Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Ordinary meeting
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AGRI European Parliament
Follow its sittingsVeronika Vrecionová
Okay.
Thank you very much. And now I would like to ask our shadows. You have two minutes each. And first, EPP, Salvatore De Meo.
Salvatore De Meo
Thank you, Chair. I will speak in Italian. Voglio ringraziare il relatore per il lavoro fatto e condivido la sua impostazione perché questa relazione ci permette di confermare un messaggio forte mettendo l'agricoltura in una dimensione diversa rispetto agli anni passati in quanto settore strategico per rafforzare la nostra autonomia anche in termini geopolitici, garantire la sicurezza alimentare e la redditività delle imprese agricole. Oggi i nostri agricoltori chiedono di poter produrre, investire e competere. Quindi la competitività, la resilienza e la sostenibilità devono procedere insieme senza contrapposizioni ideologiche.
Sulla proposta della Commissione di ridurre il bilancio della PAC e di inserirla nel fondo unico, la posizione del PPE è chiara: vogliamo una PAC autonoma, adeguatamente finanziata, ma che resti lo strumento principale per sostenere gli agricoltori. Per il nostro gruppo sarà fondamentale insistere ancora sulla semplificazione amministrativa perché dobbiamo tagliare drasticamente gli oneri burocratici definendo regole chiare e prevedibili. Agli agricoltori serve tempo per produrre eccellenze e non documenti. Apprezziamo l'impostazione del relatore per sostenere la necessità di investire in ricerca e innovazione. Pensiamo ad esempio alle tecniche genomiche o all'agricoltura di precisione che sono strumenti indispensabili per coniugare l'alta produttività con la tutela dell'ambiente.
Un altro tema centrale che ci vede convinti è la reciprocità negli scambi commerciali.
Non possiamo imporre standard elevati in Europa e poi importare prodotti che non rispettano le stesse regole. Le clausole specchio devono diventare un principio concreto nella nostra politica commerciale. Infine, dobbiamo potenziare la gestione delle crisi con fondi di solidarietà e strumenti assicurativi più agili contro le emergenze climatiche, così come rafforzare le organizzazioni dei produttori a garantire il ricambio generazionale. Negozieremo con determinazione affinché il testo finale rispecchi le reali esigenze di chi assicura il cibo sulle tavole dei cittadini europei. Allora saremo al fianco del relatore per migliorare ulteriormente il buon lavoro già fatto.
Veronika Vrecionová
Thank you Salvatore and now Patriots colleague Penelle, please Mr. Penelle the floor is yours.
Gilles Pennelle
Oui merci Madame la Présidente. Résilience, compétitivité, équité, modernisation, qui serait contre ces mots ? On les entend régulièrement dans notre commission agriculture. Ce sont des vœux pieux bien souvent parce que la réalité bien sûr est très différente.
Il y a effectivement dans ce rapport de bonnes choses avec lesquelles tout le monde, je pense, peut être d'accord. Mais par exemple sur le Green Deal, alors excusez-moi de prononcer ce mot parce que plus personne ne le prononce, sauf que dans la réalité, il est toujours là et ce rapport ne propose pas d'abroger les contraintes qui réduisent les rendements, alourdissent les charges et fragilisent l'élevage. La compétitivité de l'agriculture européenne doit être centrée sur sa finalité première : nourrir les hommes et garantir notre sécurité alimentaire. Cela suppose d'abord de soutenir pleinement la production. Ce n'est pas un gros mot.
Oui, il faut produire en préservant les capacités donc productives, les rendements, les cheptels et les outils de transformation. Cela implique ensuite de protéger réellement le marché européen contre les importations de pays qui ne respectent ni nos normes, ni nos exigences sociales, sanitaires et environnementales, au moyen de clauses de sauvegarde efficaces, de droits de douane adaptés et d'une véritable préférence européenne. Nous l'avons vu hier avec le traité avec l'Australie, nous en sommes loin. Enfin, l'agriculture bien sûr doit être libérée des contraintes administratives, cela a été dit, et environnementales excessives qui alourdissent les coûts de nos producteurs, découragent l'investissement, découragent l'installation des jeunes agriculteurs.
Une agriculture compétitive ne peut pas être une agriculture continuellement entravée, compensée par des aides de moins en moins importantes, mais empêchée finalement de produire.
Waldemar Buda
Pani przewodnicząca, szanowni państwo. Z jednej strony dziękuję za tę inicjatywę i za raport, bo siłą komisji AGRI jest to, że przygotowuje wartościowe dokumenty. Tym bardziej, że mamy tu pewną kolizję z komisją INTA, która można powiedzieć powoduje szereg komplikacji dla rolnictwa, a jednocześnie dba o swoje dossier i nie chce się nim podzielić z punktu widzenia aspektów rolniczych. Natomiast szanowni państwo, my dzisiaj musimy mieć świadomość tego, że rolnictwo stoi u progu największych wyzwań od wielu lat. I możemy tak jak ten raport przygotowywać tego rodzaju dokumenty.
On jest bardzo ogólny, bardzo oczywiście trudno się z nim nie zgodzić, ale on nie pokazuje przyczyn, on pokazuje skutek jaki dzisiaj jest.
Natomiast jak wejdziemy w szczegóły, to powinniśmy zdać sobie sprawę, że zarówno rolnictwo, ale też wiele innych dziedzin życia gospodarczego w Unii Europejskiej jest ofiarami, ofiarami regulacji europejskich. Dlaczego inne, inne regiony świata dzisiaj mają można powiedzieć prosperity jeśli chodzi o rozwój rolnictwa, a w Unii Europejskiej rolnictwo stoi przed dramatycznymi wyborami? Ubywa gospodarstw, ubywa produkcji, mamy gigantyczne koszty produkcji. No względem krajów Mercosuru to są razy trzy, trzykrotnie wyższe koszty produkcji. Z czego to się bierze?
No najczęściej po prostu z regulacji, z regulacji, z obciążeń dotyczących rolników, produkcji, produkcji rolnej. I my dzisiaj mamy szereg takich przykładów, których zniesienie, poprawienie mogłoby sytuację znacznie poprawić, ale nie ma ani w tym raporcie jakiejś diagnozy w tym zakresie, ani nie ma chęci jeśli chodzi o całą Unię Europejską zmiany. Podam tu przykład sam system prelistingu, czyli polegający na tym, że to nasi partnerzy handlowi na przykład z Mercosuru sami dobierają sobie firmy i sprawdzają standardy produkcji. My się zrzekamy tego uprawnienia, a jednocześnie naszych rolników z całą premedytacją nadzorujemy, kontrolujemy i stawiamy im szereg warunków. Czy to jest uczciwa konkurencja?
No przecież wszyscy mamy świadomość, że to nie jest uczciwa konkurencja. I porozmawiajmy sobie bez emocji, że my dzisiaj na nas spoczywa pewna rola zatrzymania tego, co w Unii Europejskiej się dzieje. I my powinniśmy spróbować zawalczyć o to. Kto to zrobi, jeśli nie my? Możemy bardzo gładkie, bardzo piękne raporty przyjmować, bardzo ogólne, ale to się tu robi od 15 czy 20 lat.
My musimy postawić na bardzo twarde rozwiązania dotyczące i budżetu, i usuwania ograniczeń w zakresie rolnictwa, żeby uratować część tego rolnictwa, bo już całości się nie da. Więc będziemy składać poprawki do tego raportu. Dobra inicjatywa, troszkę ogólna i nieprzełomowa, a w takich czasach, jeśli chodzi o rolnictwo, funkcjonujemy. Dziękuję bardzo.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay, thank you. Now I would like to ask Renew, Christine Singer. Please, Christine, the floor is yours. You have two minutes, please.
Christine Singer
Ja, vielen Dank, Frau Vorsitzende. Zunächst möchte ich mich bei unserem Berichterstatter für den Berichtsentwurf bedanken.
Ich finde der Entwurf ist eine gute Grundlage für unsere weitere Arbeit. Er greift viele Fragen auf, die unsere Landwirte derzeit ganz konkret beschäftigen. Zum Beispiel wie bleiben unsere Betriebe wirtschaftlich lebensfähig, wie können wir unsere Ernährung langfristig sichern und wie erhalten wir lebendige ländliche Räume. Für mich ist dabei ein Punkt ganz zentral. Unsere Landwirte können auf Dauer nicht unter den immer höheren europäischen Standards produzieren und gleichzeitig mit Importen konkurrieren, die unter deutlich niedrigeren Anforderungen erzeugt werden.
Faire Wettbewerbsbedingungen dürfen kein Schlagwort bleiben. Wir brauchen wirksame Kontrollen, Schutzklauseln und echte Reziprozität bei unseren Standards. Und genauso wichtig sind für mich starke und ausreichend finanzierte GAP-Mittel. Die endlich spürbare Entlastung bei der Bürokratie ist ein weiterer wichtiger Punkt. Ich werde außerdem Änderungsanträge einbringen, um regionale Wertschöpfungsketten, Verarbeitung und Vermarktung und die Rolle der Genossenschaften stärker hervorzuheben.
Sie helfen Wertschöpfung in den Regionen zu halten und unsere Lebensmittelversorgung widerstandsfähiger zu machen. Ein besonderes Anliegen ist mir auch die Tierhaltung. Sie gehört für mich zu einer resilienten europäischen Landwirtschaft dazu. Tierhaltende Betriebe sichern Lebensmittelproduktion und Arbeitsplätze. Sie erhalten Dauergrünland, prägen unsere Kulturlandschaften und sie sind ein wichtiger Teil regionaler Kreisläufe.
Gerade diese Betriebe brauchen Zukunftsperspektiven und Unterstützung bei Investitionen in modernen Stallungen für Tierwohl und in der Infrastruktur. Auch Innovation und Digitalisierung möchte ich weiter stärken, aber so, dass neue Technologien für Betriebe aller Größen zugänglich und leistbar bleiben. Ich finde es schade, dass die Frist für Änderungsanträge zu diesem Bericht so eng mit den Fristen zur GAP und zur gemeinsamen Marktorganisation zusammenfällt. Es ist nur verständlich, dass viele Ressourcen derzeit in diese wichtigen legislativen Verfahren fließen. Umso mehr hoffe ich, dass wir diesem Bericht trotzdem die Aufmerksamkeit schenken, die er verdient.
Ich freue mich auf die weitere Zusammenarbeit. Vielen Dank.
Thomas Waitz
Thank you Chair, and I replace David Cormand today and we want to thank the rapporteur for his proposal which already touches upon quite a lot of important topics. And colleagues, I mean European competitiveness, where we are on the same page is when it comes to reciprocity and that everybody has to follow the same rules as European farmers do. But what is giving our products competitiveness globally? It's the quality of production. And the quality of production is the highest food standards and food quality standards that you can find in the world.
That's why we can still export even though we produce more expensive. And how do we reach these standards?
By, well, regulation. And also if the right part of this house doesn't want to understand or realize that the main obstacle in the moment for us farmers on the ground is climate extreme weather. You call it just extreme weather, but it's, you know, this is making agriculture extremely risky. And resilience, building resilience, building climate resilience is the main ingredients that will make sure that we stay competitive and that we stay able to produce food for European citizens. And we will do amendments to make sure that this is also reflected in this report.
And yes, we are very much under pressure. But do we now want to downgrade our production costs? Do we also want to pay a minimum salary of 200 euros to workers as Brazilians? Do we, is this your concept of a competitive European agriculture? I'm really doubting whether this race to the bottom is bringing us anywhere.
And by, you know, I don't, I mean, are you having scared dreams in the night of bureaucracy? I mean, it's really not bureaucracy that makes the life hard for farmers, but what makes the life hard for farmers is that they do not get a fair price for their produce.
This is making the life hard. And if yes, some bureaucracy is needed, every business sector in the European Union has bureaucracy to do, why should this be different for farmers? But you need to have a fair price to be able to live, and there we need to look into the concentration of retailers and processors. There's an enormous concentration going on, which gives farmers less and less negotiation power and bargaining power, and there we need to strengthen the agriculture sector. And I know also in this we have a big majority to support farmers in doing this.
Thank you, Chair.
