Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

RemovedAE. whereas in 2020 the majority (57.6 %) of farm managers (of both sexes) were over 55 years of age and those under 35 years of age represent approximately 6 % of all farmers in the EU in 2021; whereas in many Member States, a very high proportion of farmers are aged 65 and over;

AddedAD. whereas women continue to face greater challenges in entering the farming sector and whereas female employment rates in rural areas are consistently lower than those of men; whereas the number of farms managed by women varies significantly across Member States; whereas gender equality is a fundamental principle of the EU and curbing rural depopulation largely depends on ensuring equal opportunities for women and young people; whereas, in order to address the specific challenges faced by women in agriculture, the Commission and the Member States should ensure that their particular needs are reflected within the CAP national strategic plans through targeted interventions;

RemovedAF. whereas the increase in world trade presents opportunities and challenges, which requires adaptation of international trade rules, in particular within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to ensure fair and sustainable conditions of competition, based on reciprocity and effective trade defence and control mechanisms, in line with social, economic and environmental standards;

AddedAE. whereas new rural value chains in the bioeconomy offer new business opportunities to diversify income sources for the agricultural sector, fostering job creation and rural entrepreneurship, while promoting better use of agricultural by-products; whereas examples of the latter include energy production through on-farm biogas production or the production and processing of wool and other natural fibres; whereas, in this context, it is also important to highlight the additional income opportunities available to farmers through renewable energy production from sources compliant with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), such as biofuels, which also contribute to strengthening the EU’s energy self-sufficiency; whereas carbon farming has the potential to support the EU’s climate objectives by promoting carbon sequestration in soils and biomass; whereas food and feed should, however, be prioritised over the other uses of agricultural products and land;

RemovedAG. whereas, while the focus on research for innovation in resource-saving processes and products is appreciated, progress needs to be made in developing the research capacity and infrastructure to apply these results in sustainable practices in the agricultural and forestry sectors, which requires independent, transparent and well-funded services in all Member States, as well as promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building;

AddedAF. whereas short production chains – with production, processing and packaging being carried out in the same region – help retain added value locally and thus secure more jobs in the area; whereas such place-based, territorially embedded, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems reduce reliance on external inputs, reinforce EU food security and contribute to the revitalisation of rural areas;

RemovedAH. whereas the European Union has developed a series of space programmes (EGNOS and Galileo) and earth observation programmes (Copernicus), whose potential for monitoring the implementation of the CAP and the transition of European agriculture towards precision farming and towards the dual environmental and economic performance of holdings should be exploited to its maximum;

AddedAG. whereas it is essential to avoid negative impacts on EU agricultural production by promoting flexible and effective tools to support the most vulnerable and strategic sectors when faced with challenges arising from structural changes, natural and meteorological disasters, especially in the context of climate change, market imbalances, the adoption of trade agreements, as well as the potential consequences for the EU agricultural sector associated with the implementation of new EU policies;

RemovedAI. whereas most bio-technology research is now located outside the European Union, where it typically focuses on agro-economic issues not relevant to the EU sector, resulting in potential losses in investment and focus;

AddedAH. whereas these challenges may have direct consequences for food security and rural economies and communities, and therefore it is vital to improve risk prevention, management and adaptation, including through enhanced and adapted mechanisms and infrastructure supported by financial resources outside the CAP;

RemovedAJ. whereas, on the basis of current experience, innovation and the implementation of efficient processes and systems can improve the yields and resilience of the agricultural sector, while contributing to a reduction in production costs, ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of farms;

AddedAI. whereas the CAP should recognise the significant environmental benefits provided by sustainable agriculture and livestock farming, to which practices and crops such as forestry, agroforestry, beekeeping, protein and woody crops, organic farming, textile fibres and emerging sectors such as the bioeconomy also contribute; whereas sectoral strategies for fruit and vegetables, wine, olive oil, table olives, potatoes, sugar beet and beekeeping should be maintained and protected;

RemovedAK. whereas the impact and frequency of adverse climatic events across Europe, as a consequence of climate change, require risk prevention mechanisms and infrastructures;

