In preparation for the Agriculture Council on 20 March, the experts from the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) on Monday 13 March discussed the agricultural aspects of the European Commission’s proposal for a regulation on nature restoration.
This proposal falls within the competence of the Environment Council, but the Agriculture Ministers want to make their voice heard on this issue (see EUROPE 13111/9).
At the SCA, the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council invited delegations to provide information on three issues.
The most important agricultural aspects of the text. The Member States cited in particular: - restoration of pollinator populations; - the organic carbon stock in cropland mineral soils; - agricultural land with high diversity landscape features; - rewetting of drained peatlands.
The best indicators for measuring the effect of biodiversity restoration in agricultural ecosystems. These indicators were mentioned by the Member States: - farmland birds; - reversing the decline of pollinators; - the share of agricultural land with high diversity landscape features; - the organic carbon stock in cropland mineral soils; - the indicators already defined in the CAP.
How to balance climate change, food production and specific conditions in different EU countries towards the objective of rewetting peatlands?
Delegations stressed the need to take into account the specific conditions in each Member State and to balance environmental and food safety concerns.
In addition, the Member States emphasised the following elements: - the need for sufficient funding to support farmers (in addition to that provided under the CAP); - the need for consistency with the CAP; - the need for the views of Agriculture Ministers to be taken into account by the Environment Council. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)