Arash Saeidi
Thank you, Madam Chair. Je vais m'exprimer en français. Je tiens tout d'abord à remercier le rapporteur pour ce rapport sur le renforcement de la compétitivité, de la résilience et de l'équité de notre agriculture européenne. Ce texte dresse un constat certes lucide sur les vulnérabilités de notre modèle et la nécessité d'une redistribution plus équitable des soutiens, mais pour répondre véritablement à la crise que traverse le monde agricole, nous devons être plus ambitieux. C'est pourquoi nous avons déposé une série d'amendements visant à renforcer ce rapport autour de trois priorités claires.
La multiplication des accords de libre-échange, et particulièrement celui avec le Mercosur, organise un dumping social, sanitaire et environnemental insoutenable qui détruit nos fermes familiales. Nous demandons donc la création d'un fonds de compensation, qui nous avait été d'ailleurs promis par le commissaire, dédié et financé durablement pour pallier les dommages de ces accords. Plus important encore, l'Union doit se doter de mesures permettant la suspension immédiate des importations de produits qui ne respectent pas nos normes de production. Deuxièmement, l'équité doit s'appliquer à tous les travailleurs agricoles. Nos amendements soulignent l'urgence d'améliorer le sort des millions de travailleurs migrants et saisonniers dont les conditions de travail, de logement et de protection sociale sont encore trop souvent inacceptables.
D'abord, nous devons sortir de la naïveté commerciale pour bâtir une véritable souveraineté alimentaire.
Parallèlement, nous devons garantir des revenus stables et décents aux agriculteurs, condition sine qua non pour freiner la disparition de nos exploitations. Enfin, l'enjeu du renouvellement générationnel ne peut se résumer à l'agrandissement des surfaces et à la course à l'exportation qui constituent aujourd'hui une impasse écologique et humaine. L'arrivée d'une nouvelle génération est une opportunité historique pour massifier la transition agroécologique et le passage à une agriculture adaptée au changement climatique. Pour encourager ces jeunes et nouveaux agriculteurs, nous devons les protéger face aux dérèglements climatiques. Nous proposons donc la création de mécanismes publics de mutualisation des risques, car le coût prohibitif des assurances privées bloque aujourd'hui de trop nombreuses installations.
Merci, Madame la Présidente.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay, thank you very much. And yes, and we don't have shadows, but I ask somebody from ESN if you want to take the floor. Ivan David, please.
Ivan David
V kapitalismu bere vše ten dříve bohatší. Takže nadnárodní řetězce, maloobchodní řetězce samozřejmě nijak nedojímá pláč zemědělců, kteří mají potíže a rozhodně jim nezáleží na zachování vesnické idyly s rodinnými farmami. Je to jeden z trvalých problémů Evropské unie, že tady převládají menší podniky, které samozřejmě mají už z principu nižší konkurenceschopnost ve srovnání s těmi většími. Proto nadnárodní řetězce vítají příležitost nakupovat levnější produkci ze zahraničí, z mimoevropských zemí s tím, že budou likvidovat domácí zemědělství tak, aby si mohli diktovat vyšší ceny.
To je prostě fakt. A to, že je tady neúměrně velká administrativní zátěž, to je prostě dáno velikými regulacemi, které je potřeba hlídat, rozdělování dotací je třeba kontrolovat a tak dále a tak dále. Pak je tady spousta úředníků, kteří potřebují nějakou práci, takže si ji vymýšlejí. No a pak je to tady problém prostě drahých vstupů a to je potřeba řešit a ne dávat nějaké drobné těm, kteří jsou ještě ochotni pracovat za nevýhodných podmínek.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay, thank you. And now ECR, you have one minute each, colleagues. The first Madam Grapini, please.
Maria Grapini
Mulțumesc, doamnă președintă. Așa cum a spus colegul meu, îl felicit, n-ar trebui să fie un raport care să rămână undeva acolo fără a avea efecte.
Până la urmă, din titlul raportului, trebuie să ne gândim foarte mult la echitate. Și s-a spus aici. Nu este o echitate nici în interiorul pieței interne între cele 27 de state, și pot să vă dau multe exemple, dar n-am timp, și nici în extern. Pentru că dacă nu avem siguranța că ceea ce intră din țările terțe sunt produse care respectă aceleași standarde de calitate, n-o să avem niciodată echitate. Apoi, nu există pe lanțul valoric echitate între producători și marii distribuitori, lanțurile de distribuție.
Știm bine asta, am discutat-o de foarte multe ori. De aceea cred foarte mult că și raportorii din umbră, și raportorul, și noi ceilalți care punem amendamente, trebuie să punem amendamente care să aducă un impact clar. Tot vorbim competitivitate, reziliență. Astea nu pot să fie dacă nu există o echitate în producția și până la urmă știm bine agricultura este securitate alimentară. Mulțumesc.
Okay, thank you, Madame Delos.
Valérie Deloge
Monsieur le rapporteur, chers collègues, rendre l'agriculture européenne compétitive certes, mais compétitive face à qui, si ce n'est face à Bruxelles elle-même. Votre rapport dresse des constats que nous partageons : 5,6 millions de fermes ont disparu en Europe entre 2005 et 2023, l'âge moyen des agriculteurs atteint 57 ans en moyenne et les besoins financiers non couverts s'élèvent à 62 milliards d'euros.
Oui, nos agriculteurs sont en crise, mais cette crise n'est pas d'abord climatique ou sanitaire, elle est avant tout le résultat de décennies de dérégulation commerciale et de surtransposition normative imposée par Bruxelles. Et le diagnostic ne suffit plus, il nous faut agir et très vite. Voici deux solutions concrètes que nous défendons depuis des années au Rassemblement National : d'abord des clauses miroirs réellement contraignantes et ce dans tous les accords commerciaux, pas de simples intentions, pas un kilo importé qui ne respecte nos normes sanitaires, sociales et environnementales. Et ensuite une préférence européenne et nationale sur les marchés publics et avec un étiquetage clair pour qu'acheter local devienne une réalité juridique mais pas un slogan. La survie de nos agriculteurs se joue bien à Bruxelles car c'est ici que trop de décisions ont, au nom du libre-échange, du Green Deal et j'en passe, mis les filières et les productions sous pression.
Le vrai combat, c'est de faire de cette assemblée le lieu de leur protection et pas celui de leur sacrifice. Je vous remercie.
Ciaran Mullooly
Thank you, Madam Chair. I mean, let, if we're looking at competitiveness and fairness, let's look at the facts. Today, farmers are being asked to produce more with less: less CAP funding, higher input costs, and growing competition from imports that are not required to meet the same standards as our producers. That's neither competitive nor fair.
At the same time, the Commission continues to rush to conclude new trade agreements that concede yet more of the EU's internal agricultural market, placing further pressure on our farmers. So that's why I will be submitting amendments to protect a ring-fenced CAP budget, strengthen support for generational renewal, defend active farmers regardless of age, and ensure that imported products meet production, animal welfare, and food safety standards that are equivalent...
Veronika Vrecionová
Please, interpreters ask you, sorry, that you have please slow down a little bit.
Ciaran Mullooly
No problem. So that's why I will be submitting amendments to protect a ring-fenced CAP budget, strengthen support for generational renewal, and defend active farmers regardless of age, and ensure that imported products meet production, animal welfare, and food safety standards that are in fact equivalent to those required of EU farmers. My amendments also call for a European strategic fertilizer reserve, the return of CBAM revenues to agriculture at this time of crisis, stronger protection for farmers in the supply chain, and independent verification of milk testing used to determine farmers' payments. Thank you, Chair.
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral
Thank you, Chair, I'll speak in Portuguese. Quando falamos da competitividade da agricultura europeia, não podemos esquecer que grande parte dos problemas que trazem falta de competitividade foram impostos por nós. Excesso de regulamentação, excesso de burocracia e peso administrativo retiraram os agricultores do terreno, da produção agrícola, e passaram-nos para o trabalho administrativo. Isto tem que mudar. E quando falamos da competitividade, também não podemos esquecer que o setor agrícola ganha cerca de 60% em média do que ganham os outros, os outros setores económicos.
Isto também é falta de competitividade, falta de liquidez, falta de remuneração justa e adequada àquilo que é o seu trabalho. É por isso que nós temos que apostar na eficiência de recursos também, obviamente, a eficiência de utilização de fertilizantes, do regadio, naquilo que tem a ver também com uma redução da burocracia e do peso administrativo, mas eu gostaria também de ressalvar aqui a necessidade de investirmos na tecnologia, na inovação, porque só assim é que garantiremos a renovação geracional. E termino dando nota de que o relatório tem algumas boas ideias, mas que a agricultura nas regiões ultraperiféricas ainda não está bem representada, pelo que faremos aqui algumas propostas de alteração. Muito obrigado, senhor Presidente.
Bert-Jan Ruissen
Dank u wel, voorzitter, en dank aan de rapporteur voor zijn uitstekende ontwerpverslag.
Heel goed om eens integraal te kijken naar de concurrentiekracht en de weerbaarheid van de Europese landbouw. De rapporteur gaat in zijn rapport in op belangrijke aandachtspunten. Denk aan het behoud van het GLB-budget, steun voor innovatie, versterking van de positie van de boer. Maar ik zou willen zeggen: laten we in aanvulling daarop ook nog eens beter kijken naar mogelijkheden om de regeldruk te verminderen. Want met de enorme regeldruk zet Europa haar boeren echt op achterstand ten opzichte van andere handelsblokken.
Nog één aandachtspunt zou ik willen noemen. Heel goed dat de rapporteur ook aandacht besteedt aan het probleem van de waterschaarste. Dat is echt een serieus probleem. Gebieden hebben in toenemende mate te kampen met droogte, maar ook met verzilting. En dat speelt lang niet alleen in Zuid-Europa, dat speelt ook in een land als Nederland bijvoorbeeld.
Boeren hebben soms onvoldoende toegang tot zoet water. Daarom is er ook echt meer steun nodig voor zoetwatervoorzieningen, voor innovatieve drainage- en leidingnetwerken, voor wateropslag, etc. Op dat punt overweeg ik een amendement in te dienen. Maar nogmaals dank voor het verslag. Ik denk dat het een hele goede basis is voor verdere bespreking.
Daniel Buda
Apreciez pentru munca raportorului. Cred că acest dosar este foarte important pentru a putea coagula în cuprinsul lui toate aspectele care frământă spațiul agricol și colegii s-au raportat foarte bine la acestea. Însă, atunci când vorbim de reziliența sectorului agricol, trebuie să ne referim în mod absolut și la sectorul zootehnic, care astăzi trece printr-o dificultate destul de mare legată de ceea ce înseamnă răspândirea bolilor. Și cred că la nivelul Comisiei Europene trebuie să fie o abordare sau o reabordare a acestei probleme legată de ceea ce înseamnă răspândirea acestor boli care de multe ori are o etiologie necunoscută și fermierii sunt cei care sunt puși să deconteze această situație. Și mă refer mai ales la aspectele legate de vaccinare, pentru că sunt o serie de boli care au vaccinuri identificate, dar care nu sunt totuși folosite pe scară largă, deoarece s-ar putea pune în pericol acordurile comerciale.
Eu cred că trebuie să avem în vedere această chestiune a vaccinării și trebuie să încercăm să înțelegem că nu vom putea stăvili ceea ce înseamnă răspândirea acestor boli fără să vaccinăm. Și în același timp este foarte important să venim și cu măsuri compensatorii pentru fermierii care au de suferit astăzi din cauza apariției acestor boli, repet, pentru care ei nu sunt vinovați. Mai mult, cred că este foarte important să identificăm mecanismele prin care animalele care sunt sănătoase să poată mai departe să fie transportate și abatorizate, mai ales atunci când, și nu mai ales atunci când se identifică în mod foarte clar că nu reprezintă un pericol pentru sănătatea omului. Mulțumesc.
Luke Ming Flanagan
Thanks very much. There was a time when you'd come into this committee and everyone would tell you that Mercosur would be a disaster and most people folded and now we're going to have to deal with it. But I never actually thought I'd see the day that once Mercosur goes through that people come in here arguing that now that it's here, we've got to try and compete with them when it comes to price. I never thought I'd come in here and I'd hear representatives argue that the people that I represent should get less money for their product. I never thought I'd come in here and hear people argue, whether they know they're arguing this or not, that the people of the West of Ireland should have to survive on the same wages as people in Brazil.