AddedAJ. whereas according to the European Environment Agency, droughts have caused annual economic losses of up to EUR 9 billion in the EU and this figure might reach up to EUR 28.6 billion by 2100, on top of losses caused by other effects of climate change; whereas farmers across the EU experience climate change first-hand, witnessing increasing desertification and a loss in agricultural productivity, with particular challenges for the Mediterranean regions; whereas extreme weather events, such as increasingly severe floods and droughts, put EU food security at risk;

RemovedAL. whereas closed production circles – production, processing and packing being carried out in the same region – keep the added value in the region in question and thus secure more jobs in the local area, and therefore demonstrate the potential to revive rural areas;

AddedAK. whereas agriculture, water and soil are intrinsically linked; whereas the availability and sustainable management of these natural resources is vital to ensure sufficient and good-quality food production;

RemovedAM. whereas the long-term vision for rural areas in the EU states that many rural areas face challenges such as an ageing population and demographic decline, poor access to services and connectivity, chronic water scarcity and lack of opportunities; whereas this vision also highlights the importance of efforts to strengthen rural economies to make them more resilient and prosperous, to stimulate knowledge and innovation, to strengthen the governance of rural territories, and to simplify rural development policy and its implementation;

AddedAL. whereas efficient nutrient use is essential in reducing the EU’s dependency on chemical fertilisers, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving soil health; whereas the Nitrates Directive, in its current form, restricts the use of processed animal manure, including RENURE products, despite scientific evidence supporting their safe application; whereas the Joint Research Centre has concluded that replacing synthetic mineral fertilisers with RENURE does not lead to increased nitrate losses to water; whereas this creates unnecessary regulatory barriers for farmers aiming to close nutrient cycles and reduce environmental impacts;

RemovedAN. whereas the future and prosperity of rural areas are of paramount importance for Europe’s food security, autonomy and resilience, as well as for a secure and sustainable energy supply which contributes to the EU’s energy independence; whereas agri-food systems allowed continued access to safe and high-quality food during the recent crises;

AddedAM. whereas the growing instability in world trade makes it necessary to adapt the EU’s trade policy and international trade rules, in particular under the World Trade Organization framework, to safeguard the Union’s agri-food systems by ensuring fair and sustainable conditions of competition, based on reciprocity and effective trade defence;

RemovedAO. whereas less-favoured areas such as mountainous, arid and outermost regions should continue to be compensated by the CAP for the extra costs associated with their specific constraints in order to maintain farming activity in such areas;

AddedAN. whereas the importing into the EU of agricultural products that are produced to lower standards and with lower production costs than those produced in the EU – characterised by the highest of standards – is an obstacle to our producers’ ability to obtain fair prices and profitability on the market; whereas this poses potential risks to public, plant and animal health, including from the spread of pests and diseases; whereas there is a need to ensure reciprocity in international trade agreements;

AddedAO. whereas it is necessary to modernise the physical and digital infrastructure underpinning the efficient export of EU agri-food products to strengthen the resilience of EU agriculture by creating diversified export markets;

AddedAP. whereas the World Health Organization recommends including legumes, fruit and vegetables, as well as a moderate consumption of protein, including of animal origin, as part of a varied and balanced diet; whereas meat and other animal products are a valuable source of high biological value protein and essential micronutrients; whereas sustainable livestock farming makes important contributions to biodiversity protection, forest fire prevention, landscape maintenance, soil nutrient provision and food security, as well as to national cultures and heritage; whereas the Commission, in its communication on the long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas, acknowledged the importance of developing a long-term strategy for the livestock sector and announced the launch of a dedicated workstream on this issue; whereas targeted investments in breeding techniques and other innovative solutions can reduce emissions from livestock while safeguarding productivity and animal welfare;

AddedAQ. whereas approximately 70 % of the raw materials required for the manufacturing of the protein-rich feed needed in the EU has to be imported from non-EU countries because the EU has a significant deficit in plant protein production; whereas Parliament and the Member States have repeatedly called for a meaningful EU protein strategy to increase the production of protein crops in the EU in order to reduce this high degree of dependence;

