“The Commission is about to dismantle conditionality requirements that are based on unequivocal scientific evidence, and which it has explicitly acknowledged as being essential tools to address current climate, environmental, and biodiversity issues.”
That’s according to a letter initiated by Spanish Coalition Por Otra PAC to the European Commission, published today 6th March. The letter is signed by 61 European coalitions and civil society organisations, who in turn represent more than more than 330 organisations from all over Europe. All are “deeply concerned” over European Political Institution’s latest measures and announcements to rapidly railroad changes in CAP’s green architecture. They urge the Commission to “reconsider the loosening” of this architecture.
Read/download Joint letter to the EU Commission to reconsider the loosening of the CAP’s green architecture
At A Glance
- The proposals of EU Commission and Member States expose agricultural activities to further risks and jeopardise the resilience of EU farming.
- The proposals display a lack of transparency and democracy in the decision-making process.
- EU Commission must to adopt an evidence-based approach in line with the EU’s commitments on biodiversity and climate change.
In more detail
These organisations are worried at moves made by the European Commission and the Belgian presidency to significantly reduce many important agri-environmental aspects of the CAP, and for this to be done with a ‘lack of transparency public involvement” as the letter states.
In particular, changes to the GAECS – the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions which underpin CAP – have been pointed to.
Derogations – in other words, temporary exemptions – have been announced or granted already for a number of these GAECs. This includes GAEC 8 – whereby farmers must devote a minimum share of at least 4 % of arable land to biodiversity (non-productive features) to retain full CAP subsidy payments.
The letter points out that previously the Commission had published evidence that “fallow lands are essential to biodiversity” and “provide more options for species in terms of food and breeding habitat”. Already, an exemption to GAEC 8 is in place since 2023.
However a number of GAECS – including 1, 6 and 7, on permanent grassland, soil cover and crop rotation – are up for change or cancellation, following announcements by the Belgian Presidency and the Commission.
Reference is also made to the idea floated by the Agriculture Commissioner that these GAECs could also be moved from mandatory into voluntary eco-schemes.
Already short and mid-term measures announced could, the latter states, could “exempt 65% of the CAP beneficiaries from controls related to compliance with GAECSs”
Reversals of the type announced on a number of occasions in recent days and weeks “would constitute a roll back compared to the previous CAP period which, as clearly stated by the European Court of Auditors, did not manage to halt the decline of biodiversity” the letter states.
Sympathy is shown towards the plight of farmers, who are “taking to the streets for many reasons”. Failure to address real issues of “the lack of social and economic sustainability” is spotlighted in the letter.
Cheap imports, unfair free trade agreements, and imbalances in the agri-food chain are all putting enormous pressure on farmers. However environmental standards have become the easy “scapegoat” solution for a political system that wants to be seen to do something.
The lack of availability of documents, and the closed door discussions that have taken place has also disgruntled the groups, who point to the importance of transparency and participation in as “core principles of the EU’s legislative decision-making, rooted in the democratic principles of the Treaty on European Union”.
The letter concludes by urging the Commission “to abandon plans to dismantle the CAP’s green architecture and (to) come forward with a systemic approach to respond to the diversity of farmers’ protests and problems, embracing socio-economic, environmental, and governance flaws of European agri-food and rural systems” and to do so “by adopting an evidence based and coherent approach”.
As the Commission itself states – “Biodiversity relies on agriculture, agriculture relies on biodiversity”.
More
The Re-Opening of CAP’s Black Box Could Be Coming – And Soon
Simply Slashing the CAP – Commission Proposes Rollback on Rules
European Farmers are Angry: Addressing Root Causes Would Overcome Polarisation
EU Must Make Pesticide Reduction a Reality – 125 organisations