People in Brazil shouldn't have to survive on that as well. But I do not want to compete on the basis of a race to the bottom. I want Europe to compete on the basis that we have the best quality product. I want us to compete on it on the basis that we have the most sustainable product in the long run. Because if we try and compete on anything else, we're going to lose.
It's like putting a sumo wrestler into a ballet show or a ballet dancer into a sumo wrestling thing. You wouldn't criticize them. You'd just say, maybe I put you in the wrong place, maybe I competed in the wrong field. But that's what you're asking us to do, some people in here. What's really important is mirror clauses, what's important is quality, and what's important is that my children don't have to eat rubbish because you want us to do it cheaply.
You can feed your children rubbish if you wish.
Veronika Vrecionová
So, thank you. And now I would like to ask Mr. Schulte-Schulz from DG AGRI for four minutes long statement, please.
Gijs Schilthuis
Thank you, thank you President, and thanks to the rapporteur and the members for the interesting and wide-ranging wide-ranging debate. I think it's it touches upon all the reasons why we have agricultural policy. The the situation of many small farms in the wider economy and and many farms compared to large companies, the reasons of of of weather and market that are so volatile, the strategic importance of of our food supply and the quality of our food supply. So all these reasons is why we have agricultural policy and many decades ago we have come to the conclusion that it's good to give the market a role in how we organize our agricultural policy.
I think in 1992 we called it market orientation and I think in a way we are still on that orientation. And of course in a marketplace competitiveness is key and many members have already alluded to the fact that this is not about low cost, high volume, it's about how you make money, it's about the business case and this can be many different things, but it is about how you try to obtain value from your agricultural production in the marketplace. And the Commission of course has competitiveness as its key priority for this mandate and is working hard to deliver on its mandate, on its mission. And of course we have for that tabled a number of omnibus proposals, simplification proposals on agriculture, but also on the food and feed sector. I think it is key that these proposals deliver on a reduction of burden.
Second aspect of that is of course fair conditions for trade.
As you know, we are working on the unfair trading practices directive, but also in its vision for agriculture and food, the Commission has committed to ensure that the imported products, particularly with regard to pesticides, animal welfare, meat, European standards. And you know that we are working on that with a study, impact assessment forthcoming, and also that this is part of the food and feed omnibus proposal. And of course, we have our support measures. Let's face it, I started by saying that the debate reminds me of the reasons why we have agricultural support policy, and the common agricultural policy delivers on that. And we have made a proposal that in fact underlines and underscores the importance of many of the instruments in the common agricultural policy, and it's really important that we continue to deliver on those also going forward in the discussions in the rest of this year and next year on the reform.
Income support for those who need it most. In other words, let's make sure that we spend the income support on those farmers that need this income support, and not on the larger ones that are able to get an income from the market. Let's make sure that we support farmers with that business case, with that trying to get money from the marketplace. In other words, how can they add value? Let's support them on investments.
Let's support them to cooperate together. Let's provide good regulation on organic and NGTs so they can use these schemes to add value. Let's help them with resilience, for example through better risk management strategies, one of the things that the rapporteur on the CAP reform has put high on the agenda. Let's support farmers with agri-environment and climate actions, both for maintenance of certain actions and practices, but also for the transition to more resilient farming practices. And let's make sure that we have good policies on rural areas that help farmers operate their farms in lively rural areas.
Let's support them with knowledge.
So in other words, I think it's a very interesting debate. I wish the members success with the development of this report, but let's also make the links to the CAP reform so that we can turn the promises into action. Thank you.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay, thank you very much. And I would like to go back to Mr. Vešligaj. Please, I would like to ask you for three minutes. You have three minutes, yes. Thank you.
Marko Vešligaj
Thank you. I will speak Croatian. Najprije bih se zahvalio svim kolegama stvarno na njihovoj raspravi i na komentarima koje su davali.
Jako mi je drago čuti da je vas se puno spomenulo da se radi o jednom kvalitetnom tekstu, da se radi o jednom opsežnom tekstu, da se radi o tekstu koji, evo reći ću onako, je poprilično realno opisuje stanje u europskoj poljoprivredi i svjestan sam svih ovih problema koje ima. Naravno, ovaj kad radite ovo izvješće imate i ograničenja u u broju znakova, tako da svjestan sam toga da određena poglavlja sigurno trebamo sigurno trebaju svoju doradu i dopunu i sam ću podnijeti vjerojatno dosta amandmana kojima vjerujem da ćemo poboljšati još više tekst. Tako da mislim da ne bih se baš tu složio do kraja da neki aspekti nisu odrađeni. Bit će sigurno u konačnom tekstu. Pozivam zapravo da da uložite amandmane.
Svjestan sam toga da baš rok je dosta kratak, ali siguran sam da s obzirom na vaše znanje, na vaše iskustvo koje imate oko ove teme da ćete dati jedan dobar i kvalitetan input koji će ići u tom smjeru zapravo da radimo na još boljoj otpornosti, na održivosti, na poštenosti ovoga sektora koji je reći ću jedan od ključnih stvari za našu prehrambenu sigurnost, ali općenito za sigurnost.
Tako da evo veselim se nastavku rada i hvala još jedanput na na vašoj raspravi i na vašim prijedlozima koje ste danas dali za ovo izvješće. Hvala.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay, thank you very much. So we are in the end of this item. Thank you very much. I think that this discussion will, you know, we will have also in future. And now we have another item, exchange of views with Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, but we are waiting.
He is... Sorry? Okay, so he will be here in two minutes. So please... You just announced the deadline for amendments of the INI.
16th. Okay, I just maybe forgot to tell you that the deadline for amendment is the 16th of July. 16th of July. Okay. So thank you.
So, as you know, on the 1st of July, Ireland took over the presidency of the European Union from Cyprus, becoming the first presidency of the trio with Lithuania and Greece. Today, we are pleased to welcome Mr. Martin Heydon, the Minister of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. Dear Minister, we know that the Irish presidency will pay particular attention to food security, competitiveness, simplification, sustainability and generational renewal. Work on the future framework for the CAP will be a central focus in the second half of the year. These topics are of great interest to our committee, so we will be following your progress with great interest.
We share the same objectives of strengthening the central role of agriculture and fisheries in ensuring food security and sustaining rural communities, as well as contributing to climate and environmental objectives.
We know that you have an ambitious program for the next six months and we look forward to hearing about your agriculture priorities. Regarding today's choreography, Mr. Minister will have just now 10 minutes for his statement and after we will have the first set of questions from the coordinators, then again 10 minutes for Minister for his answers and then second set of questions from the members and again Minister will have 10 minutes for replies. Minister, so you have just now first 10 minutes, please, the floor is yours.
Martin Heydon
A Chathaoirligh, a bhaill onóracha de Pharlaimint na hEorpa, go raibh míle maith agaibh as cuireadh a thabhairt dom labhairt leis an gCoiste seo. Chair, honorable members of the European Parliament, thank you for the invitation to be here to address the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on Ireland's priorities for agriculture during our presidency. I welcome this opportunity to engage with you at the outset of Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union. The European Parliament has a central role to play in shaping the future of European agriculture and rural development, and I look forward to working constructively with the committee over the months ahead.
Ireland has assumed the presidency at a time of intense change across Europe and at a time of geopolitical uncertainty, to say the least. In relation to agriculture and food, we can see pressures arising on food security, on competitiveness, on food supply chains, and across the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. For farmers, food businesses, and rural communities, these pressures are real. They are seen in higher input costs, in market volatility, and in additional regulatory requirements. And they have a real impact on farm families as they face important decisions about passing their farm to the next generation, or making environmental investments, or adopting new innovative approaches.
Those realities must inform Europe's consideration of the future of agriculture and food, and they will inform Ireland's work in chairing the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Ireland's presidency will be guided by the principle of Ní neart go cur le chéile: there is no strength without unity. At a time when unity is more important in the face of a rapidly changing and unpredictable global environment. Our presidency will be built around three central themes: competitiveness, security, and values.
These are all of direct relevance to agriculture. A Europe that is serious about competitiveness must be serious about the viability of farm, food, fisheries, and seafood businesses. A Europe that is serious about sustainability must recognize that economic, social, and environmental sustainability must be balanced and advanced together. And a Europe that is serious about rural and coastal communities must ensure that European policy supports the people and places that sustain those communities. At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Ireland's work will be guided by the need to support farming families, to protect incomes, to strengthen competitiveness, to sustain rural communities, and to strike the right balance between that economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainability.
The next EU budget will shape the Union's capacity to respond to the challenges of the decade ahead. It will also determine the financial framework for the next Common Agricultural Policy and for wider rural development. Ireland will work intensively during our presidency to advance negotiations on the MFF.
As presidency, we will act as an honest broker, working to bring member states closer to agreement on a budget that is balanced, ambitious and capable of delivering on Europe's priorities. At Agriculture and Fisheries Council, our central priority is to progress as far as possible the discussions on the future of the common agricultural policy post-2027, with a view to achieving at least a partial general approach on the proposed CAP regulation. The discussions to date at Council have highlighted the fact that the CAP reforms must preserve the policy's ability to contribute to food security, to secure farm incomes and to support rural resilience with predictability and fairness. It must be workable in practice and simpler for farmers and other CAP beneficiaries to engage with, and it must minimize administrative burdens and facilitate effective implementation on the ground. It must also reflect the diversity of European agriculture.
A common European framework is essential, but that framework must provide sufficient flexibility to allow member states to respond to regional realities, sectoral needs and different production systems.
Striking the right balance in this regard will be key. Alongside the future CAP, Ireland will also advance work on the future Common Market Organisation framework. Well-functioning agriculture markets are central to the resilience and sustainability of the European agri-food sector, and the CMO regulation plays a crucial role in the EU's food security by strengthening farmers' resilience in the face of market volatility. Again, the Irish Presidency will work to advance this file as far as possible, with a view to achieving at least a partial general approach. On organic production and labelling, I look forward to working constructively with you to finalise the regulation, with a focus on regulatory clarity, legal certainty, and practical implementation for operators, including in relation to certification and trade with third countries.
Ireland will also seek to take forward the implementation of the Commission's vision for agriculture and food. A key area of work during our Presidency will be to advance discussions on the role of livestock in European agriculture. In this regard, I welcome the Commission's recent publication of the EU livestock strategy and protein plan. Livestock farming remains central to Europe's food production, rural economies, land management, and rural communities, and there are opportunities to support the sector to become more environmentally sustainable while also remaining productive.
This connects with EU values, including care for the environment, the maintenance of high standards of animal welfare, and the promotion of the health and well-being of communities across the EU. Closely linked to this will be the progression of the EU protein plan. Strengthening the resilience and sustainability of Europe's protein systems will be important for food security, feed security, and for reducing strategic dependencies. Ireland will facilitate consideration of the livestock strategy and protein plan in a coherent and integrated manner. The exchange of views held at Council yesterday will inform a presidency report which will be published at the end of the Irish presidency.
Generation renewal will also be a major theme of our presidency. Europe's Europe needs farming to remain an attractive and viable career for young people and new entrants. That requires fair incomes, access to supports, investment, innovation, advisory services, knowledge transfer, and certainty and confidence in the future direction of EU policy. During the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Ireland will also place particular emphasis on the role of women in agriculture and rural communities.
An exchange of views on this important topic took place at Council yesterday, where it was clear that the vital contribution women make to the economic and social fabric of rural Europe must be more visible and better supported. Simplification will be another central priority for the Irish Presidency. Farmers and food businesses need rules that are clear, proportionate, and capable of being implemented effectively on the ground. Simplification is not about lowering standards; it is about achieving our objectives in a smart, more practical, and more coherent way. Ireland will advance the simplification agenda with a focus on reducing unnecessary administrative burdens while maintaining high standards for food and feed safety, human and animal health, environmental protection, and market surveillance.
We look forward in this regard to making progress on the food and feed safety omnibus and the current environmental omnibus proposals, including the proposal to amend the regulation on industrial and livestock rearing emissions and the proposal to speed up environmental assessments, with the objective of reducing administrative complexity and improving efficiencies. Animal welfare is an important issue for the Council, which is currently focused on progressing the proposed regulation on the protection of animals during transport.
