Copa and Cogeca are the united voice of farmers and agri-cooperatives in the EU. Together, we ensure that EU agriculture is sustainable, innovative and competitive, while guaranteeing food security for 500 million people throughout Europe.
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Congratulations to Klaas Osinga (LTO Nederland) who was elected as Chair during the meeting of the Working Party for Research and Innovation on 19th September. Congratulations also to Daniele Rossi (Confagricoltura) and Luigi Scordamaglia (Coldiretti) for being elected as Vice-Chairs!
Agriculture is one of the most integrated sectors at European level and lies at the heart of many European institution initiatives. Copa and Cogeca organise themselves so as to respond to the challenges and questions posed by European decision-makers, allowing European farmers and cooperatives to put forward their views and proposals concerning a multitude of subjects that directly affect farmers no matter what agricultural activity they are involved in. In the following 12 categories, you will find our positions on key issues affecting the future of European agriculture.
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The coming decade is pivotal for EU agriculture. Many challenges lie ahead. We will face difficult debates on generation renewal, low farm income, market volatility and climate change. As European farmers and cooperatives, we are aware of and ready to navigate these difficult issues and to weather the changes in store. We seek to deliver the type of agriculture that our citizens expect and demand: agriculture that provides a high level of food security and high standards of quality, welfare, sustainability and environmental protection. This is our commitment to Europe! In return, we look to Europe’s leaders to deliver the policy framework that will feed our future.
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Early September Eric Lambin, one of the Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission gave an interview for the European Science-Media Hub about his vision for sustainable food consumption in the EU. I found that several interesting challenges were tackled in this article, but the headline was clearly intended to be sensationalist; Prof. Lambin is in favour of a tax on “heavy red meat eaters". Nothing new here, as such a proposal comes back from time to time – but with regular recurrence. In 2020, a Dutch NGO called Tapp Coalitie, came up with the same idea intending to inspire the EU Farm to Fork Strategy as, most probably, this recommendation is for the forthcoming initiatives of the European Commission post-2024.
Nearly one in two honeys imported into Europe today shows signs of being a counterfeit, and the trend is increasing upwards. If nothing is done, experts from Copa and Cogeca's Honey Working Party estimate that the EU could lose 5 million honeybee colonies by 2030. However, this situation is not inevitable, and solutions do exist, particularly if the European Commission decides to take concrete actions.
Ursula von der Leyen's last State of the European Union speech was eagerly awaited by all those involved in the agricultural and forestry sector. Copa and Cogeca were hoping that the President of the European Commission would pay particular attention to the sectors, and we have been heard!
In a few days' time, as is now traditional, the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, will give the last State of the Union address of her office term. This speech is eagerly awaited by all the representatives of agriculture, forestry and, more generally, rural Europe. Not everything can be said in one speech, and it is a tricky matter to sum up all European actions in a few lines. However, with just a few months to go before the elections, we are hoping for a strong message to be sent to the farming community. The repeated absence of any mention of farmers, foresters and agri-cooperatives in this topical address has often disappointed our community and contributed to increasing the distance between Brussels and rural areas.
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At its resumed session on 30th August, the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development voted MEP Martin Hlaváček’s (Renew, CZ) opinion on the Certification Framework on Carbon Removals, approving it with a large majority. This vote sent a clear message from the Committee on Agriculture: carbon farming is part of the solution and farmers/foresters must be at the center of this new model.
In the space of two months, forecasts for harvests which were initially positive have been turned on their head by poor weather conditions across Europe. The overall EU production for oilseeds and protein crops despite dramatic situations in Spain and Italy remain correct. However, for cereals the situation is extremely worrying with an expected production of 256 million tonnes, possibly the worst harvest since 2007 and 10% below the last 5-year average. Many farmers will not be able to cover their production costs, this is why Copa and Cogeca are launching an urgent call to action to face this difficult situation in 2023 and its consequences for 2024.
We have talked about Mercosur so many times and here we are again. With the Council realms now with the Spanish Presidency, which is fully committed to bringing this deal across the line and the upcoming EU-Latin America Summit, it is the right time to reiterate the long-standing concerns we have with this agreement.
Yesterday in Strasbourg, Copa and Cogeca said it loud and clear: we can work on the restoration of nature, but it will be difficult with the law on the restoration of nature as proposed by the Commission. MEPs gathered in the plenary session in Strasbourg opted, after a disputed vote, to align themselves with the Council's position and to reject, by a short majority of 12 votes, the full rejection of the proposal. Despite improvements on the agricultural side of the proposal, this law remains fundamentally ill-prepared, lacks a budget, and will remain unimplementable for farmers and forest owners.
Today, the European Parliament voted as a large majority (367 votes in favour - 245 against) against any enlargement of scope of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) covering livestock farms. Besides, as the clear message sent to the European Commission, the Parliament recognised the IED is an ill-suited legislative instrument that simply ignores basic realities of the livestock sector.
There were over 300 protestors and 50 tractors from 20 different European countries present, following Copa and Cogeca’s call, to clearly say, “Yes, farmers are first in line for restoring nature but no, we can’t do this with the proposal as it is presented in the plenary in Strasbourg”. Ahead of the upcoming vote on the Nature Restoration, 20 MEPs joined the flash action to express their support to farmers.
Yesterday, I read the European Commission’s additional analysis on the revision of the Directive on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products (PPP). This complementary study was requested by the Council at the end of last year. Being doubtful, several Member States asked for a more thorough analysis of the proposal and the target set by the Commission and to quantify the consequences of the proposed reduction targets in light of the changed geopolitical context.
There's media noise, and then there's time for science! Today, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its first conclusions on the risk assessment linked to glyphosate, the most widely publicised herbicide. The European agency concluded that they did not identify critical areas of concern.
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In its package of new measures entitled "sustainable use of natural resources", the European Commission has decided to launch today a new initiative focusing on soil quality monitoring. The proposal, which aims to remedy the degradation of 60% of European soils, will have implications in agriculture. Copa and Cogeca welcome this initiative, even if some specific elements will need to be improved by co-legislators.
After more than a decade of postponements, the European Commission has finally presented a proposal for a regulation on New Genomic Technique (NGT) plants together with a proposal for the revision of the plant reproductive materials marketing directives. Copa and Cogeca welcome the move and consider these proposals a good starting point for delivering solutions, concerning the inter-institutional negotiation.
Today two years ago the European Commission formally launched the EU Code of Conduct on Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices.
After seven political trilogues to renew the soon to be expired Generalised Scheme of tariff Preferences (GSP), negotiators did not manage to find an agreement yesterday and the European Commission is now working to present a targeted proposal for a rollover of the current system so as to avoid a cliff edge scenario. Copa and Cogeca deplore the lack of agreement between the institutions on the GSP. The renewal of this unilateral trade scheme with the inclusion of an automatic safeguard measure for EU rice is of the utmost importance for the European rice sector.
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Copa and Cogeca welcome the decision of the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment to reject its report on the Nature Restoration Law today despite unprecedented pressures and a debate politicised to the extreme. After the rejection by the Committee on Agriculture and then the Committee on Fisheries, this third rejection sends a clear message to the European Commission that it needs to withdraw its initial proposal and present a realistic alternative.
We have had many exchanges during your parliamentary term. Our conversations have always been direct and constructive. This is why I would like to respond in substance to the analysis you made in the columns the French newspaper “Libération” on the reasons for the opposition surrounding the European Commission's proposal on nature restoration. The Manichean narrative of "for/against" nature restoration that were put forward by certain NGOs and taken up in the media and which you decided to echo say nothing about the content of the text on the table and its impact on rural areas.
