On Wednesday 19 February, the European Commission is due to adopt its communication on the ‘vision for agriculture and food’. It is a “roadmap for 2040 and beyond”, providing, according to a provisional version (10 February) of this 24-page text obtained by Agence Europe, for an attractive, competitive and fair agri-food system.
With regard to public support, the text, which is likely to be amended before it is adopted by the College, provides for fairer and better-targeted public support. The future CAP, in the proposals for the EU’s next multiannual financial framework (MFF) post-2027, will be “simpler and better targeted to support an ambitious and forward-looking EU agricultural policy”, according to the draft text. According to the Commission, CAP support will be directed more towards farmers who actively contribute to food security, the economic vitality of farms and the preservation of the environment. It plans to strengthen degressive or capping aid measures. In addition, the Commission is committed to further simplifying the system of cross-compliance (good agricultural and environmental conditions).
In terms of innovation, reference is made to the new bioeconomy strategy, planned for completion by the end of 2025, and to the idea of developing ‘nature credits’ to reward those who serve the planet.
In 2025, the Commission plans to launch a new generational renewal strategy and an EU Observatory on Farmland.
Reciprocity of standards. The Commission is committed to putting in place a ‘plan’ to ensure a more sustainable and autonomous European plant protein system. Above all, the institution plans to present, in 2025, its “line of action” for strengthening reciprocity in terms of production standards to be respected by third countries.
The Commission will pursue, in line with international rules, “a stricter alignment of production standards applied to imported products, particularly with regard to pesticides and animal welfare”, says the draft text.
The institution promises to ensure that the most dangerous pesticides banned in the EU “cannot return to the EU via imported products”. It is also committed to preventing chemicals banned in the EU from being produced for export, including pesticides. The plan also calls for a working group to be set up to step up import controls.
With regard to animal welfare, the roadmap calls for a review of legislation to ensure that imported products comply with European livestock farming standards.
The document also proposes extending compulsory origin labelling to more agricultural and fisheries products.
The Commission confirms the reserve of €1 billion in the next MFF, “in the context of the EU/Mercosur agreement” and work with the EIB on export credits.
Risk management. The Commission is proposing to review the operation of the agricultural crisis reserve to refocus its use on crises of “significant magnitude” (market disturbances and animal or plant health problems).
The document recognises that livestock farming (meat production) is “an essential component of European agriculture”. There are plans to launch a ‘workstream on livestock’ to develop policy guidelines aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and granting it reciprocal measures and support.
In the second quarter of 2025, the Commission will present a package to simplify the rules (organic farming, simplified payments, access to financial instruments, greater flexibility in the management of strategic plans).
Biopesticides. To offer farmers alternatives to chemical pesticides, the Commission plans to present a proposal in 2025 aimed at speeding up access to biopesticides, in particular through a fast-track authorisation procedure for these products. It “will carefully examine any additional ban on pesticides if alternatives are not available within a reasonable timeframe and at an affordable cost”, except in the case of a proven health risk. The institution also plans to evaluate the Nitrates Directive at the end of 2025.
Sale at a loss. The Commission will not tolerate practices where farmers are systematically forced to sell at a loss. It confirms its desire to revise the Unfair Trading Practices Directive in order to remedy this problem.
Finally, new legislation on public procurement will be adopted to promote the consumption of “local and seasonal” products, as well as food that meets high environmental standards, such as organic farming. To see the draft communication: https://aeur.eu/f/fhh (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)