The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, proposed, on Thursday 17 March, to mobilise four types of measures, including €1.5 billion in aid, to support farmers in crisis due to the consequences of the war in Ukraine triggered by Russia.
MEPs on the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture have given a rather positive reception to the measures proposed by the Commission. Janusz Wojciechowski stressed that the Commission was continuing to monitor the market situation closely and suggested that further action could be taken if necessary.
At this stage, the Commission foresees four types of measures: - intervention in favour of the pigmeat sector (private storage); - mobilisation of the agricultural crisis reserve to the tune of €500 million, plus €1 billion via co-financing from the Member States; - temporary derogations to be able to produce protein crops on set-aside land; - authorising EU countries to pay emergency aid to their farmers in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Taking into account food security. Wojciechowski confirmed that the Commission would present, on Wednesday 23 March, a communication on strengthening the resilience of the EU food system in response to the difficulties caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
We must ensure that production capacities are used to the fullest extent possible, and even strengthened, said the Commissioner. However, for him, there is no question of abandoning sustainable agriculture and respect for the environment. He did not make a clear statement on the need to review the objectives of the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. The objectives of these strategies are in line with food security, the Commissioner said, adding that “we will continue to support farmers who have practices that are conducive to the environment and the quality of the land and water”.
Wojciechowski defended “a sustainable agriculture, which can withstand shocks and is less dependent on supplies from third countries”.
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italy) asked the Commission to postpone the presentation of the nature protection package (revision of rules on sustainable use of pesticides and protection of biodiversity), which stems from the European Green Deal, until after the crisis.
On the contrary, Greens/EFA MEPs, including the French MEP, Claude Gruffat, said that the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy should not be called into question. “It is the guarantee of our long-term food security”, said Mr Gruffat.
Several MEPs, such as Martin Hlaváček (Renew Europe, Czech Republic) and Anne Sander (EPP, France), called on the Commission to take further measures, especially for seeds and to address the high price of inputs. Ms Sander suggested a suspension of tariffs on imported inputs.
On 23 March, the European Parliament will also adopt a joint resolution on food safety (https://aeur.eu/f/td ). For the time being, all groups have submitted their own draft resolution, before the work on drafting a common resolution (see EUROPE 12912/6).
Wojciechowski also said that Ukrainian farmers, despite the war, are continuing their work. But they are short of between 200 and 350 tonnes of fuel to be able to carry out the sowing in the fields. The Commissioner said he was trying to find a solution for this fuel to be brought to Ukraine from Poland. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)