Cogeca has today held the first of its Business Fora for 2023, on the theme “What is the Role of Cooperatives in Achieving Affordable, Secure and Sustainable Energy”, reflecting the importance of this theme and to mark the Commission’s Energy Week.
Today the European Council reached an agreement (general approach) on the proposal for the Nature Restoration Law (NRL); Copa and Cogeca are dismayed by the unfortunate failure of the Environment Council to reject the NRL proposal. This general approach, which was reached under the Swedish Presidency with 20 votes in favour, 5 against, and 2 abstentions; is remarkable due to the fact that amongst those who voted against, Sweden was present, and in doing so has rejected their presidency proposal for a general approach.
The long-awaited vote in the Parliament's Environment Committee on nature restoration will not come to its conclusion as expected as MEPs are so divided. Nothing has yet been decided, but the perfect draw between opponents and supporters of the project shows the extent to which this ill-prepared and ill-equipped text is the main issue for MEPs. The vote on the amendments to the text that were held today will make it even more impractical for European farmers, foresters, and fishermen if it is voted through as it stands. This is why we are continuing to call for it to be rejected by the Environment Committee and in the plenary session in the coming weeks.
In the plenary session today in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (447 votes to 142 and 31 abstentions) the report presented by Marlene Mortler (EPP, DE) on "Food security and the long-term resilience of European agriculture". This comprehensive text sets out the Parliament's doctrine on agricultural issues, based on lessons learnt from recent crises. Copa and Cogeca fully support this report, which sets out a clear, pragmatic, and innovative vision within which the farming community can work. We now call on the European Parliament to be consistent considering the forthcoming votes on issues related to agriculture!
As part of its Biodiversity strategy, the European Commission proposed last year its flagship Nature Restoration Law which calls for new binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems. The Regulation is bound to have huge and devastating consequences for farming and forestry across the EU, to close countless fishing grounds for restoration purposes. Copa-Cogeca and Europêche call on the Committee on Environment (ENVI) to hear and respect the concerns of the farmer and fisher communities and request the Commission to restart the process from the scratch.
MEPs adopted today, at the mini-plenary session in Brussels, the report on Geographical Indications (GIs) for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. The clear majority in favour (603) gave the rapporteur MEP Paolo de Castro (IT, S and D) a strong mandate for the interinstitutional negotiations starting on 6 June. Copa-and Cogeca welcome the outcome of the vote which safeguards and improves the GI system in significant ways.
On Thursday 1 June, Brussels' Luxembourg Square was briefly transformed into an agricultural landscape. European farmers, together with representatives of Farmers' Union and European agricultural representative organisation, Copa andCogeca, mobilised in front of the European Parliament to make a clear point: make sure the Nature Restoration Law is not approved, for the very clear reason that it threatens the way we produce and where we produce our food in Europe. Despite pressure and counter protest, a good number of MEPs joined and endorsed this action, showing that they too understand the serious impacts that this Commission proposal brings for our food and fibre producing sectors.
In the context of the forthcoming revision of the Animal Welfare Directive, the question of the use of cages is under discussion at EU level. The concept popularised by the European Citizen initiative "End of Cages" has paradoxically never been subject to any impact assessment before. As no study could be expected on this matter from the European Commission, Copa and Cogeca have commissioned the first ever comprehensive report to better understand the economic, social and environmental impacts of such a proposal. Unsurprisingly, the outcomes highlight a number of consequences that have been completely overlooked in the public debate until now.
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While the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture understood the dramatic consequences of extending the scope of application of the Industrial Emission Directive (IED), today its Environment counterpart voted a position that showed no considerations to the EU’s farming realities. Causing a situation of the utmost concern for Copa and Cogeca ahead of the Plenary in June.
The experts from Copa and Cogeca’s Cereals and Oilseeds and Protein Crops Working Parties predict a general increase of the EU’s cereals, oilseeds, and protein crop production in 2023, despite an anticipated serious decrease of production in Spain. The EU-27 cereal production should reach 277 million tonnes (+4.6% compared to the 2022 harvest). A similar positive trend is expected for oilseeds (34.1 million tonnes; +8.2%) and protein crops (3.9 million tonnes; +5%).
Copa and Cogeca welcome a courageous and judicious decision of the European Parliaments Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to reject the Nature Restoration Law proposal today by a large majority. With the development of the Nature Restoration Law proposal in the committees of the European Parliament, we have watched with dismay as the proposal overall has moved further and further away from rationality and realities on the ground.
Today, 31 organisations representing all the leading organisations of the food chain in the EU sent a joint letter to the European Commission asking to be more involved in the building process of the Farm to Fork flagship initiative: the legislative Framework for Sustainable Food Systems (FSFS).
During the Parliamentary plenary held today in Strasbourg, MEPs adopted the report on the implementation of the school scheme for fruit, vegetables, milk, and dairy products, with a clear majority (534 in favour, 57 against and 23 in abstention). Copa and Cogeca welcome the adoption of the report prepared by MEP Carmen Avram (S&D, RO).
Today the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture adopted, with a strong majority, MEP Mortler’s (EPP, DE) report on “Ensuring food security and long-term resilience of the EU agriculture”. This report aims at presenting the European Parliament’s stance on food security in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and looking at short and medium-term challenges.
Today, the Committee on Agriculture voted with 36 votes in favour, 8 against, and 2 abstentions on its opinion on the Commission’s revision proposal on the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). The Committee simply rejected the Commission's ill-suited legislative instrument towards livestock farming. Copa and Cogeca have been demonstrating for months the problems and difficulties[1] that the application of the Commission's proposal would cause on the ground, which is why we welcome the adoption of the report by MEP Benoit Lutgen (EPP, BE).
The publication of the progress report on the EU Bioeconomy strategy and the events organised under the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council proves that a new impetus must be given to bioeconomy. Bioeconomy is one of those silent revolutions that provides many concrete solutions to sustainable transitions. Big miss in the Green Deal, Europe is moving too slow considering the added value that could be generated by an upscale of bioeconomy especially in rural areas.
The European Commission presented today its proposals revising the marketing standards of, inter alia, fruit and vegetables, fruit juices and jams, honey, poultry, and eggs. For years, European honey producers have been looking forward to this publication that could save them from the catastrophic situation the sector has been experiencing for several years. The Commission has considered some of the sector's demands, but there is a lack of ambition in protecting the sector from fraud.
With the next negotiating round just days away, European farmers and agri-cooperatives must address the sensitive sectors concessions and expectations for a balanced outcome in the EU-Australia free trade negotiations.
The European beef and sheep meat sectors are one of the pillars of European cultural and gastronomical heritage. However, for a multitude of reasons, our sectors have been facing a decline in production and are under extreme pressure due to market access given to other countries and EU regulatory initiatives.
As trilogue negotiations on Generalised Schemes of tariff Preferences (GSP) will resume on 27th April in Brussels, Copa and Cogeca call on negotiators to follow the European Parliament’s position on article 29, ensuring that the Commission will introduce automatic safeguard measures on rice imports from EBA countries. This provision is a matter of survival for Europe’s rice sector.
Today the European Parliament voted and adopted (323 votes in favour, 59 abstentions and 257 against) its report (with rapporteur Alexander Bernhuber) on the European Commission’s Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles. The farming and forestry community welcome this communication since the growing interest in carbon farming should be an opportunity for farmers and forest owners to transform their business model and should allow for better rewards for those who engage in a transition to more sustainable agriculture and forestry practices.
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The European Economic and Social Committee continued the debate on the role and impact that large carnivore populations have in rural areas and to livestock farmers. With little work being done by the European Commission to actively alleviate the issue, the EESC furthers the conversation.
