The member countries of the European Union have given their support to the relaxation of the environmental requirements that must be met in order to access aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The plan was proposed by the European Commission on March 15 amid the wave of protests that occurred in different parts of European countries.
The measures include the exemption from controls and sanctions for small agricultural holdings, of less than 10 hectares, with the aim of further easing the administrative burden of the countryside. This has been supported by the Special Committee on Agriculture, which has met prior to the meeting of European ministers of the sector being held in Brussels and in which it is expected that the ministers of the sector will ratify their support by a qualified majority, given that, According to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, only Germany has expressed objections.
In statements to the media upon arrival in the Belgian capital, Planas also recorded that a total of 345,000 taxpayers will benefit from the exemption from requirements for small farmers, which represents more than 50% of the total. Likewise, the minister has highlighted that this file will be processed urgently, which is why the president of the Special Committee on Agriculture will now send the offer letter to the European Parliament, which is expected to adopt its position in first reading in its plenary session. April 22 to 25.
The Council will then formally adopt the regulation, so that if all goes as planned, it will come into force at the end of this spring and will apply retroactively from 1 January 2024. The main objective of these legislative proposals is Further alleviate the administrative burden for EU farmers and give farmers and Member States greater flexibility to meet certain environmental conditionalities.
However, the Commission assures that this will not compromise the overall level of ambition regarding the environmental and climate protection objectives of the EU agricultural policy. This new show of solidarity with the sector adds to the relaxation of the environmental requirements associated with CAP aid that the Community Executive already announced at the end of February with the aim of appeasing the rural mobilizations just three months before the elections. . European actions.
To receive the CAP support to which they are entitled, farmers must respect an enhanced set of nine environment and climate beneficial standards known as ‘BCAM’, a principle of cross-compliance that applies to around 90% of the agricultural area used in the EU and plays an important role in the integration of sustainable agricultural practices.
According to data from the Community Executive, exempting small farmers from the requirements associated with these rules would significantly simplify the daily work of small farmers, who represent 65% of CAP beneficiaries, while maintaining environmental ambitions, since that these only cover 9.6% of the surfaces that receive aid from the CAP.
BCAM Review
On the other hand, the Commission also proposes a specific review of BCAM 6, minimum soil cover in the most sensitive periods; BCAM 7, rotation on cropland and BCAM 8, minimum percentage of barbecue, in which Member States are encouraged to offer more flexibility for compliance.
In addition to these specific changes, Brussels proposes that Member States can exempt certain crops, types of soil or agricultural systems from compliance with the requirements on tillage, soil cover and crop rotation or diversification (respectively, BCAM 5, 6 and 7 ).
It will be possible to establish specific exemptions to allow plowing to restore permanent pastures on Natura 2000 sites if they suffer damage due to predators or invasive species (BCAM 9). In extreme cases of adverse weather conditions that prevent farmers from working properly and meeting BCAM requirements, governments may also introduce temporary exceptions, which should be limited in duration and apply only to affected beneficiaries.
EU countries will also need to review their CAP strategic plans by 31 December 2025 if they are updated at the level of specific EU environmental and climate laws, such as on the conservation of wild birds and animals. natural habitats. of wild fauna and flora or the protection of waters.
“The Commission has concluded that it is now “of utmost importance” that the Council and the European Parliament, as co-legislators, reach an agreement on the legislative proposal presented this Friday in a timely manner to guarantee farmers that these new measures can be implemented. as soon as possible.”
Additional measures
To contribute to the ongoing discussions with agriculture ministers and the European Parliament, the Commission has also proposed other actions that could be carried out in the short and medium term, such as launching an observatory of production costs, margins and commercial practices in the agri-food supply chain.
In addition, Brussels proposes specific improvements to the current legal framework established in the regulation creating a common organization of markets for agricultural products, which include strengthening the rules applicable to contracts that farmers conclude with buyers in the food industry or the retail trade, and strengthen producer organizations.
Along the same lines, the Commission proposes the possibility of new rules on cross-border enforcement against unfair commercial practices and has committed to a comprehensive evaluation of the directive on unfair commercial practices in the food supply chain, in force since 20 21.
