EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said at a press conference after the AGRIFISH Council on Tuesday 24 May that he was “personally in favour” of the request by several countries, including Germany, to grant a derogation in 2023 from the rules on compulsory crop rotation (good agricultural and environmental condition, or GAEC 7) in the context of the war in Ukraine.
This derogation could “help our farmers and relieve the markets”, said German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir on his arrival at the Council (see EUROPE 12959/15).
Mr Wojciechowski is in favour of this request “supported by a majority of states. I think we should consider this possibility, especially for crops that we particularly need, such as wheat”, said the Commissioner.
He admitted that this derogation was “not ideal from an agronomic point of view”.
The request is analysed by the Commission’s services. The Commissioner added that some EU Member States also wanted a derogation on the share of non-productive land (GAEC 8).
The French Minister for Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, who chaired the Council, said that France would now, “together with the Commission and the Member States, look at the requests and the possible responses”.
Strategic plans. Janusz Wojciechowski also stated that, in his opinion, there was no risk of disagreement on a national strategic plan implementing the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
“I don’t see any major political controversy. I am optimistic”, he said. Asked about the Commission’s criticisms in the comment letters sent to countries on these plans, the Commissioner replied that it was simply a matter of ensuring that the plans were “as good as possible”.
He repeated that the revision of these plans allows them to be adapted to the context of the war in Ukraine. He suggested an increase in support for struggling livestock farmers. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)