Today, Copa and Cogeca's Honey Working Party held an online press conference to address the shocking revelations of studies conducted by the European Commission services on the adulteration of every second honey tested on the European market. The solutions to tackle this massive fraud are known and must be implemented in the upcoming revision of the EU Honey Directive. It is in this context that Copa and Cogeca have launched a call for mobilisation to all EU beekeepers on social media under the hashtag #HoneYstlabellingNow.
On 29 and 30 March 2023, the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council reached an agreement on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII). The outcome of the RED III negotiations is seen as an acceptable compromise for the EU farming community.
In 2001, the International Labour Organisation introduced the Convention 184 for an "Agreement on Occupational Safety and Health in Agriculture". The Convention is an international agreement developed with the participation of the social partners in agriculture. It is an important instrument introducing a set of basic provisions guiding national authorities on how to improve occupational health and safety in this sector at risk.
What image first comes to your mind when you hear about EU counterfeit products? Perfumes, bags, or branded items? If so, think again! Honey should be at the top of the list when you think of these products! The European Commission has just released a report on an EU-wide investigation into the quality of honey imported into the EU. Its findings are shocking: 46% of all samples analysed[1] by EU public bodies were found to be suspicious from a fraud point of view and yet imports still account for as much as 40% of the EU’s annual honey consumption.
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Today, the European Commission published two joint reports on fraudulent practices in imports of honey into the EU. According to investigations, 46% of the collected samples were suspected of being adulterated with added syrups. This dramatic situation has been denounced by Copa and Cogeca for years now. Yet solutions are known and unanimously supported by the sector: it is high time for the EU to act!
The European Commission presented today a new building block of the European Green Deal on the substantiation of Green Claims (DSGC), applicable to all companies operating in the European Union. In the current proliferation of environmental claims and labels, Copa and Cogeca salute the Commission’s attempt to introduce measures aiming at harmonizing environmental claims. Modalities, particularly in the agri-food sector, will still require some finetuning.
Today in COM AGRI, a very large majority of MEPs approved MEP Carmen Avram’s (S&D, RO) report on the implementation of the school scheme for fruit, vegetables, milk and dairy products despite various persistent doubts. This European programme has been in place for some years now and has proved useful in many ways. Copa and Cogeca along with EDA, therefore, welcome its continuation but remain vigilant about its potential instrumentalisation.
Today the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament (COM AGRI) voted on the report regarding the proposal for converting the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) into the Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN). Copa and Cogeca praise the work conducted by the rapporteur MEP Jérémy Decerle (Renew, FR) which responds to many of the uncertainties expressed by the farming community.
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Copa-Cogeca, Freshfel Europe, the European Fresh Produce Association, and Europatat, the European Potato Trade Association, have taken note of the European Commission’s proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste that was published on 30 November 2022, and support the ambitions of the text to reduce packaging waste, protect the functioning of the internal market and achieve a circular economy in line with the European Green Deal.
Copa and Cogeca have been supportive of Ukrainian farming communities since the launch of the war by Russia accepting solidary lanes and removal of tariffs on agricultural commodities imports. Consequently, the increasing import from Ukraine is posing serious challenges to farmers and cooperatives in the bordering regions through which commodities transit. In this context, the support of the European Union in these neighbourhood regions is crucial and was promised by the European Commission. As the first implementing regulation is being discussed, it is clear today that the promised support does not meet expectations and will clearly lack consistency.
After lengthy discussions, the Environment Council under the Swedish Presidency adopted today its position on the revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) including a section on agriculture. For Copa and Cogeca, the compromise reached by Member States is far from being sufficient, leaving a lot of grey areas. At least, the heated debates surrounding the negotiations brought clarity on one point: the threshold approach proposed initially by the European Commission is primarily political, punitive and will have unanticipated consequences when applied on-farm.
Copa and Cogeca celebrate International Women's Day today and recognise the critical role of innovation and digitalisation for achieving gender equality and empowering women farmers across European rural areas.
The latest report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on the presence of residues of veterinary medicinal products and certain substances in live animals and animal products demonstrates again that livestock farmers are taking the necessary steps to comply with EU regulations on the use of veterinary medicinal products. The percentage of non-compliant samples in 2021 was lower than in previous years.
Today, EFSA released its scientific opinion on broilers and laying hens based on a particularly narrow mandate on animal welfare set by the European Commission. Consequentially, EFSA’s opinion contains unprecedented recommendations which, if applied in these terms, would simply lead to the loss of most of the European poultry sector, meat and eggs combined.
Yesterday, the main European media published the highlights of the rapporteur's proposal for the European Parliament's ENVI Committee for the EU's legislation on the sustainable use of pesticides regulation (SUR). This proposal would aim, among other things, to reduce the use of "more hazardous plant protection products" by over 80% based on 2018-2020 use. This would put the ENVI Committee's proposal well above the Commission's Farm to Fork proposal of 50% on a 2015-2017 basis.
In April 2022, the European Commission launched its proposal to revise the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), including measures targeting European livestock farmers. The approach adopted by the European Commission, which has been heavily criticised, is to set the threshold for the livestock sector at 150 livestock units (LSU) above which pig, poultry, and cattle farms would have to comply with the directive. To justify this threshold approach, the Commission relied on a specially commissioned impact assessment.
In a ruling (Case C-688/21) handed down on 7 February 2023, the European Court of Justice decided upon the genome of a living species that is modified without adding foreign DNA and is not subject to the EU GMO Directive. In its judgment, the court has set a clear condition; these organisms “are excluded from the scope" of the European GMO Directive if they are derived "from a mutagenesis technique or method which has traditionally been used for various in vivo applications and whose safety has long been proven with regard to those applications". In other words, mutagenesis techniques are therefore excluded from the scope of the EU GMO Directive (Directive 2001/18/EC).
The European Parliament's Agriculture Committee voted yesterday on a draft resolution complementing the Commission's November communication on the availability and affordability of fertilisers. Copa and Cogeca welcome the clear majority given to the resolution in Committee and the proposed measures voted.
The Swedish Presidency of the EU has just begun. This gives me the opportunity to reflect on how current and upcoming EU legislation, particularly from the Green Deal, is affecting my region. I am a dairy farmer, running a family farm with my brother, 40km from Gothenburg on the West coast of Sweden. We are a traditional Swedish farm with around 170 dairy cows, 350ha of agricultural land, and as is common in our region, we own and manage around 200 hectares of forest as part of our enterprise. A mixed farm such as mine will be impacted by multiple EU policies and by objectives set in the two key Green Deal communications, namely Farm to Fork and the Biodiversity Strategy.
Since the first EU Bioeconomy strategy in 2012, the EU Commission has succeeded in encouraging Member States and operators in developing concrete actions; making bioeconomy a silent revolution. However, bioeconomy was not an integrated part of the EU Green Deal and, as such, limited attention has been given to the topic. Copa and Cogeca see the willingness of the Swedish Presidency to act in this area, as a positive signal.
CEFS, the European Association of Sugar Manufacturers, CIBE, the International Confederation of European Beet Growers, and COPA-COGECA take note of yesterday’s decision of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU). This ruling interprets Article 53 of the European Regulation on placing of plant protection products on the market in a very restrictive manner, prohibiting the use of seeds coated with banned pesticides – even through the use of national derogations and in emergencies.
Copa and Cogeca is satisfied with the work and conclusions of the Reflection Group on Pigmeat launched by the EU. The final report and its recommendations will provide a baseline for the sector to meet sustainability challenges whilst ensuring food security.