AddedAR. whereas reinforced synergies are needed with other EU instruments, such as Horizon Europe and cohesion policy, to facilitate the integration of research outputs into practical, locally tailored agricultural solutions, to promote innovation and to foster economic development; whereas enhanced connectivity, improved digital skills and the deployment of autonomous technologies in rural areas are essential to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and climate resilience and to make rural areas more appealing to younger generations and qualified professionals;

AddedAS. whereas most biotechnology research is currently conducted outside the EU; whereas such research often focuses on agroeconomic issues that are only partially relevant to the EU context, resulting in potential losses in both investment and opportunities for EU farmers; whereas the EU should therefore invest in developing biotechnology adapted to its own agricultural needs; whereas the withdrawal of marketing authorisations for plant protection products, without effective alternatives available, exposes farmers to pests and diseases, reduces their profitability and competitiveness, increases food waste and poses a threat to food security;

AddedAT. whereas the EU has developed a series of space programmes (EGNOS and Galileo) and earth observation programmes (Copernicus), which have significant potential to support the monitoring of CAP implementation in order to empower farmers and foresters with accurate data on the land they manage and, where appropriate, to simplify and reduce administrative burdens;

AddedAU. whereas the EU’’s rural areas cover 83 % of the EU’s territory and are home to 137 million people; whereas the future and prosperity of rural areas are of paramount importance for Europe’s food security, autonomy and resilience; whereas agri-food systems allowed continued access to safe and high-quality food during the recent crises, despite inflation putting pressure on food affordability; whereas policies need to support both agriculture as a core activity and economic diversification through the development of sustainable rural tourism, small businesses, crafts and local services, in order for rural regions to be viable and attractive; whereas energy production can create additional revenue streams for farmers but should have no impact on food production; whereas LEADER and community-led local development (CLLD) have proven valuable tools for sustainable development and are at the core of EU policies; whereas the CAP alone cannot provide solutions to all the needs and challenges faced by rural areas;

AddedAV. whereas the CAP should play a role in the harmonious development of the EU by bolstering economic, social and territorial cohesion, and must therefore continue to compensate areas with natural constraints, such as mountainous, arid, island, border, outermost and disadvantaged regions, for the extra costs associated with their geographical or demographic constraints, in order to avoid the abandonment of agricultural activity and consequent depopulation in such areas; whereas it is vital to acknowledge the important role that farmers play in these territories, ensuring environmental, economic and social services;

AddedAW. whereas outermost regions face specific challenges due to their geographical situation; whereas the POSEI programme applies CAP Pillar I interventions, adapted to the specificities of the outermost regions; whereas POSEI is of vital importance for maintaining agricultural activity and ensuring the supply of food and agricultural products in these regions; whereas POSEI’s implementation is important and has been a success, notably in terms of increasing production intended for local consumption, as demonstrated by the Commission’s implementation reports between 2006 and 2014 and between 2015 and 2019; whereas, however, POSEI budget allocations have not been revised since 2007, which has resulted in a cumulative depreciation of at least 36 % due to inflation; whereas this has significantly limited the level of EU support available to farmers in the outermost regions and whereas there is a clear need to recalibrate the POSEI financial allocations to compensate for this depreciation;

AddedAX. whereas competitive agriculture, food and forestry sectors can continue to play strong roles in achieving objectives for security of food supply, public health and environmental protection consistent with the policies of the Union, with farmers being incentivised and remunerated for their contribution and assisted by a reduction in unnecessary regulatory and administrative burdens in the measures they undertake;

AddedAY. whereas, through the CAP, European farmers have made significant efforts to integrate environmental and climate objectives compatible with the requirements laid down in EU legislation to adapt the agricultural sector to the increasing challenges and crises caused by climate change; whereas farmers are already on the front line and are playing a key role in safeguarding the environment and soil in the face of climate change and, according to estimates, between 2005 and 2023, agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the EU followed an overall downward trend of 7 %;

AddedAZ. whereas it is essential to ensure that CAP conditionality requirements and environmental commitments take into account the diversity of agriculture in the EU and do not impose disproportionate administrative burdens on farmers, especially the most vulnerable ones; whereas a better balance needs to be struck between the obligatory nature of certain measures and an incentive-based system that enables farmers to voluntarily adopt more sustainable farming practices, without leading to a reduction in food production, thus ensuring their competitiveness and profitability and granting enough flexibility to allow for locally appropriate solutions;

