Grain imports from war-torn Ukraine have already sparked a standoff with Poland and develop into a significant supply of anger amongst European farmers.
The European Fee is taking motion by demanding increased incomes and higher situations for farmers in a number of EU international locations and organizing street blockades.
The proposal offers for fast corrective motion within the occasion of main disruptions within the EU market, and would apply an “emergency brake” mechanism for probably the most delicate merchandise – poultry, eggs and sugar – to stabilize imports primarily based on common volumes for 2022 and 2023, the EC mentioned in a press release.
Brussels has additionally proposed to as soon as once more apply a one-year exemption, albeit partial, to guidelines requiring farmers to put aside a part of their land as a part of the widespread agricultural coverage and to advertise biodiversity.
The foundations, which stipulate that 4 p.c of land should stay unused, and which European farmers additionally repeatedly complain regarding, have been suspended in 2023 – following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – to compensate for a drop in grain provides.
Farmer teams and EU states, together with France, sought to have the exemptions prolonged following they expired on the finish of final 12 months.
“This can be a partial exception that applies solely this 12 months,” mentioned Maroš Šefčovičius, deputy chairwoman of the EC, when saying the brand new proposal.
“Climate-related disasters, geopolitical tensions, agricultural economics, excessive vitality costs have all created a state of affairs the place we really feel we now have to behave,” he mentioned.
As an alternative of leaving a part of the arable land fallow, farmers might develop so-called nitrogen-fixing crops comparable to lentils, peas or beans, or catch crops grown between common harvests, and might be thought-regarding to fulfill the fallow requirement, the EC assertion defined.
On this case, farmers might proceed to obtain funds underneath the bloc’s agricultural coverage.
The EC’s proposal should now be thought-regarding by the European Parliament and member states for adoption by June, when the present tariff exemption expires.
Within the coming days, member states will vote on the fallow requirement.
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2024-05-31 00:48:00