Almost one year since the United States announced its intention to fully implement the WTO panel’s ruling, which gave reason to the EU and Spanish olive producers, no action has been taken to comply with the recommendations. Following a debate at the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament meeting today, Copa and Cogeca call for a prompt implementation of the 2021 WTO report and elimination of all duties.
The European farmers’ confidence survey was carried out in seven[1] EU Member States and the United Kingdom. The survey saw a continuous decrease in overall confidence since the last semester of 2021. Going closer into national context, the results showed a mixed feeling in confidence mainly connected to the economic situations of the sectors.
In light of the revision of the Generalised Scheme of tariff Preferences (GSP), the Council of the European Union has adopted its position taking into account the recent Court of Justice of the European Union’s (CJEU) judgment that cancelled the Commission Implementing act imposing safeguard measures on imports from Cambodia and Myanmar. Member States have debated extensively over the GSP, where safeguard measures were among the most discussed topics. Copa and Cogeca welcome the outcome as the introduction of different important modifications should ultimately result in the protection of EU rice farmers.
The European Council voted yesterday in favour of a decision with a clear message addressed to the European Commission: a complementary impact assessment on the wider effects of a 50% reduction in plant protection products must be conducted as a matter of urgency. As a long-standing request, Copa and Cogeca fully support the Council's request and deeply regret that we are still at the same point after more than two years of discussions on Farm to Fork!
Following weeks of intense negotiations under the Czech Presidency of the EU, legislators have, over the weekend, reached breakthrough agreements on key files within the Fit for 55 package including Emission Trading System, Social Climate Fund and the final elements of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) agreement.
Today the EU and Chile reached a political agreement on the modernisation of their 20-year-old association agreement. Copa and Cogeca acknowledge the furthering of the trading relationship but remain wary due to the wider cumulative impact of the overall EU trade policy.
In the upcoming EU Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers meeting on the 11th and 12th of December, Member States will decide on the EU fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks for 2023. In the proposal currently on the table, one particular provision could have dire consequences for the entire eel fishery sector. All key representative organisations, Copa-Cogeca, Europêche and FEAP, together with a group of 18 MEPs are calling on Member States to pay attention to the preservation of this traditional and sustainable fishery.
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Copa and Cogeca take note of the provisional agreement announced today aiming at ensuring products causing deforestation are not sold in the EU. This agreement will now have to be formally adopted in the European Parliament and Council.
Today in Brussels, Cogeca organised its traditional biannual Business Forum under the topic “The importance of communicating Environmental, Social and Governance elements: the B2B and B2C approaches of European agri-cooperatives?”.
Today the European Commission released a proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste. The harmonisation of EU rules is required to protect the EU common market and avoid fragmentation and as such the revision of the directive into a regulation is a step in the right direction. However, Copa and Cogeca regret the fact that some of the targets, notably for recycled plastic packaging content and reuse/refill, overlook the reality on the ground and the implications, in particular for wine, fresh fruit and vegetable producers in a difficult socio-economic context.
Today the European Commission released its proposal for a regulation to set a framework around carbon removals’ certification following its communication last year. In view of the multiplication of grassroots initiatives across the continent, an attempt at harmonising and structuring the sector is welcome. Yet, it is hard to get a precise picture of the framework as the proposal on the table still lacks clarity - many important elements will be decided by delegated acts. Copa and Cogeca regret the very restrictive definition given to carbon farming practices which excludes all mitigation activities from its scope of application.
Copa and Cogeca welcome the conclusion of a years’ worth of discussion on the topic of large carnivores in the European Parliament. The joint resolution voted today with a robust majority (306 votes in favour, 225 against) has brought together many opposing views to genuinely discuss the topic and to push the issue to the other EU institutions for them to act on.
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Faced with the explosion of large carnivore populations, tomorrow MEPs gathered in Strasbourg will have to vote on a joint resolution on this burning issue. Despite the daily dramas that take place in European herds, it is feared that the proposal that the European Parliament could vote on would result in an empty shell, with paper measures that won’t respond to the urgency of the situation. For the European breeders, it is clear that any proposal that does not include article 19 of the Habitat directive, now 30 years old, will prevent any effective management of the populations of large carnivores.
This was the purpose of today’s event in the European Parliament hosted by MEP Carvalhais (S&D, PT), Avram (S and D, RO) and Schmiedtbauer (EPP, AT) which aimed to highlight the role women play in the agricultural sector. On this occasion, Copa and Cogeca launched the call for the next Women Farmers Innovation Award 2023.
Years go by and little seems to change for European honey producers. After a historic low all across the continent in 2021, the 2022 season shows a great contrast between fairly good production in the North of Europe while the South – where the largest production lies - was severely hit by a strong drought. This mixed result is burdened by the explosion of input costs for the sector. After several years at this rate, many European producers are questioning their future. Copa and Cogeca expects concrete and rapid answers in the framework of the revision of the Honey Directive.
Unfavourable weather events – high temperatures, hail, and droughts – over the summer months are estimated to have resulted in a 28.2% production decline for alpha and aroma hops compared to 2021 (64,338 tonnes EU total) and below the ten-year-average yields. A 37.8% drop is also expected for alpha acid production. Amid the exponential rise in production costs (energy, fertilisers, personnel, wire) and the lack of plant protection products, the harvest results pose major challenges for the entire hop industry.
On November 9th, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued an important judgment on the imports of Indica rice originating in Cambodia and Myanmar. The major consequence of this decision is that the court cancelled the Commission Implementing act imposing safeguard measures on imports from both countries. Cambodia and Myanmar have benefited greatly in recent years from the “EBA” (Everything but Arms) agreement, enabling them to export considerable high tax-free volumes to Europe putting the viability of EU producers at stake. As the regulation on the Generalised Scheme of tariff Preferences (GSP) is underway in Brussels, Copa and Cogeca call on European decision-makers to take note of the decision by proposing a reinforced system.
Faced with the ongoing crisis of the fertiliser market, the European Commission published today a long-awaited communication on the matter. This paper adds to the March communications, RepowerEU and Food Security which already addressed the issue of fertilisers. For Copa and Cogeca the disappointment is as great as the expectations: this new communication simply failed to provide concrete answers to the shortcomings faced by European farmers.
The Brazilian election held on 30th October 2022 was historic in many respects and will have repercussions far beyond the country's borders. For the EU, Lula's election is seen as a signal: the EU-Mercosur trade deal can be taken out of the freezer! In fact, the polemic deal signed with the Latin-American trade block in 2019, has not been yet ratified. Four years ago, the European Parliament and several Member States clearly indicated that they could not support this deal due the substantial negative impact on EU agricultural markets and the environment. Will MEPs and Member States suddenly change their opinion depending on the political colour of the newly elected President?
Copa and Cogeca welcome the own-initiative report on the long-term Vision for the EU's Rural Areas - Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas led by rapporteur MEP Isabel Carvalhais and adopted today by the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee (COM AGRI).
On the occasion of the 2022 Wine Harvest Event, the Copa-Cogeca Working Party on Wine presented its harvest estimates. The 2022 EU wine production is to be marginally improved (+2%) in comparison to the previous marketing year but still falls short of the 5-year average, as forecasted in a previous communication. Droughts, scorching temperatures and episodes of frost/hail account for the tepid increase in yields. On a positive note, high quality wines are expected to be obtained, thanks to the good health status of the raisin and the absence of diseases.