AddedBA. whereas it is necessary to carry out a cumulative evaluation of Green Deal-related legislation to assess its overall impact on the agri-food sector, including regulatory coherence, administrative burden, competitiveness and the sector’s capacity to ensure food security and strategic resilience;

BB. whereas the CAP must take into account regions where there is strong competition between urban development and agriculture when imposing additional restrictions on access to land, in order to maintain agriculture in these areas;

Change 2

RemovedAQ. whereas the CAP must give due recognition to the important environmental benefits provided by certain sectors, such as protein crops, beekeeping, Mediterranean forests and extensive livestock farming;

AddedBC. whereas the success of innovation in agriculture depends not only on technological advancements, but also on effective knowledge exchange and the active involvement of farmers in research and innovation processes; whereas tools such as the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), Operational Groups under EIP-AGRI, and multi-actor projects supported by Horizon Europe have shown the value of co-creation, local adaptation and stronger links between farmers, researchers and advisors;

RemovedAR. whereas farming is more than a job, it is a way of life rooted in nature, historical heritage and the rural community, and has a positive impact on society that is not yet fully recognised; whereas agriculture offers a wide range of opportunities for employment and business diversification in rural areas, for example through agri-tourism services, the bioeconomy industry, renewable energy production, school trips and direct sales;

RemovedAS. whereas equality between women and men is a fundamental principle of the EU; whereas the role of women in rural areas is essential for the sustainability of farms and the development of rural communities; whereas curbing rural depopulation depends to a large extent on the opportunities available to women and young people;

RemovedAT. whereas the use of innovative technologies such as precision farming, big data and artificial intelligence plays a key role in the progressive reduction and efficient use of plant protection products, which contributes to protecting biodiversity, including pollinating insects;

RemovedAU. whereas the POSEI programme is the equivalent of Pillar I of the CAP in the outermost regions; whereas its implementation is important and has been a success, as demonstrated by the European Commission’s implementation reports between 2006 and 2014 and between 2015 and 2019; whereas, however, POSEI budget allocations have not been revised since 2007, which has resulted in a cumulative depreciation of at least 36 % due to inflation;

RemovedAV. whereas agricultural cooperatives, created and managed by the farmers themselves, strengthen their position in the production chain by combining efforts, coordinating investments and mitigating the fragmentation of the sector;

The path to competitive and sustainable agriculture

Change 3

Changed1. WelcomesTakes note of the Commission’sCommission report entitled ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food’ as a promising roadmap for the post-2027 CAP, with important contributions based on generational renewal, competitiveness, sustainability, resilience, simplification and greater reciprocity,reciprocity of standards in trade, and with the emphasis on innovation to achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability andsustainability, on prioritising incentives over restrictions;restrictions and on a fairer targeting of CAP support; recognises, within this approach, a renewed emphasis on the CAP’s traditional core aims as enshrined in Article 39 TFEU; emphasises the importance of ensuring a stand-alone CAP budget in order to achieve these aims;

Change 4

Removed2. Calls for an increased budget for the CAP to ensure security of food supply; stresses that an adequately resourced CAP is a key driver for ensuring the sustainability of European agriculture economically, environmentally and socially, while guaranteeing a fair income for farmers and a fully functioning single market;

Added2. Underlines that agriculture plays a fundamental role in ensuring food security for the EU and beyond, safeguarding human health, maintaining biodiversity and healthy soil and water, and social cohesion; underlines that the future CAP should simplify access to climate adaptation and mitigation measures and that farmers should be rewarded for their efforts in this respect; stresses that farmers play a critical role in ensuring the sustainability of European agricultural production across its environmental, social and economic dimensions, while also contributing to food security and strategic autonomy and should therefore be supported; calls for impact assessments that take into account farm-level implications to be carried out before any new regulations are proposed that entail new requirements and bureaucratic burdens on farmers, and calls for a review of all existing obligations; insists that agriculture remain an EU policy and not be included in a single fund, in order to ensure uniform conditions among Member States;