This is a complex file, which has seen sensitive discussion over the past few years. It is timely and prudent to deliver updated legislation in this area, and Ireland is keen to do its part, working with other Member States to reach a COREPER mandate on this file by the end of this year, and I trust the Parliament is also progressing towards agreement. Balanced development of rural areas will also be a focus. Rural areas are central to Europe's identity, economy, and social cohesion. They must have access to quality jobs, services, infrastructure, skills, and opportunities for diversification.
The future EU framework must continue to support rural communities and balanced territorial development. Chair, honorable members, Ireland approaches this presidency with a clear understanding of the responsibility that it brings. We will work closely with the European Parliament and the Commission throughout this period. Many of the files before us will require close and constructive engagement between the institutions, and I recognize the central role of this committee in shaping the Union's approach to agriculture and rural development.
Our objective is to maintain momentum across the key files, to achieve practical and balanced outcomes, and to ensure that the Council's work contributes to a European agricultural policy that supports a competitive, sustainable, and resilient sector, which in turn ensures the maintenance of vibrant rural communities across the Union. We will not resolve every issue in the six months, but we will make meaningful progress, structuring the debate, identifying areas of convergence, and preparing the ground for agreement on the future framework for European agriculture and food in a spirit of openness, fairness, and cooperation. Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo inniu agus bheith ag obair leis an gcoiste seo le linn uachtaránacht na hÉireann. I look forward to hearing your views today and to working with this committee during Ireland's presidency. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay, thank you very much, Minister Deen. I am going just now to continue with the round of coordinators. First, you have two minutes each, and first, Herbert Dorfmann from EPP.
Herbert Dorfmann
Thank you, Chair, and welcome, Minister. It's a pleasure to have you here this morning.
Well, you mentioned a very impressive agenda, and indeed, I think this is a very important time for agriculture policy and for European policies as a whole. You spoke rightly about, I think, the central work that we have to do in this moment, and this is the future of the Common Agricultural Policy and of the CMOs. And I don't want to go into details. I think that is not the time, or maybe our rapporteur, Norbert Lins, will do it. But I think, and you mentioned it, the most important question is what means flexibility and what means common.
Because I'm aware that the member states want as much flexibility to be as flexible as possible, but I think we need to find a good balance between flexibility and the common approach in the Common Agricultural Policy. You mentioned the MFF. You said that the ambition of the presidency is to advance as much as possible on the MFF. This means for me that you already lost the confidence that you are able to close. And this is not good news for me, because if you're not able to close, most probably we will know how much money we have for the Common Agricultural Policy by mid or end of next year.
So fundamentally, we will have to decide about the rules of the Common Agricultural Policy without knowing how much money we have.
And this is not, I think, a good solution. So my question is, do you already reflecting about transitional rules? Because if MFF comes too late, how to deal with 2028? So I see it very complicated to come to start the policy at 2028, beginning of 2028. You mentioned simplification.
I think the pillars of sustainability are not three, they are four: it's economic, social, environment, as you mentioned, but also bureaucratic. We need a bureaucratic sustainability of our farms. And in the last years, we spoke a lot about simplification, but we didn't deliver a lot. And I think we need really to deliver in this. And I want to close just a last point: food and feed safety omnibus.
I'm rapporteur on this, and I really hope that we can make a step forward. But to do this, it is necessary that the member states trust each other, that they recognize the work the other member states is doing, because only if we get a more European, simpler, and common approach in Europe, I think we get, we can come to a more, to a better functioning system on, on, on the, on pesticides regulation in Europe. Thank you very much.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay, thank you.
S&D Camilla Laureti, please, Camilla, the floor is yours.
Camilla Laureti
Thank you, I will speak in Italian. Grazie Ministro per la presentazione. Come socialisti e democratici condividiamo alcune delle ambizioni della presidenza irlandese, soprattutto per quello che riguarda la futura PAC. Il primo punto è molto simile a quello che ha appena citato il mio collega Dorfmann e si tratta proprio della flessibilità per gli Stati membri, perché alcune proposte che sono attualmente in discussione rischiano di frammentare quella che dovrebbe essere la natura comune della PAC, che si chiama Politica Agricola Comune proprio per questo. E con una eccessiva discrezionalità nazionale il rischio potrebbe essere poi proprio quello di creare delle condizioni diverse tra gli agricoltori europei, che è quello che nei decenni la PAC ha provato a non fare.
E quindi le chiedo proprio come si può fare per far sì che poi alcune delle regole che sono condivise non vadano, non vengano eliminate. Per noi, per esempio, la condizionalità sociale e la condizionalità ambientale sono due assolutamente presupposti non negoziabili. L'altro punto che avete sottolineato è quello del ricambio generazionale.
Ecco, anche su questo abbiamo visto quanto è difficile. Vi chiedo di dirci meglio anche alcuni degli strumenti che poi davvero possano rendere effettivo il ricambio generazionale. Penso, per esempio, a un capping credibile, veramente ambizioso, altrimenti i fondi continueranno ad andare agli stessi soggetti e per i giovani sarà molto complicato poter entrare nel mondo dell'agricoltura. Oggi in Commissione Agricoltura, ultimo punto, votiamo le modifiche al regolamento sul biologico di cui sono relatrice per il Parlamento. Anche su questo, se può dirci quali sono le vostre priorità.
Grazie.
Veronika Vrecionová
Thank you, Camilla. Patriots, Raffaele Stancanelli, Raffaele please.
Raffaele Stancanelli
Grazie, Presidente. Grazie, Ministro. E grazie alla Presidenza irlandese. Possiamo dire che il suo è un programma ambizioso e apprezzo l'impegno a difendere una PAC comune e adeguatamente finanziata, un obiettivo che condividiamo pienamente.
Da anni però in questa sede si presentano programmi centrati sul sostegno agli agricoltori, ma dai principi agli strumenti concreti la tutela degli agricoltori scivola in secondo piano rispetto a bilancio, governance, priorità ambientali. Le stesse organizzazioni agricole irlandesi, pur sostenendo l'impostazione della Presidenza, chiedono una revisione sostanziale a partire da un bilancio PAC vincolato di almeno 500 miliardi di euro. Se le associazioni del Paese che detiene la Presidenza chiedono correzioni così nette, il malcontento non è locale, è diffuso in tutta Europa. Ho due domande da farle, signor Ministro. Uno: quando si parla di PAC più semplice, a cosa si riferisce?
Semplificazione amministrativa, riorganizzazione della governance attorno a un fondo unico che sposta i rischi lontano da chi lavora la terra? Le stesse organizzazioni irlandesi avvertono dei rischi di un fondo eccessivamente generico. Seconda domanda. Il Ministro ribadisce che la sostenibilità non debba essere punitiva, ma è una posizione che stona con la strategia decennale del suo stesso Paese, Food Vision 2030, con cui l'Irlanda punta a diventare leader globale nei sistemi alimentari sostenibili, collocando esplicitamente la sostenibilità, che è un concetto molto elastico e molto vago, sullo stesso piano di reddito e competitività, impianto che ritroviamo nel programma della Presidenza.
E questa è assolutamente una priorità su cui noi intendiamo insistere. Ci auguriamo che la Presidenza irlandese possa dare un contributo importante in questo senso. Però, Ministro, lei ha parlato di una PAC che deve essere più flessibile, più semplice, più orientata al mercato. Ecco, vorrei chiederle se può essere un po' più preciso su questo punto, perché mi sembra un po' eccessivamente generico. Seconda domanda.
Il Ministro ribadisce che la sostenibilità non debba essere punitiva, ma è una posizione che stona con la strategia decennale del suo stesso Paese, Food Vision 2030, con cui l'Irlanda punta a diventare leader globale nei sistemi alimentari sostenibili, collocando esplicitamente la sostenibilità, che è un concetto molto elastico e molto vago, sullo stesso piano di reddito e competitività, impianto che ritroviamo nel programma della Presidenza. Le misure ambientali restano intanto percepite come eccessivamente onerose, come dimostrano le proteste degli ultimi due anni. Ministro, come concilia l'impegno preso con un impianto che pone sostenibilità e reddito sullo stesso livello? Ed è disposto ad impegnarsi su tempi realistici e compensazioni vere concordate con le organizzazioni agricole?
Carlo Fidanza
E questa è assolutamente una priorità su cui noi intendiamo insistere, ci auguriamo che la presidenza sia garante di questo approccio. È altrettanto importante garantire una finestra specifica per il settore agri-food all'interno del fondo europeo per la competitività. La Commissione ha fatto una proposta importante da questo punto di vista, il Consiglio l'ha sostanzialmente confermata e quindi è importante mantenere dal nostro punto di vista questo stesso approccio. Le risorse della PAC non sono sufficienti per affrontare tantissimi altri temi che hanno un impatto anche agricolo e sull'agroalimentare, dalla gestione delle acque all'innovazione a tutto ciò che è altro rispetto al supporto diretto agli agricoltori.
Tema fertilizzanti, vorrei sapere cosa pensa del piano d'azione presentato dalla Commissione qualche giorno fa. Noi siamo impegnati affinché ai fertilizzanti chimici si unisca il pieno riconoscimento della possibilità di utilizzare fertilizzanti organici come il digestato zootecnico come alternativa europea e sostenibile ai fertilizzanti chimici. E c'è naturalmente tutto il tema che riguarda l'interazione con le normative ambientali, in particolar modo ETS, CBAM, mi piacerebbe sapere che cosa ne pensa. Infine, tema della reciprocità, so che ne avete parlato ieri nel Consiglio Agrifish, che vuol dire certamente una piena applicazione del regolamento Food and Feed, ma vuol dire garantire questo principio di reciprocità in tutti gli accordi di libero scambio e quindi qual è la sua idea in proposito.
Elsi Katainen
Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Minister, for your invitation. You will have a full agenda during your presidency and you have reflected many important issues in your program. I can see a lot of good things like young farmers and farmers' resilience, and the expectations for you are pretty high. We are living in exciting times as Parliament is heading to the negotiations of NRPP and the CAP and other agriculture-related files.
For me as Agri rapporteur on NRPP, it's important to keep a strong and individual CAP in the framework of NRPP legislation. We must find a balance between flexibility and commonality between Member States and EU level. I can be sure that we both can agree how important rural development is. We must ensure the vitality of rural areas and their contribution on the overall security, but also security of supply. So while delivering these parts to the actual legislation, do you see any possible risk on the NRPP framework on commonality, but also the rural development?
And in addition, I was really happy to see bioeconomy strongly reflected in your program. We are currently waiting for the Biotech Act number two, and I would like to ask how does you see, how do you see the possibilities in the Council side this initiatives to be enhanced, especially in the way that it would benefit also our farmers. Thank you.
Thomas Waitz
Thank you, Chair, and welcome, Minister, here in AGRI Committee. I'd like to build on the interventions of my colleagues Dorfmann, Laureti, and Katainen and directly come to the point. I mean, you will be very occupied in also organizing or moderating the Council finding its position when it comes to Common Agriculture Policy. And there I have three very concrete wishes I would like to use the opportunity to share them with you. First is that we need to ensure that there's some limits on payments when it goes to, you know, the bigger farms, so capping.
We have to stop this land grabbing that is happening by pension funds, investment funds, super-rich families, but also partly food industry themselves and retailers themselves. And we have to reallocate that money to real farmers. I would very much wish and ask you to support these proposals that came from the Commission and are supported by many here in the house. And this is also very much related with strengthening the role of farmers in their bargaining power, in their possibility to actually ensure that they get a fair price.
And as we see more and more concentration in the processing industry and in in at the retailers, that bargaining power is rather decreasing is my experience than increasing. And I mean the main question of competitiveness is whether we can get fair producer prices for what we're producing, and that needs bargaining power. And the third one is, I mean across European Union farmers are stressed by climate extremes. No matter whether you're in in I mean today we heard even in Netherlands there is water scarcity. I mean guess what, there's more than more more water, where do you find more water than in Netherlands?
So water, about soils, we need solutions and we need to support farmers to adapt to the climate extremes. And this needs to be coherent and it if you ask me it needs to be 100% financed. It can't depend whether some member states are like to support and co-finance or not. This support for the transition to more resilience agricultural methods, this is something we need across the whole sector. And I would very much ask you to support these these proposals coming from our side and I wish you good luck and a lot of resilience yourself for the negotiations in the next half year.
