On Friday 6 October, the EU’s agricultural organisations and cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca) welcomed the European Commission’s change of method, which involves the sector to a greater extent in the decisions that affect them, while at the same time showing themselves to be very vigilant with regard to the texts currently being negotiated on the sustainable use of pesticides and the law on nature.
Christiane Lambert, President of Copa, welcomed the European Commission’s “change of method” since the speech by President Ursula von der Leyen, and the announcement of a “strategic dialogue” on the future of agriculture in the EU, although it is not yet clear how this will work.
According to Ms Lambert, this represents a “new awareness” on the part of the Commission, which had previously wanted to “rush ahead and force through” the European Green Deal. In her view, the feasibility of the decisions taken must be assessed (impact studies must be carried out on each and every proposal arising from the ‘European Green Deal’), and a link made with the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), insisted the President of Copa.
Ms Lambert has once again called for the extension to 2024 of the derogations (from 2022 and 2023) on certain CAP rules, including the use of set-aside land. “Agriculture ministers are asking for it, but the Commissioner isn’t listening”, she lamented.
On the issue of the sustainable use of pesticides (see EUROPE 13258/5), on which a vote in the plenary of the European Parliament is scheduled for the end of November, Copa-Cogeca is calling for farmers not to be left without solutions. According to Ms Lambert, the reduction figures must be realistic and avoid jeopardising production volumes. In her view, the figures should also take account of the efforts made by countries to reduce the use of plant protection products. In addition, the procedures for approving alternative solutions need to be speeded up, and the use of pesticides in so-called ‘sensitive’ areas needs to be authorised (with a definition of the latter). Ms Lambert also called for an electronic register of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) products.
With regard to new genomic techniques (NGTs), the requirements must not be draconian for category 1 varieties that are close to conventional breeding. With regard to category 2, Copa-Cogeca is calling for harmonisation of the sustainability criteria required. “Many countries around the world are reviewing their regulations to give breeders access to these techniques, and Europe cannot [be left behind]”. “Otherwise, we’ll be importing products obtained from NGTs and we won’t be able to produce them ourselves”, warned Ms Lambert.
Ms Lambert noted that realism had been brought to bear on the Nature Act, and called for an additional dedicated fund, outside the CAP, to help farmers comply with the new rules.
On the issue of soil, Copa-Cogeca is concerned about the cost of soil health certificates (regular soil health reports).
With regard to Ukrainian imports of cereals, sugar and poultry, Ramon Armengol, President of Cogeca, stressed the need to avoid disruption in European countries. In his view, “safeguard measures” will have to be found when a certain threshold of products in transit through the EU is exceeded. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)