
Metz, keen to get things going, told Euractiv that Buda has been stalling, wanting to delay until the European Parliament’s Research Service (EPRS) finishes a report on the current transport legislation. “I’d hoped to have a draft ready by Christmas,” Metz said. But she pointed out that the EPRS report, which pulls together existing assessments, won’t be out until 2025.
She also noted that a full evaluation has already been carried out, mainly by the commission of inquiry into the protection of animals during transport (ANTI), which Metz chaired in the previous mandate. ANIT issued a report, led by Buda, in 2021, concluding that the current legislation is too vague, making it hard to enforce consistently across member states.
Romania’s upcoming election on 1 December could be another reason for Buda’s hesitation, as the legislation would likely be unpopular in the country, a key hub for live animal exports both within and outside the EU.
Speaking to Euractiv, Buda said that new MEPs need to become “familiarised” with the legislation and its background , as well as having the EPRS study to make “informed decisions”. “Their introduction should take place in a joint hearing with EFSA, which could even happen in December after the new European Commission is inaugurated,” he added.
“Who would benefit from the adoption of poor-quality legislation rushed through? I claim that we are too serious to do things carelessly just ‘to please some,’ and adopt legislation that would then face delays in implementation,” said the Romanian MEP. |
| | | No EU funds to contain blue tongue disease |
| EU Health and Food Safety Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, informed MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday (22 October) that no budget is available to help farmers and authorities contain the blue tongue virus (BTV). “Funding of emergency measures to control or eradicate blue tongue isn't possible, as funding is allocated to other major priority animal diseases, such African swine fever (ASF)” she added, recalling that there's currently no safe vaccine to eliminate ASF. |
| EU biomethane target 'a curse', says report |
| The EU's target of 35 billion cubic metres of annual biomethane production is driving livestock farming intensification, according to a report to be presented at the Biomethane Week today. The 2030 target, agreed by the EU in the REPowerEU Plan, is an incentive to expand livestock production and increase competition for land, it says. "One of the perverse consequences of the biomethane rush is the ironic replacement of dependence on natural gas imports with dependence on animal feed," explained Francesca Magnolo, the expert who conducted the research, in a press release. "This report bursts the biomethane from manure bubble and shows it for what it is: a curse, not a cure," added Frank Mechielsen, director of Feedback EU, which published the report. |
| | | Council’s cuts Baltic quotas not enough for NGOs |
| EU fisheries ministers agreed on Tuesday (22 October) to reduce fishing quotas in the Baltic Sea. Overall, the Council followed the Commission's proposal to reduce catches of certain species such as salmon and cod.
On the other hand, ministers followed the Commission's proposal to double herring quotas in the central Baltic (+108%), increase them by 10% in the Gulf of Riga and by 21% in the Gulf of Bothnia. NGOs see this as a failure in the light of the collapse of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. This irresponsible decision will exacerbate the decline of the ecosystems," says the NGO Seas At Riks. Hugo has the details. |
| Oceana reiterates calls for more transparent labels on for seafood |
| Oceana is urging the Commissioner-designate for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, and the Commission to revise the Common Market Organisation (CMO) regulation to improve information on processed seafood products, a demand backed by fishermen.
According to a survey published yesterday by the NGO, more than 8 out of 10 people in Belgium, France, Spain, and Cyprus are calling for greater transparency. A month ago, a report by the organisation revealed that 40% of processed seafood products do not indicate the species or origin of the fish. |
| | | | Bucharest – Romania becomes latest EU country to ban fur farming The Romanian parliament has voted in favour of a new law banning the farming of chinchilla and mink fur, effectively ending the fur industry in the country. The law, which still needs to be promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis and published in the country's official gazette before it can take effect, would make the practice illegal from 1 January 2027. The country is the 16th member state to ban fur farming. "Although it's only two farms we are extremely disappointed at the decision, we hope the president will not sign off the law,” the CEO at the International Fur Federation Mark Oaten told Euractiv.
Athens - Authorities close slaughterhouses to tackle new sheep pox outbreaks The Greek Ministry of Agriculture has decided to close slaughterhouses for ten days as sheep pox spreads rapidly across the country. Greek breeders reacted by saying that the measure will not bring any tangible results, considering that where sheep pox is detected, 80% of the flock will be killed, with unpredictable effects on the market and a new explosion in prices. They stressed the urgency of the situation, as sheep pox lasts six months, compared with two to three days for plague. According to national media, the disease, which was first detected in Evros (north-eastern Greece), has now reached Corinthia and Messinia, in the south of the country.
Stockholm - The Society for Nature Conservation to the rescue of seals and cormorants While Sweden proposed to the Agriculture Council on Monday to facilitate the hunting of seals and cormorants to help fishermen, the NGO Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) told Euractiv that this proposal is "worrying and very problematic". In its view, the Swedish government has no analysis to show that this would help replenish fish stocks. Nor does it know what the impact will be on seal populations and the ecosystem. “This proposal clearly speaks against the image that the Swedish government wants to present of itself as a protector of the marine environment”, said the SSNC. |
| | | | | Today’s brief was brought to you by Euractiv’s Agrifood team |
| | | Today’s briefing was prepared by the Agrifood team; Angelo Di Mambro, Maria Simon Arboleas, Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro, and Hugo Struna. Share your feedback or information with us at digital@euractiv.com. |
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