Luke Ming Flanagan
Um thank you Chair and fáilte a bhuachaillí to this committee.
During the process of pushing together the CAP regulation the last time around we moved at a European level from a minimum of 60% convergence, internal convergence, to 85%. And it was at the discretion of national governments whether they went above and beyond that. And I always remember during the last negotiations the Irish government asked for as much flexibility as possible. It turns out it's a good job they didn't get that much flexibility because Ireland never went above the 85% convergence level, stayed at the minimum. We have only increased at 5% per year from 60% meaning the money flowing to the smaller farmers is doing it at the slowest rate possible.
Why did we not go at a faster rate and why haven't we gone to 100% convergence? On the complementary redistributive income mechanism, the CRISS mechanism, we could at a minimum do 10% which meant that small-scale farmers would end up getting more money. We only did the minimum. We could have went further. Why didn't we go further?
But what it does do is it gives us an insight into where you will go in the future when deciding the current CAP, in particular to those that are most in need, those on marginal lands, those on designated lands.
Who do you define as most in need at an Irish level and at a European level? It suggests from what you've done previously that it's those that already have plenty. We have seen a reduction in real terms in the CAP budget by 64% since 1999, so now we need to spend that money better than ever if there isn't going to be any more money. When it comes to administrative burdens, and I've often heard Europe being blamed for this. Well, if you talk to the European Commission, and when it comes to Pillar 2 payments and the ACRES scheme, they tell us we have the most complicated environmental scheme in the whole of Europe.
So when it comes to simplification, if you're not willing to do it at home, and believe me, I think some things need to be complicated because some things are complex. But is it not the case then when it comes to complication and not simplification, that it is in fact Ireland that is causing this problem? Some MEPs on this committee like to blame Europe, but I think if you're going to solve a problem, you need to know where the problem lies, and it lies at home.
Veronika Vrecionová
Thank you, and the last coordinator is Ivan David, please, Ivan.
Ivan David
Vážený pane ministře, já mám pouze tři otázky. První otázka je, jak chcete přispět k tomu, aby maloobchodní řetězce, které ovládají vnitřní trh prakticky v celé Evropské unii, nedávaly přednost produkci dovezené z třetích zemí a aby se zvýšil podíl domácí produkce na trhu. Za druhé, jak chcete konkrétně dosáhnout snížení administrativní zátěže pro zemědělce, protože o tom se vytrvale mluví velmi hezky a velmi dlouho a nepozorujeme žádné zlepšení. A za třetí, jak chcete snížit zátěž pro zemědělce, jakou představují rostoucí náklady na prakticky všechny vstupy do zemědělské výroby. Děkuji.
Thank you very much, and now I would like to ask again Minister for ten minutes his replies or remarks. Thank you.
Martin Heydon
Thank you, Chair, and thank you, colleagues, for the wide range and in-depth questions, which I will try to summarize in my response.
First, Herbert, thank you for the detailed questions. The challenge around the balance between flexibility and commonality I think is something we all have to grapple with. Obviously, colleagues on Council have in many instances asked for that flexibility to recognize that we don't farm the same way in every member state. And there are regional and local complexities to how we operate, and that some flexibility in having how rules are applied is important for ministers to be able to design schemes that best suit the system. The balance we have to strike is to not undermine the strength of being part of a common market.
All of our farmers all across the EU have benefited from being part of a common market. And that is a balance we have to get right, but I believe we can strike that balance, and it's a discussion I look forward to facilitating on the Council. In terms of your questions around the multiannual financial framework and advance as far as possible, which you took to me to be a negative, it's not. Ireland's presidency does not lack ambition in making really significant progress on the MFF. I just don't control it as President of the AgriFish Council.
So when I talk about a partial general approach, that's within my gift working with colleagues on the Council. What EU Council and others agree on the MFF will decide whether I can deal with the bracketed items or not. And that is something that, you know, Ireland's presidency overall is ambitious to progress significantly in that regard. You added in a fourth element of sustainability, which ruins my analogy of a three-legged stool because I always talk about sustainability in all those forms, but you mentioned bureaucratic as well. And I suppose simplification is something that a number of colleagues have raised here today.
And myself and other ministers for agriculture on the Council will not be the first ministers for agriculture to have promised our farmers simplification.
And it's fair to say our farmers would feel when other previous ministers in previous administrations and previous politicians promised it, they got the opposite. And sometimes that complexity is for good reason, but there is measures that can be taken around simplification that can make a very significant difference in terms of a number of measures that I will go through in a little while. MEP Laureti, thank you for your comments. Grazie. You know, the shared rules around the social and environmental conditionality being non-negotiable, I take on board in terms of the points you make there.
We share an ambition around generational renewal and Commissioner Hansen has outlined very significant ambition in this space. I think it's fair to say across member states there is an equally shared ambition in this space. The average age of the European farmer is too high for us to innovate, for us to adopt the new measures that will help our environment as well as innovation in food production and strengthening our incomes. We need that stable supply of young people. But it does come back as well, you know, MEP Stancanelli, thank you for your comments.
But that sense that when I talked about sustainability, that the environmental sustainability was burdensome, how do we hope to achieve the balancing of them all? You obviously feel that the environmental sustainability must come first and everything second to that.
I don't lack ambition for environmental sustainability when I talk about the three elements need to be balanced. I recognize the fact that farmers can't go green environmentally if they're in the red financially. And if our farmers can't make money and leave the land, then who are the custodians to deliver the environmental sustainability that our land can deliver for us? Farmers are part of the solution. But for them to be able to deliver that environmental sustainability, they have to have a sustainable income for them and their families.
And that third element of social sustainability is critically important for all of us in our member states to have balanced region development, to have thriving rural and coastal communities. So from my perspective, I see this as enabling delivery on environmental sustainability by building resilience in our income system. And farmers are very resilient.
I'm an active farmer myself still at home, obviously part-time at present, but with a very supportive family. But the truth is I know, I see it daily among my neighbors, among farmers all across Ireland and all across Europe, are extremely innovative and with the right tools and supports they can deliver on all the elements of sustainability that is the right way forward. MEP Fidanza, thank you very much for the points around the CAP resources not being enough. The MFF as I say is something I've touched on there earlier. The organic and sorry, the fertilizer plan is something that we voted on at Council yesterday and will be on the agenda again in the autumn.
And it is a very quick response by the Commission to support our farmers with the energy shocks as a result of the conflict in the Straits of Hormuz and how that plays out is something we watch very closely, but we'll continue to monitor that and work through the fertilizer action plan at Council level. Elsi, great to see you again and thank you for your comments around young farmers and the high expectations of the Irish presidency, no pressure. As rapporteur for the NRPP, you have a big responsibility as well and you talked about that balance between flexibility and commonality.
Do I see any risk on the NRPP framework? No, I, you know, we have to deal with what we have to deal with. I am satisfied that we've got a number of key measures into the CAP regulation that I think it's important that Council and agriculture ministers get to have a key focus on. You mentioned the bioeconomy. And the bioeconomy, as I said earlier, will be a key focus of our presidency.
We will hold a global bioeconomy summit in Dublin in October that I hope you can make. And in terms of the Biotech Act, you know, we look forward to the proposal. The bioeconomy is hugely important, obviously. And the proposal in the Act, which aims to remove the bottlenecks and streamline permitting and scale up domestic production, is important. So we look forward to seeing that come in as well and it is positive.
On the organics piece, this is, you know, hugely important. Yeah. So a number of people obviously raised the organics proposal, including the rapporteur on that, MEP Laureti.
And there is a time pressure here on this. So I look forward, I know the Parliament is hoping to reach agreement on this in September, and we stand ready then to engage immediately as soon as that happens. And that is very important. The target amendments to the regulation are needed before the 31st of December, as we know, to avoid disruptions in trade due to the expiry of third countries' equivalency standards and to provide certainty to the organic sector in the Union, as consumer demand continues to grow both internally and externally as well. MEP Waitz questioned around CAP and strengthening the role of farming and the fair price.
So, you know, this to me is also linked to sustainability, to income. Not everything that delivers the income for farmers can come from the Common Agricultural Policy. It's that fair price. Every farmer would prefer to get a fair price for their product than just be getting the direct single payment and supports from the Common Agricultural Policy.
But the Common Agricultural Policy is a key element of that. But also as part of an answer on that point is, you know, unfair trading practices and strengthening the role, the relationship between the primary producer, the processor, and the retailer. And obviously the review of the unfair trading practice directive published by the Commission earlier this year is also very welcome. And while the review only covers a limited period of time, it assists us in providing a window into how effective the directive has been in protecting the more vulnerable agri-food businesses since it was enacted. And obviously that impacts primary producers directly as well.
Yes. So, sorry. Okay, I'm almost out of time. Luke Ming, good to see you. I think we can discuss all the Irish domestic stuff at home.
I have my presidency hat on here today. There's lots of things I'd like to debate on the points you raised, but I will remain the honest broker here today looking at all things European. Well, I didn't really hear a question.
I heard a few assertions about our domestic approach to elements. But I can say in terms of an agri-environmental scheme, you know, moving to a results-based system has many great benefits for the environment, for biodiversity and beyond. And it was a very big change for our farmers who have embraced it. 55,000 farmers put their hand up to join our ACRES agri-environmental scheme, and they were proud to do that. MEP David, you know, the retailer chains and the challenges there.
Look, lowering the burden on farmers, input costs rising. You look at the likes of the interventions on the fertilizer action plan is really important. And we have to work together to design a CAP regulatory framework that knows member states to achieve these objectives. So from that perspective, look, these are all key elements that our presidency... sorry, I'm going over my time now, I recognize, but key elements that we look to progress.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay. Are you in the end, Minister? Is your... okay, thank you. I wasn't sure. Thank you very much.
Thank you for all your answers. And now I would like to open... no, look, please, it's not discussion now.
I'm sorry. Please, can I ask you to stop it? I give you floor in the catch-the-eye. So let's start with catch-the-eye, and I would like to ask all speakers please be to be as brief as possible. You have really one minute each because we have here very, very long list.
So first, Madame Grapini, please.
Maria Grapini
Mulțumesc, doamnă președintă. Domnule ministru, primul lucru vă doresc succes și am să plec de la ce ați spus dumneavoastră: nu avem putere fără unitate. Prima întrebare: considerați că există unitate între Consiliu, Comisie și comisia noastră pe agricultură? Pentru că eu am foarte multe exemple în care vă pot spune că nu există. Unul dintre ele este plăți întârziate, blocate la Consiliu, care afectează și pe agricultori.
Al doilea lucru: ați vorbit de viitorul CFM. Șase luni sunt șase luni, nu puteți să faceți foarte multe. Dar ce părere aveți legat de noua formulă a CFM-ului în care politica agricolă comună de fapt e băgată la grămadă într-un coș comun? Ce... ce putem noi crede că ajung la fermieri banii sau nu? A treia problemă: ați folosit piața unică.
Eu sunt de trei mandate și tot spun că n-avem piață unică.
Vreau părerea dumneavoastră. Putem să numim din punct de vedere al agriculturii piață unică când fermierii mei din România au subvenție de trei-patru ori mai mică decât fermierii din alt stat membru, când fermierii din România folosesc pesticide de cinci ori mai puțin decât cei din Olanda, de exemplu? Avem piață unică? Și ultima întrebare: ați spus că aveți ambiții. E foarte bine.
Ce procent dați că veți putea realiza din ceea ce v-ați propus? Mulțumesc.
Esther Herranz García
Muchísimas gracias, señora presidente. Le voy a preguntar, señor ministro, por los productos de calidad y la promoción. Pero para el presupuesto 2027 hay un recorte enorme para este programa. Los productos simples se van a recortar el presupuesto un 8%. Y lo que es peor, en los programas múltiples un 50%.
Esto choca directamente con el aumento que en 2025 anunció la Comisión Europea para este programa de promoción de alimentos de calidad europeos, porque dijo de él que era, y es cierto, un programa estratégico, que la promoción juega un papel fundamental en la promoción de la industria agroalimentaria europea y que era una prioridad. Me consta que nuestros coordinadores van a debatirlo este mismo mediodía. Le quiero preguntar: ¿cómo ve el Consejo, cómo ve usted como presidente del Consejo de Agricultura este recorte?
