CAP Reform

The 6-month tenure of the Polish Presidency came to an end in 31 December 2011. Although the Polish Presidency will mainly be remembered for finalising the EU Budget 2012 & adopting the ‘six-pack’ agreement, it also had some important results for agriculture. Such results include the informal agreement on the EU dairy package, the temporary solution for the ‘Aid for the Needy’ scheme for 2012 and 2013, the unanimous decision on the Green Paper on promotion measures and information provision for agricultural products, the compromise reached on biocides being more environmentally friendly and safer for user and the success of the Durban Climate Conference.

Moreover, a live debate has been started during the Polish Presidency on the Commission’s proposal package regarding the CAP post-2013, published in 12 October 2011. In their final meeting under the Polish Presidency, Agricultural Ministers did not support the Common Strategic Framework and the 5% performance reserve, but welcomed the general orientation of rural development measures.… Read the rest

The refusal of the Environment Council meeting on 19 December last to endorse the Commission’s greening proposals in its legislative proposals for CAP reform has been interpreted as a victory for agricultural interests attempting to water down the greening element in these proposals. But this interpretation may underestimate the extent to which there is genuine doubt about the effectiveness and environmental value of the measures that the Commission proposes.
The biodiversity challenge

The Environment Council was meeting to adopt conclusions on the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020. In March 2010, EU leaders recognised that the 2010 biodiversity target would not be met despite successes such as establishing Natura 2000, the world’s largest network of protected areas. They went on to endorse the 2050 long-term vision and the 2020 headline target proposed by the Commission in its Communication Options for an EU vision and target for biodiversity beyond 2010.
Subsequently, the Commission proposed its 2020 Biodiversity strategy in its Communication Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 which includes six mutually supportive and inter-dependent targets that respond to the objectives of the 2020 headline target.… Read the rest

The refusal of the Environment Council meeting on 19 December last to endorse the Commission’s greening proposals in its legislative proposals for CAP reform has been interpreted as a victory for agricultural interests attempting to water down the greening element in these proposals. But this interpretation may underestimate the extent to which there is genuine doubt about the effectiveness and environmental value of the measures that the Commission proposes.

The biodiversity challenge

The Environment Council was meeting to adopt conclusions on the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020. In March 2010, EU leaders recognised that the 2010 biodiversity target would not be met despite successes such as establishing Natura 2000, the world’s largest network of protected areas. They went on to endorse the 2050 long-term vision and the 2020 headline target proposed by the Commission in its Communication Options for an EU vision and target for biodiversity beyond 2010.

Subsequently, the Commission proposed its 2020 Biodiversity strategy in its Communication Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 which includes six mutually supportive and inter-dependent targets that respond to the objectives of the 2020 headline target.… Read the rest