The 10th edition of the Congress of European farmers organised by Copa and Cogeca and supported by the Croatian Chamber of Agriculture (HPK), was held in Šibenik from 12 to 14 October. Among the 400 participants and panelists, concerns related to the multiple aftershocks of Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and the climate change effects marked the discussions. A consensus arised from all stakeholders involved in the panels: food security and sustainability must be the priority objectives, with innovation and investments connecting both.
Today, Copa and Cogeca Praesidium members held an extraordinary online meeting to discuss the ongoing energy crisis and its impact on the agriculture sector and food production. The meeting took place at a key moment for EU decisions, coinciding with the EU Head of State gathering in Prague.
Yesterday in Brussels, the Energy Ministers of the EU Member States reached a political agreement on a proposal for a Council Regulation to address the high energy prices crisis felt across the Union. The deal represents an important breakthrough, eagerly awaited for by the European farming community.
Brussels, 29 September 2022 – EU Energy Ministers will meet on Friday to discuss emergency interventions to address skyrocketing energy prices. Agri-food chain associations Copa-Cogeca, Primary Food Processors (PFP) and FoodDrinkEurope urge Members States to recognise the agri-food chain as a priority as it decides on a new emergency intervention and to ensure access to energy at affordable prices.
In a key moment of internal democracy, COPA, the European farmers' representative body, voted its new presidency today. Christiane Lambert (FNSEA, FR) was re-elected unanimously for a second term of two years, a first in more than 15 years. Alongside her, six vice-presidents were (re)elected: Massimiliano Giansanti (Confagricoltura, IT), Pedro Gallardo (ASAJA, ES), Mladen Jakopovic (HPK, HR), Tim Cullinan (IFA, IE), Marius Mihai Micu (AAC, RO) and Palle Borgström (LRF, SE).
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The EU wine production is forecasted to remain roughly stable compared to the previous year but fall short of reaching the 5-year average (2017-2021) with important within-country disparities resulting from droughts and high temperatures recorded during the spring and summer months.
Yesterday, the European Parliament voted on the report of MEP Markus Pieper (EPP, DE) proposing a revision of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). The role and place of solid (forest biomass) and liquid bioenergy (biofuel) was at the heart of the stereotyped debate, far from ground realities, leaving the European parliamentarians adopting an untenable position, mainly for the European forestry biomass sector.
Droughts and high temperatures across EU producing countries are expected to have a toll on the 2022/23 olive oil and table olives production. According to current estimates, the total EU olive oil production will fall short of 1,500 thousand tonnes, which represents a drop of more than 35% from the previous marketing year 2021/22 (2,264 thousand tonnes). A similar downward trend is foreseen for table olives (-30%).
The European Parliament adopted today in the Plenary their report on deforestation, sending a strong message of disregard to the concerns raised by the affected sectors. The voted text indeed presents amendments that will bring more complexity and disruption in the supply chain. Copa and Cogeca supports fighting this worldwide damaging phenomenon and understand the need for urgent action. This fight against deforestation, however, should be done in a way that does not put at risk the competitiveness of the EU agri-food and forest sectors and does not disrupt the supply of commodities nor impact food prices and food security.
European Parliament adopted its report on the EU Forest Strategy for 2030 (Rapporteur MEP Ulrike Müller) which echoes several important views and concerns expressed by European forest owners and by Member States1. On the contrary to the Commission’s proposal, the Parliament report takes a balanced approach to sustainable forest management.
The experts of the Copa-Cogeca working group met in Brussels this week and confirmed the first trend announced by the organisation last July: the EU-27 total cereal production should reach 269 million tonnes, recording a significant decrease of -6.8% compared to the 2021 harvest. Meanwhile, a more positive trend is expected for oilseeds (31.9 million tonnes, +7.2%) and protein crops (3.92 million tonnes, +5.1%).
Many operators in the EU’s agri-food sector are struggling to maintain business in the face of rapidly rising input costs and extreme weather events, according to agri-food chain as- sociations Copa-Cogeca, the Primary Food Processors (PFP) and FoodDrinkEurope.
Copa and Cogeca support the new EU measure imposing a cold treatment for citrus fruits imports from South Africa to protect EU orchards against the ravages that could be caused by false codling moths. Too many interceptions of citrus fruits from South Africa have occurred with the presence of this pest recently.
According to the Helsinki resolution1, Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is: “the stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national, and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems”.
Copa-Cogeca, Primary Food Processors, and FoodDrinkEurope welcome the recognition that the agri-food supply chain is considered to be a “societally-critical” sector in the EU’s “Save Gas for a Safe Winter” initiative, which was endorsed by EU Member States on 26 July 2022.
Copa and Cogeca welcome the Commission’s proposal providing some derogations to the conditionality rules for the CAP but must put in question their effective contribution to alleviating the shortages and disruptions caused by the war in Ukraine and the complex implementation.
Copa and Cogeca welcome the agreement reached today between Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Turkey under UN auspices for reopening Ukrainian Black Sea ports for grain exports, which could ease further rise of global food insecurity and market disruptions. It is an encouraging signal for fellow Ukrainian farmers and agri-cooperative colleagues after months of incredible hardships and uncertainty.
Faced with a tense situation on the fertiliser markets, the European Commission (DG Trade) has taken a long-awaited decision by the farming community: the suspension of conventional tariffs for certain fertilisers (urea and anhydrous ammonia). Copa and Cogeca welcome a step in the right direction and call on the Commission to follow its logic to the end by also suspending conventional duties on key fertilisers used directly by farmers (UAN, DAP, MAP and NPK) and anti-dumping measures on UAN imports from Trinidad and Tobago and USA. Only such an ambitious measure could make those markets more dynamic and bring down the prices paid by farmers in the long term.
Brussels, 20 July 2022 – The EU agri-food sector has backed the European Commission’s “save gas for a safe winter” proposal, pSublished today, which singles out the critical importance of Europe’s food supply chain and the need for a secure supply of gas to maintain food security.
Today the European Commission announced the list of finalists for the first ever annual EU organic awards. The awards were launched as part of a commitment made in the Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production with the objective of recognising excellence all along the organic food chain, from farmer to restaurant. The aim of the awards is to reward the best and most innovative organic actors who contribute to reducing the agriculture’s impact on the climate and environment.
The European Parliament has taken a positive step on EU renewable energy policy as ITRE Committee members voted decisively in favour of increasing the ambition for GHG emissions reduction in transport while leaving Member States free to use crop-based biofuels in their transport energy mix.
Copa and Cogeca welcome the EU Forest Strategy 2030’s report adopted today by the Agriculture and the Rural Development Committee, as led by Ulrike Müller, and its acknowledgment of the importance of having an integrated and balanced way regarding the three dimensions of sustainability across environmental, social, and economic aspects.
Experts from the Copa and Cogeca working groups on cereal and oilseed gathered in Brussels this week, with an estimated total cereal production of 277 million tonnes in the EU-27 for the 2022 harvest. This would be 4.4% lower than the previous marketing year (290 million tonnes), and 3.8% below the multiannual average of 288 million tonnes.
Today the EU and New Zealand reached a political agreement on a comprehensive trade agreement with New Zealand. The final deal including tariff rate quotas (TRQs) has effectively been endorsed and includes a substantial access to the EU’s market on dairy, sheep meat and beef. While Copa and Cogeca recognise the high consumer protection standards in New Zealand and the effort made by the Commission to protect GIs and EU production standards in the deal found, painful compromises have been made on sensitive sectors.
Following marathon discussions in the Energy and Environment Council over the last three days in Luxembourg, Ministers of EU’s 27 Member States reached agreements on a series of important files for the agriculture sector.
