David Clarinval, the Belgian Minister for Agriculture, whose country holds the EU Presidency until the end of June, indicated on Monday 12 February that he would not be continuing work in the EU Council on the proposal on the sustainable use of pesticides, after the European Commission announced the withdrawal of the text.
Prior to this, the Belgian Presidency of the Council had sought an agreement among the Member States on two consensual aspects of the proposal, including biocontrol and aerial spraying by drone (see EUROPE 13341/11). “We won’t be going any further, as the text has been withdrawn”, said the Belgian Minister for Agriculture, who presented his priorities for the six months to the members of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee. He added that he was waiting for the European Commission to make (new) proposals on the use of pesticides.
On the subject of the proposal on new genomic techniques (NGTs), he told MEPs that NGTs would “make agriculture more competitive and sustainable”. He argued that this policy must be supported and implemented. Mr Clarinval acknowledged that discussions were taking place with certain Member States on the issue of patents and “cohabitation with organic crops”. Discussions are taking place in an attempt to obtain a favourable decision enabling discussions with the European Parliament to begin “as soon as possible”. Parliament has just adopted its position (see EUROPE 13345/2).
Farmers’ anger. Regarding measures to reassure angry farmers, particularly about the complexity of the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), David Clarinval remained relatively evasive, despite being pressed on the matter by MEPs, including Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italian) and Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spanish).
“We need to provide flexibility”, said the Belgian minister. He added that the European Commission should make proposals for greater flexibility and administrative simplification. “This does not mean that the Council and the Member States will not” also be making proposals. “It has to come from both sides”, continued Mr Clarinval. France, in particular, plans to join other countries in putting forward ideas for simplifying the CAP at the next Agriculture Council on Monday 26 February in Brussels. The Belgian Presidency of the Council has sent a letter to the Member States asking them to work on this issue.
Mr Clarinval felt it was important to take account of the impact studies showing that the initiatives arising from the ‘European Green Deal’ would lead to a 15% drop in EU production and a 10% increase in costs for farmers. “This is an important element to bear in mind, especially when we see the farmers’ protests”, Mr Clarinval responded. As part of the debate on the future of agriculture, these elements of the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy will have to be reassessed, the Belgian minister declared.
With regard to the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur (see EUROPE 13344/23), Mr Clarinval supported the introduction of mirror clauses in the agricultural section of this free trade agreement (see other news). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)