¿No es más lógico, como quiere seguramente este Parlamento decir, que se aumente, que se devuelva ese presupuesto? Muchas gracias.
Norbert Lins
Sorry, dass die irische Ratspräsidentschaft die GAP und die Landwirtschaft ganz oben auf die Agenda der Präsidentschaft gesetzt hat. Ich glaube, es ist ganz wichtig, dass wir uns in den nächsten Monaten mal klar machen, wo wir eigentlich hinwollen mit dieser gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik. Für mich war der wichtigste und bedeutendste Kommissar der letzten Jahrzehnte Franz Fischler. Der hatte eine Vision, damals hat man die Agenda 2000 entwickelt mit den Direktzahlungen, mehr Weltmarktfähigkeit der europäischen Landwirtschaft, eben auch die ländliche Entwicklung, auch Agrarumweltmaßnahmen ins Werk gesetzt. Also ich frage mich, haben wir noch eine Vision für eine gemeinsame europäische Agrarpolitik?
Sehen wir Landwirtschaft und ländliche Entwicklung noch integriert in dieser Politik oder gestalten wir eigentlich nur noch die Abwicklung? Mir geht es darum, dass wir uns da mal klar werden im Rat und im Parlament.
Der Kommissionsvorschlag ist leider nicht sonderlich geeignet dafür, um eine Vision zu sehen. Ich glaube, dass wir dringend dafür mehr Zeit brauchen. Für meinen Bericht gab es jetzt 3300 Änderungsanträge. Ich glaube, wir brauchen dringend eine Übergangsregelung, um uns dann klar zu werden, ob wir noch eine Vision für eine gemeinsame Agrarpolitik haben.
Asger Christensen
Tak for det, og på dansk. Jeg har meget, meget stor respekt for irsk landbrug og deres landbrugspolitik. Tre nedslag på det emne, den kommende landbrugsreform, støtteloftet, hvad ser irerne på det? Du nævnte dyretransport, du vil have den klar inden 1. januar. Det bliver en meget, meget stor opgave, kan jeg sige.
Og så fødevaresikkerhed i det hele inkorporeret. Hvordan ser det irske formandskab på fødevaresikkerhed generelt i Europa? Tak.
Gilles Pennelle
Oui, merci Monsieur le Ministre, j'ai bien pris note de votre volonté de préserver un budget de la PAC suffisant.
Mais la présidence irlandaise et vous êtes favorables à l'élargissement de l'Union européenne et particulièrement l'élargissement à l'Ukraine. Alors deux questions. Comment peut-on concilier une volonté de préserver une PAC suffisante, d'ailleurs aujourd'hui menacée par la Commission européenne et la volonté allemande, et accepter dans le même temps l'adhésion de l'Ukraine qui capterait une grande partie des subventions de la PAC ? Et comment peut-on concilier la volonté de préserver une concurrence équitable entre les pays membres et dans le même temps faire rentrer un pays où le salaire moyen est de 200 euros par mois, où des exploitations agricoles, où ses exploitations agricoles sont gigantesques, plusieurs dizaines de milliers d'hectares souvent, les terres les plus fertiles au monde et un pays qui peine encore à se défaire de la corruption ?
Barry Cowen
Go raibh maith agat. Inis dom, tá fáilte romhat chuig an gcoiste seo agus guím gach rath ort freisin i do ról mar chathaoirleach na Comhairle Eorpaí. The role will be one of achieving compromise, I know, and some more interesting political points scoring may lament the fact that Ireland must be and is committed to being an honest broker during the negotiations to come. Frankly, I'm not sure what to see as the alternative, a dishonest broker certainly wouldn't benefit Europe or Ireland either.
My primary goal as Renew Europe's CAP negotiator and MEP focused on protecting the CAP and funding for farmers is bridging the proposed 20% CAP budget itself. I've put forward proposals on how this, how we might meet that shortfall in relation to the 45 billion mid-term reserve fund secured through Mercosur and the 48 billion earmarked for rural development. How does the presidency see discussions evolving in relation to those issues? Secondly, in relation to the modernization we've seen over the last number of years in farming throughout Europe, the next phase of progress must come through technology and innovation. And we hear talk about competitiveness and the innovation funds potentially supporting the future of agriculture.
So I want to ask you directly, is the presidency making the case that agriculture should be a central beneficiary of those funds, particularly member states who may not view agriculture as part of Europe's competitive agenda? And where funding is secured, how do we ensure that it reaches the sectors where it's needed most? Thank you, Chair.
Tomáš Kubín
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'll speak in Czech language. Pane ministře, dobrý den, tady jsem. Tady. Tady vás vidím.
Irské předsednictví přebírá agendu v oblasti zemědělství mimo jiné jen několik dní poté, co Komise zveřejnila svou strategii pro chov hospodářských zvířat a hlavně ten akční plán pro bílkoviny, který jste zmínil ve vašem úvodním projevu. Cílem je do roku 2035 zvýšit podíl bílkovin produkovaných v EU z 25 na 35 %. V současné době se ty bílkoviny dovážejí především ve formě sóji, k produkci se vůbec nevyužívá zemědělská půda v EU. Nahrazení sóji hrachem a fazolemi a tak dále, pěstovanými v Evropě, znamená najít skutečně zemědělskou půdu v rámci EU, kde by se tyto plodiny mohly pěstovat. Kromě toho ty plodiny poskytují nižší výnos bílkovin na hektar než sója, ale to není podstatné.
A jelikož se počet kusů hospodářských zvířat nesnižuje, což je správné, tak je třeba nahradit ten celý objem. Máte odhad, kolik zemědělské půdy to bude vyžadovat? Máte názor na to, odkud by měla pocházet? A především, plán nenavrhuje žádný nový rozpočet pro zemědělce na přechod na tyto plodiny, pouze stávající prostředky ze společné zemědělské politiky.
Bert-Jan Ruissen
Dank u wel, voorzitter. Meneer de minister, ik wil nog even doorgaan op wat u zojuist heeft aangegeven met betrekking tot de meststoffenstrategie.
Ook gisteren hebben we hier in het parlement een hearing gehad over de meststoffenstrategie en over de hoge prijzen rondom meststoffen. En één punt wat daar boven kwam drijven was het feit dat diverse experts ook aangaven dat de nitraatrichtlijn zwaar verouderd is en dat de nitraatrichtlijn echt herzien moet worden. Mijn vraag aan u is, meneer de minister, mijn vraag aan u is: bent u bereid om het parlement hierin te steunen, want ook het Europees Parlement, het Europees Parlement heeft uitgesproken dat wij een herziening willen zien van de nitraatrichtlijn. En we hebben op dat punt echt de hulp nodig van de Raad. Bent u bereid om ook bij de Commissie aan te dringen op herzieningsvoorstellen met betrekking tot de nitraatrichtlijn?
Dat is echt nodig om het circulair gebruik van dierlijke mest om dat te bevorderen, omdat je nu gewoon te maken hebt met situaties dat boeren zich verplicht zien om dierlijke mest af te voeren en vervolgens moeten ze hele dure kunstmest aanschaffen ter compensatie. Er is echt dus behoefte aan een herziening van de nitraatrichtlijn. Ik dring aan op steun vanuit de Raad op dat punt.
Ciaran Mullooly
Thank you, Chair, and you're welcome, Minister. Wish you well. You've busy, busy days ahead, and you know the concerns within the farming community and rural community about dropping incomes. You've seen the farmers on the streets of Ireland since we had 20,000 out to protest against Mercosur on the 10th of January. On negotiations, I'll be there with you on the organics production and labelling one.
Hopefully before Christmas we will get it done. We've looked for agreement particularly in the area of labelling to ensure we have unambiguous, large, and legible labelling on country of origin. Would you agree with me that that is necessary for all food, not just organics? On CAP, can I ask you, do you accept or reject proposals that would make active farmers ineligible for CAP payments simply because they have reached the state pension age? Would you, will your government use that flexibility you have in the next CAP to increase Ireland's national exchequer contribution above the current minimum and choose the maximum support level for Irish farmers, particularly in the context of generational renewal?
And on that Mercosur issue, we now know that despite the efforts to implement the Mercosur deal provisionally, Brazilian beef is not safe. It's not on the safe list. On the 3rd of September, there's another deadline. Would you agree with Patrick Wall, the former chairman of the European Food Authority, that it's not possible scientifically or practically for the Brazilian industry to meet that deadline now?
Thank you. Vice-Chair Sergiu Coma, please, Sergiu.
Eric Sargiacomo
Merci, Madame la Présidente.
Monsieur le Ministre, c'est un plaisir d'échanger de nouveau avec vous. Je sais l'importance de la présidence irlandaise en matière agricole et les mots que vous avez eus le confirment. En tant que rapporteur du règlement organisation commune de marché, je me réjouis des objectifs ambitieux que vous avez fixés en la matière. Mais vous savez que le règlement OCM est sous un certain nombre de conditions, en particulier celle du cofinancement des États dans la proposition de la Commission qui nous pose un vrai problème. Monsieur Hayden, je ne doute pas que vous saurez faire preuve d'ouverture au-delà du périmètre initial proposé par la Commission et pour conclure une approche générale ambitieuse parce qu'il nous faut cette approche générale avant la fin de votre présidence.
En particulier en matière de gestion des risques, gestion des crises, de stockage stratégique alimentaire, de renforcement du pouvoir de négociation des organisations de producteurs, en particulier pour un secteur qui vous est cher pour votre pays, le secteur laitier, mais pas que pour l'Irlande.
Et forcément, je reste à votre disposition pour échanger à nouveau et continuer à converger avec le Parlement pour le règlement OCM et pour le reste de la PAC. Merci.
André Franqueira Rodrigues
Obrigado, presidente. Senhor ministro, a Irlanda e o meu país, Portugal, e em particular os Açores, sabem bem a importância da produção de leite para as economias rurais, para as explorações familiares e para a produção alimentar. Por toda a Europa, os produtores de leite enfrentam uma pressão crescente. Os preços pagos à produção continuam baixos, enquanto os custos de alimentação animal, dos fertilizantes, da energia e da mão de obra continuam a pesar fortemente nos rendimentos das explorações. Ao mesmo tempo, o ofertado, o aumento da oferta mundial de leite limita as perspetivas de uma recuperação significativa dos preços.
Ora, esta combinação está a exercer uma pressão crescente sobre a liquidez, a capacidade de investimento e até mesmo a viabilidade futura das explorações. Por isso, gostaria de lhe perguntar que medidas concretas pretende a presidência irlandesa promover para garantir uma resposta europeia mais eficaz à atual pressão de mercado. Muito obrigado.
Maria Walsh
Thank you, Chair, and welcome, Minister. I was particularly pleased to hear that generation renewal is one of our, our country's priorities.
This could not come at a more important time. Yesterday here in the AGRI Committee, we had an exchange of views on generational renewal, and there was broad consensus in support on ring-fencing 10% of the CAP for young farmers. As the Parliament's rapporteur on generational renewal and as an Irish MEP myself, I will be looking to the Irish presidency to help secure an ambitious, ring-fenced, binding measures to support our young farmers in the next CAP. I also want to commend you for placing a spotlight on women in farming, not just in this government, but also in our previous one. 2026, as you mentioned, is the International Year for Women Farmers, and our commitment in women in agriculture must go beyond a symbolic year.
Women's contribution to farming is still often too under-recognized and unsupported. And if we are to really face the ambition they need, we also need to see binding measures included in the next CAP. And ultimately, from my side, young farmers and women deserve to be a key pillar in the next CAP. And if we're driving a EU competitive advantage, I hope our presidency delivers on that. Thank you.
Daniel Buda
Domnule ministru, sunt unul dintre raportorii pentru dosarul privind transportul animalelor. Evident că este un dosar foarte sensibil, foarte complex.
În același timp, însă, cred că este foarte important ca ceea ce se scrie în acest dosar să poată fi implementat în mod adecvat de către fermieri și de către transportatori. Aș vrea acum să mă refer la o problemă care devine un cartof fierbinte pentru Uniunea Europeană, legată de evoluția unor boli în zona șeptelului. Și în România, în momentul de față, avem un blocaj de export de animale vii către țările terțe pentru oi și capre, având în vedere că evoluează pesta micilor rumegătoare. Nici aici nu fermierii sunt de vină de apariția acestei boli. Nu avem o, să spun așa, care este etiologia acestei boli.