The revision of the directive on the sustainable use of plant protection products (SU - 2009/128/EC) was eagerly awaited by the EU farming community. With SUR being a landmark policy item of the Farm to Fork communication, Copa and Cogeca expected a balanced approach presenting not only already known targets but also precise solutions and alternatives to achieve these objectives. The proposal published today that became a regulation from a directive, still does not answer these interrogations in an ever-pressing international context faced with a global food security challenge.
Following today’s release of the long-awaited Nature Restoration Law proposal by the European Commission, Copa and Cogeca warn that if left unchecked, this law has the ability to grow in an uncontrolled manner running away from its true purpose, the rejuvenation of nature. It is essential that Member States and stakeholders are part of the creation of any future targets, especially those of a legally binding nature which will have direct impacts on Member State governments, and especially farmers, forest-owners, and cooperatives on the ground. Restoration will primarily take place on private land, and can only be achieved with the full-backing of those who own, and whose livelihoods depend on the land.
Today in Brussels, Cogeca organised its traditional biannual Business Forum under the topic ‘Securing food and competitiveness in times of crisis. What is the role of agri-food cooperatives?’. The forum, which gathered agri-cooperative representatives from across the EU focused the debate and discussions on the impact of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine on the agri-food sector and the role of agri-food cooperatives in responding, as well as possible solutions to the main issues affecting the sector.
Following the heated discussions and votes on the Fit for 55 proposals in the European Parliament in Strasbourg over the past days, Copa and Cogeca take note of the outcome of the votes, in particular on LULUCF, CBAM and CO2 emission standards for cars and vans.
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World Food Safety Day is an important way to raise awareness on the need to prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks. To mark the fourth World Safety Day today, CELCAA, Copa-Cogeca, EuroCommerce, FEFAC and FoodDrinkEurope want to reiterate their strong commitment to delivering safe food to consumers in Europe and all around the globe. Food safety is essential to human health and well-being, a crucial component to food security, a prerequisite for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and a truly cross-cutting area.
Today, the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment voted on the Committee’s Report on the LULUCF Regulation and the Effort Sharing Regulation. Both proposals are part of a series adopted by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, which intends to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. While in principle these proposals must be in line with the Paris Agreement, their environmental ambitions do not necessarily amount to a balanced exercise between the three pillars of sustainability, as economic and social aspects seem to enjoy a secondary degree of importance.
On this Europe Day, the farming community reiterates its commitment to the common policies of the EU. Since its creation, the EU has made it possible to build a prosperous and peaceful Europe by giving its farmers and cooperatives a robust and structured framework. This year also marks the 60 years of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); we should also celebrate this key policy today.
With a clear majority of positive votes, the revision of the Regulation on Generalised Scheme of tariff preferences (GSP) was adopted in the Committee on International Trade (COM INTA) today.
The report on the Organic Action Plan, which focused on several important topics for European farmers and agri-cooperatives, was approved in the Plenary today. The report was adopted following the unanimous approval by the Committee of Agriculture on the 6th of April.
Copa and Cogeca held their presidency meetings this week in Brussels. Speakers from the Commission, the FAO and UNAF analysed the complexity of the Ukrainian, European and global agri-food situation. These exchanges were at odds with the stances taken by Executive Vice President, Frans Timmermans, at the same time in the Environment Committee.
While the COVID crisis has certainly represented an unprecedented challenge for us, I am happy to be able to say that it has also reinforced my belief in the potential and strength of our sector. Agri-cooperatives have in this time of crisis once again proved their ability to innovate, to face challenges and to further strengthen their resilience while delivering to consumers.
Almost 150 representatives of European agri-cooperatives gathered today in Brussels for the award ceremony of the six winners of the 5th European Award for Cooperative Innovation, organised by Cogeca and sponsored by the Spanish cooperative bank Cajamar Caja Rural.
Our four organisations – representing Europe’s farmers, food processors, retailers, wholesalers and traders – express our joint solidarity with the people of Ukraine, including the millions that have fled their country to seek safety elsewhere.
Following yesterday’s Agri-Fish Council meeting, Copa and Cogeca welcome the adopted Council’s conclusions on the European Commission’s communication on sustainable carbon cycles in the agriculture and forestry sectors.
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The Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted many markets and value chains globally. Besides the energy and agricultural commodities that have been widely analysed and commented on, there is another market where the war is highly impacting European agriculture, namely fertilisers.
The European Commission published yesterday a revision of its 2010 Directive on Industrial Emissions. While only the largest EU livestock installations were considered under its scope over the past decade, the revision proposed to multiple by almost 10 the number of cattle, pig and poultry farms targeting family farms and categorising them as "agro-industrial installations”. As it stands, this revision would force thousands of family livestock farms to comply with a costly emission protocol designed primarily for large companies. Only a few days after the institutions' communications on the EU's need for food strategic autonomy, this accounting, ideological and disconnected from the farm reality approach is felt as a blow across Europe by livestock farmers.
Copa and Cogeca represent 22 million farmers and their family members as well as 22,000 cooperatives that provide to 446 million EU citizens with safe, nutritious, high-quality, sustainable, and affordable food every day.
The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee adopted today by unanimity its report on the Organic Action Plan, proposed by the European Commission last year. Copa and Cogeca welcome the good work done by the Committee, led by MEP Simone Schmiedtbauer. The report acknowledges several important aspects for European farmers and agri-cooperatives.
The European Commission released its proposal today for the revision of EU’s Geographical Indications (GIs) system planned in the framework of the Farm to Fork Strategy. GIs are a useful and unique EU creation that allows the valorization of products, EU’s culinary heritage and the work of their producers. They also play an important role for the regional development and especially of the rural communities to which they are attached, aiding also to preserve the culture and the various specific agricultural techniques and plant and animal varieties of those regions. GIs are a true European success story.
The European Commission has sent a welcome signal about the urgent need to strengthen EU food security – one that recognises the strategic importance of European agriculture, calls for an increase in production by using fallow land, and highlights the urgent need to reduce and diversify imports of resources such as energy, fertiliser and animal feed.
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Copa and Cogeca welcome the Joint Motion for Resolution adopted today by a large majority in the European Parliament on the need for an urgent EU action plan to ensure food security inside and outside the EU in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This motion follows and aligns with the Versailles Declaration by the Council of Ministers and the Communication issued yesterday by the European Commission.
Following the Versailles Declaration, the European Commission presented today a first set of measures on food security and on the resilience of our food systems. Copa and Cogeca share the Commission's analysis on the situation and the stated objective of increasing the sustainability of EU agriculture while ensuring its production capacity. The European farming community welcomes the emergency and temporary responses outlined in this communication starting with the support granted to the Ukrainian population and farmers.
The Stakeholders – COPA & COGECA, EUROSEEDS and FEFAC – in view of the recent European Council declaration in Versailles in which the Heads of State or Government listed the intention to improve food security by reducing EU dependencies on key imported agricultural products and inputs, in particular by increasing the EU production of plant-based proteins and the upcoming Commission´s communication on affordable food and fair farm income, call on the European Commission to take a leading role in promoting the domestic cultivation and use of European plant sourced protein.
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The European employers’ organisations, Ceemet (MET industries), ECEG (chemical, pharmaceutical, plastic and rubber industries), Geopa (agriculture), Hotrec (hospitality), EFCI (cleaning and facility services) and EuroCommerce (retail & wholesale) regret the outcome of the vote at the EMPL and FEMM committee’s on the Commission’s proposal on pay transparency.
With the escalation of tensions following the war in Ukraine, the EU needs to break its energy dependency on Russian gas. These days, the energy markets are soaring, bringing the gas prices to record values while its availability remains in the hands of Russian authorities. Among the EU fossil fuel dependency from Russia, gas is the worst, with imports counting over 45% of our total consumption. A rapid transition to clean gas – in every meaning of the word - has never been so urgent, both for our sovereignty and the climate.