Removed3. Stresses that food and agricultural production plays a strategic role in the new geopolitical context as an essential part of European security and sovereignty;

Added3. Calls for an increased and dedicated budget for the CAP, which is indexed for inflation through annual re-evaluations, in the next MFF in order to ensure security of food supply regardless of the commercial instabilities arising from the volatility of the geopolitical environment; stresses that without adequate resources, the CAP will no longer be able to be a key driver for ensuring the sustainability of European agriculture economically, environmentally and socially, while guaranteeing a fair income and fair conditions for those involved in the farming sector and a fully functioning single market; calls for the financial resources allocated to the CAP to remain earmarked in the budget for that purpose, in particular direct payments; strongly opposes the idea that Member States should be allowed to use the CAP budget as part of a total envelope for purposes other than agriculture; stresses that an adequate budget will help ensure the continuation of a common policy;

Removed4. Points out that cooperation and dialogue in the agri-food value chain are key to improving the position of farmers, promoting a more equitable distribution of margins and increasing the efficiency of all actors; notes, in this respect, that the reform of the CMO and the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive will be key to strengthening the position of farmers in the agri-food supply chain, reinforcing crisis management mechanisms and improving cross-border enforcement against unfair commercial practices;

Added4. Calls on the Commission and the co-legislators to maintain fixed and ring-fenced income support as a core component of the post-2027 CAP, recognising its vital role in ensuring food production, with high quality and health standards for EU consumers, providing farmers with stability in the face of market volatility and extreme weather events, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers, guaranteeing security of supply and building food and feed autonomy; considers that the current situation of the regions located at the EU’s external borders must also be taken into account;

Removed5. Stresses the importance of safeguarding direct aid for all professional farmers under the CAP, regardless of their size and type of production – including multi-activity farmers and livestock breeders, who also contribute significantly to the social and economic fabric of rural areas; points to an area-based model, to give stability to farmers’ incomes and to maintain economic viability and competitiveness in food production in all regions of the EU;

Added5. Expresses its concerns over potential budgetary overhauls in the post-2027 EU budget, including the possible centralisation of funding streams; warns that integrating the CAP with other funding areas such as cohesion, regional development and fisheries could undermine the distinct role of agricultural policy;

Removed6. Calls for a CAP – especially Pillar II – separate from but closely coordinated with cohesion policies, to ensure that rural development policies and investments are neither affected nor sidelined, thus ensuring effective support for the agricultural sector without compromising other key objectives for rural regions;

Added6. Emphasises the need for the CAP to maintain its own legal and institutional standing in the post-2027 period; stresses the importance of maintaining the CAP budget as a stand-alone, distinct and dedicated budget, tailored to the specific needs of the European agricultural sector; calls on the Commission to reduce administrative burdens to ensure that farmers can directly access support without excessive reliance on external consultants;

Removed7. Recognises that voluntary agri-environmental and climate measures under Pillar II, using an incentive-based and simplified approach, are a key instrument for safeguarding the environment and the promotion of sustainable practices;

Added7. Reaffirms the importance of maintaining the CAP as a separate, distinct policy, serving as a partnership between agriculture and society, and between Europe and its farmers, providing reliable support to them with a view to enhancing food security; firmly rejects any proposal to include the CAP budget in a single fund with other policies or funds, as such an approach would reduce the effectiveness of interventions and compromise the Union’s strategic objectives in terms of food security and rural development;

Removed8. Calls on the Commission to carry out a systematic impact assessment of the agricultural sector provisions in each of its trade agreements and to provide specific strategies to ensure reciprocity, maintaining consistency between its trade and sustainability policies, as well as a reinforcement of controls at origin and border, through a European control agency;

Added8. Points out that, in the current geopolitical context, secure and constant access to food has become a matter of strategic security, and that dependence on imports can be exploited as a means to exert pressure; underlines that, in this context, more emphasis should be placed on the CAP’s traditional core aims – supporting food security and resilience, ensuring a fair income for farmers, and improving market stability and competitiveness;

Removed9. Calls on the Commission to improve synergies and coordination among EU funding instruments, such as the Cohesion Fund, the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument and the Just Transition Fund, and with national instruments;