“The market should determine the extent of the growth of the organic sector, not any pre-set target figure”, said the Parliament’s rapporteur on the EU action plan for organic farming, Simone Schmiedtbauer (EPP, Austria), on Monday 2 May.
After a debate on Monday evening, the Parliament will vote, on Tuesday 3 May, on this report which, at this stage, does not support the European Commission’s proposed target of 25% of the EU’s agricultural area devoted to organic production by 2030 (see EUROPE 12923/21).
The S&D, Greens/EFA and The Left groups have tabled amendments to include this 25% target in the European Parliament report on the Action plan on Organic Agriculture.
But the EPP is against it. “The EU should have a strong regional focus in this action plan. Every region knows best where additional adjustments can be made and every region has a different starting point. The Member States are in very different situations, as the share of organic production varies from 0.5% to more than 25%. We need sufficient flexibility for tailor-made, national organic strategies”, argues Ms Schmiedtbauer.
Finally, the rapporteur said that the EU must support farmers to increase organic production and also consumers to find their way to these products. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)