2024-03-15 20:12:36
By Anne Rovan
Published yesterday at 4:10 p.m., Updated yesterday at 9:12 p.m.
While peasant anger still rumbles across Europe, the European executive now prefers to encourage rather than punish the agricultural sector with a series of new measures. JOHN THYS / AFP
DECRYPTION – Under pressure from Member States, the Commission announces the end of the set-aside obligation.
Correspondent in Brussels
How far will the unraveling of the greening of the new common agricultural policy go? While peasant anger is still brewing in Europe, the European Commission presented a new round of proposals on Friday.
Unlike the temporary or safeguard measures announced a few weeks ago, these new proposals are expected to fundamentally modify the current CAP. If the Member States and the European Parliament give the green light, they would apply from 2025, with retroactive effect from January 1, 2024. The Europeans want to give guarantees to the agricultural sector, less than three months before the European elections.
Ursula von der Leyen is keen to emphasize that they do not reduce “ the overall level of environmental ambition », These proposals still mark a radical change in philosophy. Because, from now on, the European executive prefers to encourage rather than put pressure and punish the agricultural sector. Several BCAEs, or good agricultural and environmental conditions, hated by the farming world, are thus abandoned or relaxed. Starting with GAEC 8, relating to the set-aside obligation, synonymous with decline for many farmers. Suspended in 2023 due to the war in Ukraine, partially reinstated in 2024, this rule provides for leaving at least 4% of arable land fallow. This time, the Commission is proposing to completely remove this obligation, without financial penalty. Better yet, operators who decide to continue to comply would receive a bonus. “ In practice, this would mean that farmers would be encouraged to maintain non-productive areas, but without fear of loss of income if they are unable to do so. », justified Ursula von der Leyen on Friday during a telephone exchange with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Brussels is also tackling the crop rotation obligation (GAEC 7), replaced by a simple “diversification” of crops. “ The flexibility to undertake crop diversification instead of simple crop rotation will make it easier for farmers affected by regular droughts or excessive rainfall to comply with this requirement », justifies the Commission.
As for the ban on bare soil intended to limit soil erosion (GAEC 6), the timetables would no longer be rigid. Member States could “ define them flexibly taking into account regional differences », indicated the Polish Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski. In addition to these specific changes, it is proposed that « Member States may exempt certain crops, soil types or agricultural systems from compliance with requirements on tillage, soil cover and crop rotation/diversification » (respectively BCAE 5, 6 and 7), further specifies the European executive.
As it had already announced, the Commission also confirmed on Friday that “ farms of less than 10 hectares » – who represent two thirds of CAP beneficiaries – will be exempt from control and penalties in the event of non-compliance with the rules of conditionality. This was a request from France and Poland which have many small farms.
Thoughts on fair remuneration for farmers
Furthermore, discussions on fair remuneration for farmers have been launched. Thus, a “ observatory of production costs, margins and commercial practices » to increase the transparency of the market will be created by the summer. A revision of the directive on unfair commercial practices is also envisaged to bring fairness to the balance of power between farmers and buyers. These are longer-term projects, on the menu for the next mandate.
These measures will be discussed by the Twenty-Seven at the end of next week in Brussels, during the summit on March 21 and 22. The goal is to go quickly. Brussels is aiming for final adoption in Parliament at the latest during the plenary at the end of April, the last of the mandate before the European elections.
If the initial objective was to reduce the administrative burden on the agricultural sector, many see these measures as a new blow to the EU’s “green deal”, after the retreat on pesticides. « By making the rules concerning fallows and biodervist optional, the reform proposed today by the European Commission goes well beyond a simple simplification. It takes a major step backwards. Simplification yes, step back no », warns Macronist MEP and president of the Environment Commission, Pascal Canfin. « Blindly abandoning environmental measures will not appease farmers suffering from unfair prices and the climate emergency, with long-term sustainability needs », agrees Anu Suono of the WWF. For the Polish Commissioner of Agriculture, these criticisms are unnecessary. He says he is convinced that« we obtain more results with encouragement and bonuses than with constraints ».
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