Însă fermierii suferă urmarea acestei interdicții și se pune întrebarea ce este de făcut. Pentru că dacă se vaccinează tot efectivul, din câte am înțeles, nu se mai pot face exporturi de carcase și de produse lactate, chiar dacă aceste chestiuni nu sunt periculoase pentru sănătatea omului. Și subliniez acest lucru: nu reprezintă niciun risc pentru sănătatea omului. Și atunci se pune întrebarea: ce vor face acești fermieri? Unde vor vinde?
Pentru că este în regulă, avem o strategie privind zootehnia, dar dacă avem astfel de situații și astfel de blocaje, care sunt soluțiile pentru fermieri? Pentru că ei se uită la noi, merg acasă și mă întreabă: ce facem cu oile? Oile nu sunt niște mașini pe care să le punem într-un niște garaje să așteptăm vremuri mai bune.
Avem nevoie de un răspuns ferm din partea Comisiei Europene.
Thank you. Colleague Arnatoglou.
Sakis Arnaoutoglou
Καταρχάς να σας ευχαριστήσω για την παρουσία σας σήμερα και να σας ευχηθώ καλή επιτυχία στην Ιρλανδική Προεδρία. Θέλω να υπογραμμίσω αρχικά τρία σημεία. Πρώτον, η νέα ΚΑΠ πρέπει να στηρίζει αυτούς που πραγματικά παράγουν και όχι απλώς τις εκτάσεις. Δεύτερον, η ανανέωση των γενεών απαιτεί πραγματικές ευκαιρίες και η Ευρώπη πρέπει να δώσει όχι μόνο το δικαίωμα να μείνεις, αλλά και το δικαίωμα να επιστρέψεις στην ύπαιθρο χωρίς αδικαιολόγητους ηλικιακούς αποκλεισμούς. Και τρίτον, απέναντι στην κλιματική κρίση, η διαχείριση του νερού πρέπει να αποτελέσει κορυφαία ευρωπαϊκή προτεραιότητα.
Έρχομαι όμως τώρα στην ερώτηση, την οποία συνεχίζω από έναν νομίζω συνάδελφο από την Ιρλανδία και έχει να κάνει με τη Mercosur. Τον περασμένο Ιανουάριο, η Ιρλανδία δεν ήταν και τόσο σύμφωνη με τις αποφάσεις για την υπογραφή των συμφωνιών Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και Mercosur. Ο ίδιος ο Ιρλανδός Πρωθυπουργός δήλωσε μάλιστα επίσημα ότι οι πρόσθετες εγγυήσεις δεν ήταν αρκετές για να απαντήσουν στις ανησυχίες των αγροτών και των καταναλωτών. Παραμένετε, κύριε Υπουργέ, σε αυτή τη θέση; Και αν ναι, ποια συγκεκριμένη πρωτοβουλία θα αναλάβετε ως Προεδρία για την προστασία και των Ελλήνων παραγωγών, αγροτών και καταναλωτών που έχουν ακριβώς, μη σας πω και μεγαλύτερες, δικαιολογημένες ανησυχίες;
Σας ευχαριστώ.
Maria Noichl
Ganz herzlichen Dank, Herr Minister, schön, dass Sie Zeit für uns haben und dass Sie auch wirklich so klar deutlich machen, dass Agrarpolitik für Sie ein Schwerpunkt ist für die Ratspräsidentschaft. Mir liegt ein Punkt ganz besonders am Herzen. Sie wissen, dass wir ab 2025 verpflichtend die soziale Konditionalität innerhalb der GAP haben. Das bedeutet, dass zum ersten Mal seit über 60 Jahren es nicht nur eine Verbindung gibt, wie muss ich mit meinen Tieren, wie muss ich mit meinem Boden umgehen, sondern das erste Mal innerhalb der Agrarpolitik die Verbindung hergestellt wird, dass es eine Verantwortung auch den Mitarbeiter und Mitarbeiterinnen gegenüber gibt. Und zwar eine Grundverantwortung.
Hier geht es nicht um komische Gesetze, sondern es geht um Grundgesetze, den Mitarbeiter und Mitarbeiterinnen gegenüber innerhalb der Landwirtschaft. Einfach nur mal von der Zahl her, wir haben ungefähr fifty-fifty in Europa. 50 % der Menschen, die in der Landwirtschaft arbeiten, sind eher die Eigentümer in der Landwirtschaft, aber 50 % der Menschen, die in der Landwirtschaft arbeiten, sind die Arbeitnehmer. Das müssen wir sehen, dass das wirklich auch im Fokus ist. Ich würde mir wünschen, dass Ihre Ratspräsidentschaft die soziale Konditionalität vom Wesen her unterstützt und unbedingt dafür sorgt, dass sie auch in der nächsten GAP ihren Platz findet.
Denn es ist wichtig, dass wir deutlich machen, dass Steuergelder dafür ausgegeben werden, dass die Landwirte unterstützt werden, die in besonderer Sorgfalt mit der Umwelt, mit den Tieren und natürlich mit den Menschen umgehen. Ganz herzlichen Dank.
Paulo do Nascimento Cabral
Thank you, Paulo do Nascimento Cabral. Obrigado, senhor presidente, senhor ministro, é um gosto voltar a vê-lo e obrigado por estar aqui e por colocar a agricultura num ponto tão central daquele que é o seu programa da presidência irlandesa. E desejo as maiores felicidades para cumprir com tudo o que está escrito. Apresenta algumas ideias muito interessantes, já falamos aqui da questão da pecuária, que é tão importante ao membro para a região de onde venho, os Açores, mas também a bioeconomia, a circularidade, a renovação geracional. E eu acrescentaria também o agrivoltaico, que é essencial para nós diversificarmos as fontes de rendimento dos nossos agricultores.
A questão da aposta na simplificação e termos aqui medidas equitativas para as questões relacionadas com o comércio são também essenciais. Mas deixava-lhe aqui três questões principais. Primeiro, como refere que a CAP deve refletir as realidades regionais e as necessidades setoriais, em que contexto é que está aqui a referência às regiões ultraperiféricas, desde logo ao programa POSEI agricultura, que é tão importante para nós. Segundo, como vê a complementaridade da CAP com o fundo da competitividade. Terceiro, a aposta nos três pilares da sustentabilidade, económica, ambiental e social é essencial, mas ao mesmo tempo também precisamos de ter aqui, eu diria, o segundo pilar da CAP, neste caso o desenvolvimento rural.
Como é que encara aqui o desenvolvimento rural em conjugação com o desenvolvimento regional tão importante para o setor agrícola? Muito obrigado.
Thank you. Anja Hazekamp.
Anja Hazekamp
Minister, 50.508 kalfjes zijn er alleen al in de afgelopen vier maanden van dit jaar op helstransport gezet van Ierland naar Nederland. En daarmee is Nederland de grootste importeur van Ierse kalfjes. Dieren van een paar weken oud, baby's die nog afhankelijk zijn van moedermelk, moeten 50 tot 80 uur reizen en krijgen tot 24 uur lang geen drinken. Dit is in strijd met de huidige wetgeving. Ik heb deze transporten verschillende malen met eigen ogen gezien en ik kan u vertellen dat het het daglicht niet kan verdragen.
Als Ierse landbouwminister bent u mede verantwoordelijk voor deze afschuwelijke transporten. Ierland kan er als EU-voorzitter ook voor zorgen dat er eindelijk nieuwe regels voor diertransporten komen. Ik doe vanuit Nederland een beroep op u: ga het wetsvoorstel niet verder afzwakken. Dieren die nog afhankelijk zijn van moedermelk horen moederziel alleen thuis op kalvermarkten, in een vrachtwagen, op zee of in een kalvermesterij. Dank u wel.
Tilly Metz
Thank you very much and thank you for being here with us, dear Mr. Hayden. With last week's publication of the EU livestock strategy and the ongoing negotiation on the animal transport file, the Irish presidency comes at a crucial moment for the future of animal welfare in Europe. So my questions are exactly on that topic, on animal welfare. First of all, from what I understood, Ireland is aiming to conclude the animal transport negotiation. Can you explain how you will integrate new elements from the livestock strategy here, namely the attempts to look at alternatives to exporting animals to slaughter and the roadmap to improve the slaughterhouse network?
Tilly Metz
My second question is on the CAP. How will the Irish presidency ensure that CAP funding supports the transition towards the higher animal welfare system envisaged in the livestock strategy, rather than financing infrastructure that could soon become obsolete under future legislation? And last but not least, I would like to know how the Council ensures that species other than poultry and pigs are not left behind and that the Commission presents a clear roadmap for the modernization of animal welfare legislation across all farm species. And will you make sure the indicated timelines are respected?
Thank you and all the best for the upcoming months.
Céline Imart
Merci présidente, monsieur le ministre irlandais, votre présidence intervient à un moment charnière pour nos agriculteurs qui affrontent une accumulation de difficultés, concurrence déloyale, explosion du coût des intrants, multiplication des crises sanitaires et impasse face à la propagation des maladies animales. Et mille-feuille normatif indigeste qui éloigne nos producteurs d'une mission simple qui est celle de produire. I'm here. Donc concernant justement la simplification, je ne relayerai pas les préoccupations budgétaires déjà largement exprimées par mes collègues, mais sur la simplification, j'ai trois questions sur trois dossiers précis. D'abord, vous avez affiché votre ambition d'arriver à un accord sur l'omnibus sécurité alimentaire, auriez-vous la gentillesse de nous préciser votre méthode et vos priorités sur ce dossier?
Ensuite, sur la directive émissions industrielles, la directive IED, je tiens à rappeler que notre position est assez largement partagée sur le fait qu'on ne peut pas considérer des unités de production de porcs ou de volailles comme des cheminées d'usine et que nous souhaitons d'urgence minimiser l'impact ou exclure l'agriculture et l'élevage du champ de cette application.
Comment comptez-vous vous engager sur ce dossier? Troisième et dernière question sur le règlement de performance. Il est des principes comme le DNSH ou les principes d'égalité des genres qui ne me semblent absolument pas correspondre à la réalité des exploitations agricoles. Pourriez-vous vous engager à faire tout votre possible pour que l'agriculture échappe à ce règlement de performance? Merci.
Mireia Borrás Pabón
Sí, gracias, presidenta. Gracias también, señor Heidon, por su intervención y lo primero de todo quiero desearle muchísima suerte en su mandato porque su suerte será desde luego la de todos nuestros agricultores. Y como tengo muy poco tiempo, pues quiero centrarme exclusivamente en dos puntos que creo que son los principales y que más pueden preocupar a nuestros agricultores dentro de la enorme marea de problemas que le ha puesto esta Comisión a nuestros agricultores y ganaderos. En primer lugar, la Comisión, como sabe, ha decidido diluir la PAC en un fondo único dentro de los planes nacionales, con menos dinero, más burocracia y una política agraria convertida básicamente en una moneda de cambio de 27 agendas nacionales.
Vamos, un desmantelamiento de la PAC en toda regla. Este Parlamento ya fijó su posición. Queremos una PAC blindada con partida propia de 385.000 millones frente a los 300.000 que propone la Comisión y que el Consejo hasta hoy ha negociado sobre esa cifra sin prácticamente cuestionarla. Por eso yo le pregunto claramente: el 15 de octubre, en el Consejo Europeo, esa caja será suya, ministro de Irlanda. ¿Qué cifra va a poner Irlanda sobre la mesa para la PAC?
¿Va a defender Irlanda una PAC blindada y con dos pilares o va a validar el fondo único de la señora von der Leyen? Y en segundo lugar, Mercosur. Valoramos, por supuesto, la coherencia de Irlanda de negarse a esta traición a nuestros agricultores. Mi pregunta es: ¿va a poner su presidencia sobre la mesa cláusulas espejo y preferencia comunitaria, sí o no y cuándo? Muchas gracias.
Veronika Vrecionová
Okay, thank you. And Luke Flanagan, Luke, you have just really one minute, please.
Okay.
Thanks.
You have just one minute, please.
Luke Ming Flanagan
Yeah, the question that I asked the minister, and you took it up as some sort of a local question, was in relation... the best way to try and work out what someone might do in the future, I would say, is to look at what they've done in the past.