2022 marks the 30th Anniversary of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - the Habitats Directive - which has protected a wide variety of habitats and species in the European Union for the past 30 years. Nevertheless, due to ongoing successful conservation measures, certain populations of large carnivore species are causing increased conflicts, which is exacerbated by challenging legal frameworks. In many cases, legal interpretation of “strict protection” prevents the implementation of active management of the species, which can help to reduce serious conflicts with livestock, people, and biodiversity-rich landscapes. These conflicts are adding to the existing pressures on rural livelihood interests.
During an online meeting organised today, Copa and Cogeca Presidents and Vice Presidents warmly welcomed the Ukrainian National Agrarian Forum (UNAF), represented by its Director, Ms Mariia Dudikh, as a new partner organisation.
Europe imports 40% of its gas, 27% of its oil and 46% of its coal consumption from Russia. Faced with the war in Ukraine, yesterday the EU presented its communication called REPowerEU to cut its dependence on Russian fossil fuels well before 2030.
Today the representative European Social Partners in Agriculture, the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) and the Employers’ Group of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the European Union (GEOPA), officially launch the Online interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) tool in the agriculture sector.
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The European employers’ organisations, Ceemet (MET industries), Geopa (agriculture), Hotrec (hospitality), ECEG (chemical, pharmaceutical, plastic and rubber industries), EFCI (cleaning and facility services) and EuroCommerce (retail and wholesale) strongly support the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, as stated in the European Treaties. Employers consider pay discrimination unacceptable and they are fully committed to promoting equal opportunities and equal remuneration. Despite this, the sectors fear that the Commission’s proposal on pay transparency does not address the root causes of the gender pay gap. Instead, it challenges social partners’ autonomy, businesses’competitiveness, and the role of the Member States.
The proposal for a Deforestation and Forest Degradation Regulation, published by the European Commission on 17 November 2021, risks missing its aim due to inadequate definitions and unfeasible provisions for monitoring and implementation.
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Copa and Cogeca held a coordination meeting with their members on the humanitarian situation arising from the war in Ukraine and on the first responses provided by the extraordinary meeting of the AGRIFISH Council organised by the French Presidency.
The entire European farming community is considering the development of the conflict in Ukraine with deep sorrow. At last week’s Copa and Cogeca Praesidia meetings all members expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian people, with special thoughts going to our fellow farmers and agri-cooperative colleagues in these difficult times. Our solidarity doesn’t stop at words, Copa and Cogeca will put in place concrete actions in the coming days and weeks following the evolution of the conflict.
The agri-food chain is one of the largest segments of the European economy, employing over 20 million people from 10 million farms, 22,000 agri-food co-operatives, and 289,000 food and drink processing sites. The agri-food system is by far the biggest employment sector in Europe, and it has a significant impact on both rural and urban communities, and is comprised of more than 99% small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Euro Foie Gras and Copa-Cogeca welcome the positive vote of the European Parliament on Jérémy Decerle’s ‘Implementation report on on-farm animal welfare.’ Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) acknowledged that, “Foie gras production is based on farming procedures that respect animal welfare criteria” and rejected the call to ban assisted feeding of ducks and geese.
Copa and Cogeca welcome yesterday’s adoption in the EU Parliament’s plenary of the AGRI Implementation Report on on-farm welfare. The limited number of amendments made to the text approved in COM AGRI in October 2021 shows the good balance found by the rapporteur MEP Jérémy Decerle. The clear rejection of a counterproposal yesterday and the 72% majority achieved today, shows that the European Parliament has confidence in the ability of its farmers to put in place the most advanced animal welfare legislation worldwide. Despite the regular livestock-bashing at EU level, we are pleased to see that the European Parliament recognises this fact and is encouraging livestock farmers to pursue their efforts.
Yesterday, during the meeting of the Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fisheries, the Social Partners–ETF,EuropêcheandCopa-Cogeca–adoptedajointresolutiononthesituationof fisheriesintheMediterranean.Thesectorrepresentativesseizedtheopportunitytocallupon the European Commission to propose balanced measures that secure a future for fishermen, coastal communities and fishing resources alike in the Mediterranean Sea.
After the July announcements by the Commission, the proposals of the ‘Fit for 55’ package are now making their way through the European institutions, with debates expected in the European Parliament, notably on the revision of the Renewable Energy directive. To achieve its objective, the Commission has proposed to raise the renewable energy target from 32% to 40% by 2030. This is a major challenge, but it is not unattainable. For this to happen, all technologies must be mobilised and discussed on equal footing, while respecting the principle of technological neutrality.
This week, again, the European agricultural news has partly revolved around the question of the studies on the impact of the Farm to Fork strategy, whether it be the hearing with Julien Denormandie in the European Parliament or the official academic release of the two studies by the University of Wageningen, one of which, dedicated to the impacts on the livestock sector, was commissioned by the members of the European Livestock Voice.
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With the Farm to Fork deadline looming in 8 years’ time and no comprehensive impact assessment in sight, we must build solution-oriented policies, based on the available data we have at hand, with innovation as their cornerstone. European agri-food production is among the most resource-efficient and sustainable in the world. The European farming sector believes that, with innovation and further support at the forefront of EU agricultural policy, farmers will and can continue to produce in an even more sustainable manner. We acknowledge the expectations of society and policymakers food production systems and believe that for innovation is key in the sustainable transition outlined by the Farm to Fork Strategy. But innovation cannot happen without the necessary legislative and financial support. The agri-food sector calls on European policymakers to enable innovation as a driver of its Farm to Fork targets.
Copa-Cogeca participated today in the 19th edition of the ‘Fuels of the Future’ conference on the issue of the ‘Fit for 55’ package and alternative fuels. This was an opportunity to recall the importance of the agricultural sector in the production of alternative fuels but also highlight the need for the ‘Fit for 55’s package to consider the specific needs of agricultural transport and more broadly mobility in rural areas.
Following today’s vote in the European Parliament on the Recommendation for revision of animal transport legislation, Copa and Cogeca wish to echo Commissioner Kyriakides in underlining that any revision of legislation must protect animals, be backed by science and become easier to implement. This is especially important for EU farmers and cooperatives due to the potential socio-economic impact.
"This is a time for Europe", this is how the program of the French Presidency of the EU Council (FPEU) opens , with reference to health and climate issues. This reference also applies to agriculture well: 2021 was one of the most active years I have ever seen for agricultural initiatives in Brussels. While with the rise of the Green Deal, the CAP remains the main European policy and the historical cement of the EU, it is clear to us that the CAP is no longer the only policy that has a significant impact on agriculture.
The issue of large carnivores and the damage they inflict upon farmers’ livelihoods has been the subject of political debate since the first encounter between predators and livestock farmers. However, despite all the efforts of farmers and the measures put in place by the authorities of the countries concerned in the European Union, the strict protection status of large carnivores renders the measures ineffective, and the actions taken in the context of the debate with a view to establishing harmonious coexistence between humans and wild predators insufficient.
As 2021 comes to an end, it will soon be time to make a toast for the New Year. It is also time for some reflection on past events and defining the direction for 2022. I am seizing this opportunity to take a closer look at one of the most festive agricultural products: wine.
The European Commission unveiled today the long-awaited communication on “restoring sustainable carbon cycles” (the so-called carbon farming communication), which will be followed by a legislative proposal on carbon removal certification by the end of 2022. Copa and Cogeca welcome the inclusion of carbon farming in the political agenda and future developments to capitalize agriculture’s potential to fight climate change and achieve a greener Europe.
