The European agricultural policy must be opened up. The EU Agriculture Ministers are demanding this after deliberation about the ‘crisis in the agricultural sector’. Brussels must also come up with ‘more ambitious measures’ in the short term to help farmers as quickly as possible.
The new common agricultural policy entered into force last year. For some of the agricultural subsidies, farmers must meet more green requirements. But according to the EU President from Belgium, a majority of member states believe that circumstances have changed to such an extent that structural adjustments are necessary.
Belgian Minister David Clarinval (Agriculture) points emphatically to the war in Ukraine and the Green Deal by former European Commissioner Frans Timmermans. Such a revision of agricultural policy can take a lot of time. That is why agricultural ministers from the 27 Member States are also calling for measures that respond to the concerns of European farmers in the short term.
Concessions for the third time
Last week, the European Commission proposed concessions for the third time in a short period of time to reduce administrative burdens for farmers and farm inspections. “It is a first concrete step to quickly respond to concerns from farmers throughout Europe,” said Minister Clarinval. “But the Member States do not think it is enough. We ask the European Commission to supplement this with more ambitious measures.”
Outside the common agricultural policy, the Member States want unfair trading practices to be critically examined. Such as agricultural products from outside the EU that are imported and do not have to comply with the strict green rules that European farmers do have to deal with. Polish European Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski (Agriculture) wants to look into a temporary exception to the green requirements for the European agricultural sector in the short term. Farmers can already invoke ‘exceptional circumstances’, but the scope of this exception is limited.
The EU administrator wants to see whether this can be expanded to include the war in Ukraine, the associated increase in production costs and the unstable market. “Farmers will not be punished this year if they cannot meet certain requirements.” In the longer term, Wojciechowski specifically wants to see whether the requirements can be converted into a more voluntary approach with more room for state support. “Stimulation is better than coercion,” said the European Commissioner. But for such an adjustment, the policy must first be revised by the European Parliament and the Member States.