And one of the big things in the new proposals, deciding who gets the limited money that's available, is those most in need. And I'm wondering who you would define as most in need. And the evidence from the past suggests that the most in need don't actually get what they should in Ireland. And I'm wondering is that going to be your attitude in the future? Who would you define as the most in need?
And if you have a problem with me giving national examples from Ireland, not a lot I can do about that. I'm from Ireland, I'm proud of it. I can't give you examples from France, maybe my colleagues here can give you examples, but I didn't expect that a minister from Ireland would be offended that I gave examples from Ireland. So how will you define most in need? Will it be different from the last time, giving to those that aren't in need?
Who will be the most in need? Thank you.
Veronika Vrecionová
No, Luke, please, just, please, thank you very much. So, dear minister, it's again your time now, and please, we ask you for your replies and answers. Thank you.
Martin Heydon
Many thanks.
I'm going to go back and try and go in order, or I will lose where I was. So, I think we change over with MEP Grapini, I believe. So we'll start there and work our way through, and if I've missed any, let me know. Yes, you talked about a unity, the Council, Commission, and Parliament around the late payments, the new MFF, and the role of the MFF. So, you know, how do we believe the policies can reach our farmers is what we all have to work towards in that targeted way.
And I think a number of the questions have done this in terms of identifying whatever resources we have, whether we get more money into the pot than there is currently committed to or not. There will be so many competing demands, whether it's generation renewal, whether it's the environment, whether it's supplementing farmers' income to make sure their farms are viable. These things all matter and getting balanced regional development. So, I suppose to answer Ming's point, and I'll come to that at the end, you know, there are many needs across all of our farming systems. And there's many needs in terms of all of the priorities we want the CAP to deliver on.
And we are very ambitious as European Union and as member states for the CAP to deliver a lot because it historically has. I think it's important to reflect that the EU as a peace project, which is what it was originally, there's a reason CAP has been at its heart for 65 years because there is no greater cause of conflict in the world than hunger. We saw that with the Arab Spring, we've seen so many examples of that in the past. So as new priorities develop across all the different demands on the budget, my point would be here food security is not something that should ever be taken for granted. And where in some ways that debate can become more spending on defense because of huge threats to member states and to the EU as a whole from neighboring countries or food and agriculture, I don't buy that argument.
I think they're the same. Food security is part of the discussion on defense. Absolutely understand the challenges we have on defense, but food security and energy security is part of that. It's not something separate or different.
So that is the challenge we face. So the budget cut to promotion in terms of the Haras Gru and the priority for coordinators is something we discussed yesterday and on the trade piece, we discussed this at Council yesterday significantly. And we also talked in on the trade element around protected geographical indications, which I know is a different point, but it is about those pieces that give us increased value and the most value back to our farmers. So while we look to support our farmers and those most in need in many different ways to support their activity, it is also to build a strong, resilient market that gives the best return for our farmers. That's the best way we keep them on the farm.
That's the best way we have generational renewal, if the market returns a fair price for the product and in that regard, and a safe, nutritious product that European consumers and consumers outside the EU can know and trust as well. Norbert, thank you for your detailed points. The clear direction, and you talk about Fischler's clear direction. There was a lot of talk, I suppose, before these negotiations of a need for evolution as opposed to revolution. And the change away from Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 and the new NRPP structure feels more like revolution.
So it's a lot of change after a last CAP that was a lot of change as well. So, you know, change is challenging. It's not always bad, but you have to roll with it. So, you know, you make the point around the 3,300 amendments and your view around the transitional period.
Ultimately, as the presidency, we have an ambition here to make as much progress as possible. And obviously we're in the hands of the Commission in terms of any proposals that may come. But from our perspective, we remain determined to make as much time. I take on board the points you and Herbert earlier made in terms of concern around timing. But from our perspective, we'll work really closely with the Commission to deliver and to have that point that you made about ag and food integrated policy, integrated, as I say, as part of that defense discussion, integrated in those different elements on that piece.
MEP Christensen around security of food supply. You talked about the capping and animal transport as well, as a number of colleagues did. Look, that security of food supply is, as I say, interlinked, and feed supply as well. And we see, as I said, the fertilizer action plan. We see the input on feeds, what our core ingredients are for our farmers to be able to operate and where they come from is something we all have to reflect on as well.
MEP Panelli talked about a sufficient CAP. That's what we all want, and there are challenges and opportunities to that. Barry, go raibh míle maith agat, good to see you here and for your work with Renew Europe on the CAP negotiations.
Look, the points you raise are very valid ones. We'll be engaging, you know, closely throughout these negotiations to see how best we can get that balance right on all the competing demands. MEP Kuban had raised the point around the livestock strategy and the protein plan. And it's one of the President's priorities is to build on the strategy and the protein plan so as to strengthen the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the EU livestock and protein sectors. And by investing and supporting the actions that bring concurrent benefits across the three pillars of sustainability, the EU can deliver real change to its farmers and citizens and ensure the sector can thrive sustainably.
And that's very much our goal and what we wish wish to do. MEP, sorry my handwriting is poor here, Resen, you know, talked about the organics and the urgent renewal of the nitrates derogation and that feeds into the simplification point. Look, we welcome progress being made under environmental simplification.
The trilogues are expected to start later this year and that's a priority for the Irish presidency. And I think, you know, we'll talk about simplification a lot as a word that is used, but ultimately here farmers will judge us on our actions as opposed to just these discussions there on that. So next then we were MEP Mullally, Kieran, has gone, has he? Okay. Anyway, he raised a number of points there, particularly on Mercosur and I think a number of other colleagues raised Mercosur as well.
So we know the Commission has had its interim adoption, the Parliament has had its role and it's gone for that legal process and we wait and see what the return on that is.
On broader trade in general and trade tensions and all of the challenges and opportunities that trade provides, it's a standing item on the Council agenda. Yesterday, as part of that agenda, instead of having it broad and wide, as I said, I focused on protected geographical indications. And that will be my plan is that we focus on the different opportunities that trade provides to us because, as I say, we're all part of the common market. We all benefit from that trade and trade with third countries is very important for us as well. And trade is very much a two-way street, so it's something that has to be.
But our standards, too, are really, really high here in Europe for our producers and beyond. So therefore we expect any product that comes into Europe to meet the same standards. Our consumers would expect no less. SPS standards, as we know, are non-negotiable across the EU and we see that being borne out in action. So then move to Eric.
You made the points around the CMO. And you know, the well-functioning markets are central to resilience and sustainability of the European agri-food sector. And the CMO regulation plays a really crucial role in this. So we'll take forward discussions in Council on the new framework as far as we possibly can. And that'll be really important.
MEP Rodriguez, looking for the guarantee for an EU reaction and beyond. Maria, great to see you. And your points around generational renewal. I'm not surprised you raised that.
It wouldn't be your first time to talk about generation renewal and the role of women in agriculture. Can I say I found it a really good debate at Council yesterday to have the topic of women in agriculture on it. And I think you had a phrase that the ambition must go beyond a symbolic year. And for me, a year like that is symbolic if it's let be, or it can be an opportunity for empowerment. And I think the discussion we had yesterday had many good thoughts and processes put forward by people who've given this a lot of thought.
And then there's some colleagues who maybe haven't reflected on it as much, but the discussion yesterday will feed into their thoughts ahead of their own CAP strategic plans in the next time. So I really think this does make a difference, and continually highlighting this and talking about the barriers but also the opportunities there are of empowering the role of women in agriculture is something that's really, really important. And I say that as somebody who was raised by my mother being the farmer at home and instilling all of my passion for farming in me from that. So it's something that I see only strengthens farmers' positions.
And we have so many women in agriculture across all member states who are actively farming but whose name doesn't appear on paper, who aren't recognized within the system as that, where there hasn't been the thought for them to become partners on paper, maybe with the male farmer in the family and beyond. And you know, changing our whole mindset here, changing the mindset that when there's three or four children in the family, the daughter has as much chance of inheriting the farm as the son. That's the type of cultural change we're talking about. That doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen bit by bit with every discussion we have and something, as I say, we'll continue to progress during our presidency that I believe will benefit agriculture greatly, any progress we make in this area. Vice-Chair Buda, thank you for your comments and obviously your important role in terms of rapporteur of the animal welfare file.
And you know, without being familiar with the challenges Romanian sheep farmers face, I absolutely see the challenge we've had around a load of diseases. And we have very good vaccines, but if you vaccinate an animal, it can mask the disease. So if you're in the early phases of trying to identify and eradicate disease, if you vaccinate, it's counterproductive. So you only vaccinate when you've accepted its presence and you're not going to get rid of it.
We seem to be dealing with more diseases nowadays, and it comes back to the point around climate change. I believe climate change and changing environments means there are diseases and ticks and different elements happening that wouldn't have happened in geographical areas before. And that's a very big challenge for us across the EU that we have to work on together. So in terms of the animal welfare point, and a number of colleagues raised this as well, MEP Hazekamp, MEP Metz, and yourself. As I say, I am really strongly committed to improving animal welfare standards during transport and support the revision of the EU regulation on this sector.
During our presidency, Ireland is chairing that Council working group on this proposal and as such is committed to act as the honest broker and work on behalf of all member states to reach a consensus. And as presidency, our objective is to reach a COREPER mandate on this file by the end of our tenure, which is ambitious, but I believe achievable.
But we are fully aware that this is challenging. This file has been around a long time. And I think it would be good for all concerned that we can provide, you know, an approach here that gets that consensus while taking account of all the science and all of the different elements that are in the mix. Yes, so MEP Artonog raised Burke's ore again, which I've touched on earlier. And Nokil, the basic rules and standards, which I've covered as well.
MEP Cabrell, obviously the bioeconomy is something that I've highlighted here. It's the opportunity that it provides for our farmers and for our food systems, identifying what was previously seen as waste streams and turning them into a valuable resource that drive the economic, and this is back to the point around the economic, social, environmental sustainability. We had waste products that used to be discarded for no value. And now in a very circular way we use them to great value and it returns an economic dividend and it's good for the environment and it's good for farmers' pockets.
It's not that long ago in Ireland we fed whey protein to pigs because we had no other use for it. It is now the most valuable element of our dairy farmers' produce. Because as we see the proliferation of the likes of GLP-1s and such drugs becoming very widely used and when they move from injectables to tablet form, it's already one in eight people in America are on GLP-1s. And while that would look bad for European food producers that a lot of people are going to eat 30% less, they are going to become much more focused on what their nutrient intake is and on protein-rich food, on nutrient-dense food. And that's what we produce here really well to a very high standard.
So for me, there's a massive opportunity in this to identify those opportunities to increase the value of the food we produce because we produce it to such a high standard. And really that's what it is about us looking and taking those opportunities where we can. MEP Immart talked about the simplification and the food and feed omnibus which I had touched on earlier. And we'll progress as far as possible throughout the presidency as we will with the Industrial Emissions Directive as well. And MEP Boras, we obviously touched on the Mercosur point there earlier too.
But on the Industrial Emissions Directive, while we progress as far as possible, it's not for the AgriFish Council. So I just say that one. Now, I think I'm nearly complete.
I just want to go back to... Yeah, and so just a general point on CAP, which will cover Ming's... Yeah, Nogueira, I had said about the basic rules and standards. So probably a broad encompassing point including Ming's points around the CAP and beyond. And look, this is...
I don't believe in pitting one group of farmers against another, the same way I don't agree with pitting food against defense and those points. You know, CAP is looking to deliver on a number of different points, whether it's social conditionality, points have been raised here on the pension, the active farmer, generational renewal, the ring-fencing and the beyond, and talking about those who most need it. I think you'll be hard-pressed to find any farmer anywhere in Europe that doesn't think they need support. And how that's achieved, it's our aim to achieve a partial general approach, taking all member states' views into consideration. And all member states have their perspective, have their challenges around balanced regional development, have their challenges around supporting their farmers and beyond.
The discussions are continuing at working party level on all of these key aspects. And we look to provide a framework for member states to design interventions to address their needs, but as I said earlier, doing that in a way that protects the strength of us all being part of a common market.
Veronika Vrecionová
Thank you, Minister. So we are just now in the end of our common discussion. Your plans are very ambitious and I'm sure that we have very tough six months before us and we are looking forward to work together. Thank you very much. I just would like to inform coordinators that with our meeting we will start in five minutes, please.
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