On Thursday 11 April, the European Parliament agreed (by 432 votes in favour, 155 against and 13 abstentions) to vote under the urgency procedure at its next plenary session (22-25 April in Strasbourg) on the proposal to relax certain Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules.
The Council of the EU has already accepted the text brought to the table and hopes that the European Parliament will approve it without any changes so that it can enter into force in May, in response to farmers’ demands. The rules concern certain standards relating to good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC), procedures for amending CAP strategic plans and exemptions from controls and penalties (see EUROPE 13379/2).
In addition, 52 NGOs, including PAN Europe, called on MEPs on Monday 8 April (https://aeur.eu/f/bpp ) to reject the Commission’s proposal, which they believe will weaken the CAP’s environmental requirements. The Commission’s proposal is deemed “ludicrous and scandalous”.
Finally, on Thursday, Greenpeace activists set up a “giant poison apple” in front of the European Parliament in Brussels to protest against the relaxation of CAP rules. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)