On 7 December sector associations from European Livestock Voice invited EVP Timmermans to visit a beef and dairy farm in the Wallonia region of Belgium. The visit organised in cooperation with local farming Union FWA, was a great opportunity for EVP Timmermans to engage in a direct and open discussion with livestock farmers on the Green Deal objectives. It was also a first step in opening an action-oriented dialogue between the Commission EVP and EU representatives of the livestock value chain on the future developments of the Farm to Fork strategy. The European livestock sector has been investing in making improvements for many years now with measurable outcomes in many areas. With best-in-class standards of animal health and welfare and among the lowest global livestock emissions, high standards on environment, the sector does not shy away from continuing to adapt to meet increasing demands. All representatives of the European livestock sector agree on the fact that more needs to be done to meet social, environmental, and animal welfare challenges. But no one should be left behind.
European forest owners and managers welcome the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Opinion on the EU Forest Strategy for 2030 adopted today. The Opinion draws conclusions similar to those expressed by the forest sector and Member States in the European Council. It underlines the necessity for a holistic and balanced approach to forests and their management as well as the key role of European forest owners and managers in the Strategy.
Following the outcome of the vote in the ANIT Committee of the European Parliament on the Draft Report and Recommendation following the ‘investigation of alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to the protection of animals during transport within and outside the Union’, Copa and Cogeca welcome the initiative to review the current legislation on animal transport. There is a need for a revision after 16 years since it was first approved and a science-based update may further guarantee a harmonised enforcement and implementation of the Regulation 1/2005 across the Member States. However, the result of the vote, especially on the Report, is quite disappointing and worrying for EU farmers, as most of its content is not sufficiently referenced nor backed by solid scientific evidence. This limits the room of manoeuver for further nuancing the Recommendation when voted in the Plenary in January 2022 and may end up damaging the sector, basing the outcome more on emotions rather than facts.
Once again, 2021 will be another dramatic year for the sector, with an estimated 10/15% production loss compared to 2020 – having already been a poor year for harvests. Extreme weather events have substantially reduced flowering and flying periods of bees; thus, strongly affecting productions. Meanwhile imports are still growing, and if European consumers cannot see this on the shelves, it is because the origin display remains structurally deficient. Copa and Cogeca welcome the announcement by the Commission on the revision of the Honey Directive and ask for rapid changes especially on market transparency.
After more than three years of complex negotiations, Copa and Cogeca welcome the timely adoption by the European Parliament on the future CAP. With around 70% of the votes being in favour on the three regulations of the future CAP, the EU Parliament gives a final confirmation to the compromise found in the trilogues earlier in June. Still, this vote does not mark an end as there are several key steps to be taken before this new CAP becomes operational. Many uncertainties remain on the calendar, on the coherence and the implementation, both at EU and national level.
For several months, Copa and Cogeca have been questioning the usefulness of the anti-dumping measures applied at European level on UAN fertilisers. With record prices this winter, and the situation becoming increasingly untenable at farm level, DG Trade has decided to open an investigation on the actual impact on those anti-dumping duties. Copa and Cogeca welcome this first step which could lead to the removal of anti-dumping taxes and ask the European Commission to act swiftly.
Today the European Commission released a new strategy focused on achieving good soil health by 2030. Soil conservation is at the heart of many farmers work and initiatives, regardless of the production methods; conventional or organic. At European level, a large set of EU policies are already directly and indirectly affecting soil health and are addressing the hazards associated with this highly precious natural resource. Among others, the CAP, the Water Framework Directive, the Nitrates Directive, the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, and the Nature Directives are some examples. That is why, at this stage, Copa and Cogeca expect more clarification on how the inclusion of new measures, such as the Soil Health Law, will add to the already existing set of tools, providing comprehensive and concrete means of action for farmers and agri-cooperatives. To be effective, the last thing that the EU farming community needs is a new administrative layer.
Following today’s publication of the Proposal for a Regulation on deforestation-free products, Copa and Cogeca support the Commission’s work to fight deforestation in line with the Green Deal ambitions. It is essential for the European farming sector that the EU’s political ambition on this topic is fully in line with the ambitions on fair trade and fair competition and with the current legislation.
European forest owners and managers welcome the Council Conclusions adopted today on the EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and fully share the concerns expressed by the Members States. These Conclusions make important requests to the European Commission with regards to actions proposed in the Strategy and a clear call to truly involve and listen to Member States and those who take care of our forests on a daily basis.
The European Commission issues today an important Communication on its vision of the lessons learned from the Covid crisis in terms of food security, and its solutions in a landscape associated with higher risks. Copa and Cogeca broadly agree with the Commission's assessment and welcome the institutional response proposed by the Commission to set up a Security Crisis preparedness and response Mechanism (EFSCM) to better coordinate response to crisis in the food supply chain. Nevertheless, on European vulnerabilities and dependence identified by the Commission, the solutions offered in the Farm to Fork strategy remain unclear.
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Following Copa and Cogeca’s initial harvest forecast issued in September, the updated data at the end of the harvesting period shows that the predictions were confirmed: yields have dropped considerably. On the positive side of this harvest is the excellent quality of the wines produced. The 2021/22 harvest estimates were presented during the annual Copa-Cogeca Wine harvest event titled “Taking stock of market and consumer trends – The way ahead”.
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In the context of the legislative procedure of the CAP Reform, the role of COGECA together with COPA had been essential to make the European Institutions aware of the importance of this Policy and of the view of 12 million European farmers and their agri-cooperatives.
Copa and Cogeca welcome the opening of the COP26 in Glasgow, a global meeting centered around the commitments taken under the Paris Agreement at COP21. Having been an active participant in and supporter of the Agreement, Copa and Cogeca are glad to join this meeting to continue the work. Since the agriculture and forestry sectors are key for reaching the ambitious climate change goals set out in the Paris Agreement; Copa and Cogeca wish there would have been a greater focus on these essential sectors at COP26.
On Thursday 21st October 2021, the Federation for Education in Europe (FEDE) and the Employers’ Group of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the European Union (Geopa-Copa) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Malmö, Sweden, to strengthen the cooperation of both organizations towards the common objective of determining the skills needed in the agricultural sector.
Today the AGRI Committee of the European Parliament endorsed its position on the implementation report concerning on-farm animal welfare with a large majority. Copa and Cogeca welcome the thorough work of consultation carried out by its rapporteur Jéremy Decerle (FR, Renew) which has resulted in an ambitious, balanced text focusing on the means and solutions to support the efforts undertaken by EU farmers on animal welfare.
Today, the European Parliament’s Plenary vote on the EU Methane Strategy took place. The strategy, which is of the upmost importance for the agricultural sector, calls for the reduction of methane emissions as part of the measures to combat climate change.
In Europe today, one out of every two imported honeys is fraudulent! Fraud techniques are numerous and difficult to detect, which explains their constant increase according to official figures collected by the European Commission. The consequences of these fraudulent imports are numerous and violent for European beekeepers, who cannot stand up to this absolutely unfair competition. This is why Copa-Cogeca would propose one new goal to the Commission: reducing counterfeiting in half by 2027 compared to figures in the analysis carried out in March 2023 with a view to having no adulterated honey present in the European market at all by 2030!
Copa Vice-President Tim Cullinan details some of the subjects brought up during the Agrifish meeting had on 18th September.
Cogeca President Ramon Armengol details some of the subjects brought up during the Agrifish meeting had on 18th September.
million farmers and
their families represented
agri-cooperatives
represented
members
partner
organisations
