Welcome to the latest edition of Brussels in Brief. The BAB team is here, we are in Brussels and we want to work on behalf of you and your members. You can find out more on what is happening in Europe at our website - BAB (britishagriculturebureau.co.uk).
Ursula Von der Leyen elected for second term as European Commission President
Ursula Von der Leyen of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), has been elected for a second 5-year term as European Commission President. She secured the backing of 401 MEPs (comfortably more than the 361 needed) helped by votes from the Greens. During her 1-hour speech before the vote, Mrs Von der Leyen outlined her priorities and for agriculture and food:
Building on the recommendations of the ongoing strategic dialogue, she will present a Vision for Agriculture and Food in the first 100 days “looking at to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the farming sector within the boundaries of our planet”.
She will continue work to improve the position of farmers in the supply chain and ensure that farmers have a fair income. Specific reference to below cost selling was included. Work is currently ongoing to revise the Unfair Trading Practices Directive, alongside a targeted amendment to the CMO legislation.
Enabling farmers to work without excessive bureaucracy, support family farms, and reward farmers working with nature, preserving our biodiversity and natural ecosystems and helping decarbonise the EU economy on the way to net zero by 2050.
A plan will be put forward to increase adaptation to climate change and to manage water resources.
Commitment to cut 90% EU emissions by 2040.
The full political guideline can be found here and the next step will be to appoint the College of Commissioners.
Members of the Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COM AGRI) confirmed
The members of the European Parliament’s COM AGRI have been confirmed, with 49 full members and 47 substitutes. The right-wing Czech MEP Veronika Vrecionová (ECR) will chair the Committee. Daniel Buda (EPP, Romania), former chair Norbert Lins (EPP, Germany), and Eric Sargiacomo (S&D, France). One additional vice-chair will be appointed in September after a dispute about gender balance.
Revised IED to come into force in July 2026
The revised Directive on Industrial Emissions was published in the EU official journal. Member States have until 1 July 2026 to apply the revised Directive. However, the entry into force of certain provisions will take time, operators already holding authorisations under the old directive and operating in sectors where the reference documents on best available techniques will not have been updated have until 1 September 2036. More information here.
Commission approves €105 million Dutch State aid scheme to reduce nitrogen deposition on nature conservation areas
The European Commission has approved a €105 million Dutch scheme to compensate livestock farmers for voluntarily relocating their activities from nature conservation areas in the Netherlands to another location in the Netherlands or in the rest of the EU. The scheme aims to reduce the nitrogen deposition caused by farming activities in Natura 2000 sites. The scheme, which will run until July 2029, will be open to small and medium-sized livestock farmers that voluntarily relocate their breeding activities, provided that their sites' nitrogen deposition load amounts to at least 2.500 moles of nitrogen per year. The aid will take the form of direct grants, and will cover up to 100% of the eligible costs.
The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to achieve the objectives and also concluded that the scheme is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary, and will have a limited impact on competition and trade in the EU.
The decision comes some 14 months after EU competition officials approved €1.47 billion in state aid to refund up to 120% of the costs incurred by farmers who decide to close livestock breeding operations rather than comply with stricter nitrogen limits.
Digital fertiliser labelling
The EU has adopted a regulation promoting the use of digital labels on EU fertilising products while keeping physical labels where they are necessary. The regulation, which updates the existing regulation about fertiliser labelling, aims to reduce the costs, bureaucracy, and environmental footprint for fertiliser producers. Digital labels will have a life-time of at least 10 years after a product is placed on the market. The regulation also ensures the availability of information by physical means to protect vulnerable consumers or people with limited digital competences. Digital labels will also be proposed for products sold in bulk, provided that the necessary information is also displayed in physical format in a visible place at the point of sale.
Member States call for EU water strategy
Several EU countries have called for the strengthening of Europe’s defences against droughts and floods and have asked the European Commission to take “concrete action” to “boost water security and resilience across the European Union” as climate change disrupts rainfall patterns across the Continent. The request, addressed to Climate Action Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra and Green Deal chief Maroš Šefčovič, was spearheaded by Portugal and signed by relevant ministers from 21 EU countries. All southern EU countries, worst hit by water scarcity, backed the call. The Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia and Sweden did not sign the letter.
For Europe, rising temperatures and less predictable precipitation patterns mean a surge in the frequency and severity of both dry periods and extreme rain, with droughts and flooding wreaking havoc on lives and livelihoods. Higher sea levels are also projected to increase flood risks for coastal communities. The Commission earlier this year warned of the risks of water scarcity, notably its potential to cause conflict among European countries. Nevertheless, the EU executive indefinitely postponed a water resilience strategy that was expected in March.
First meeting of the EU's agri-food chain observatory
The first meeting of the EU’s agri-food chain observatory took place on 4 July. Part of the Commission’s plan to strengthen the position of farmers in the supply chain, its objective is to better understand the functioning of the supply chain and bring increased transparency on prices, structure of costs and distribution of margins and added value, while respecting confidentiality and competition rules. The observatory is made up of the 27 EU Member States and 48 stakeholder organisations, including Copa Cogeca. The first meeting discussed the terms of reference, with the second plenary meeting set to take place in autumn.
Restriction on imports of groats from Ukraine
After oats, sugar and eggs, now imports of groats from Ukraine have reached the threshold activating the emergency brake, meaning the re-introduction of tariffs on exports to the EU.
Cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) increase across Germany
The number of ASF cases in Germany has been increasing. To date in 2024, 5 cases have been found in kept pigs (both fattening), with 4 cases in Hesse (Southwest) and the other in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Northeast). Over 200 cases have been reported in wild boar in 2024, mainly in two clusters in the Southwest and Northeast.
Further BTV-3 cases reported in the Netherlands and Germany
503 cases of BTV-3 have been detected in the Netherlands over the past weeks (139 clinically positive and 364 PCR positive). Over 200 cases have also been detected in Germany in July alone. Some cases have been detected in animals which have been vaccinated against BTV-3.
Avian influenza overview March–June 2024
EFSA has published the latest avian influenza overview. Between 16 March and 14 June 2024, 42 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus detections were reported in domestic (15) and wild (27) birds across 13 countries. This is the lowest number of detections since the 2019 – 2020 epidemiological year. Most detections in poultry were due to indirect contact with wild birds, but there was also secondary spread. The HPAI situation has intensified in the USA, where a new A(H5N1) virus genotype (B3.13) has been identified in over 130 dairy herds in 12 states. Infection in cattle appears to be centred on the udder. Apart from cattle, HPAI viruses were identified in two other mammal species (alpaca and walrus) for the first time. 14 new human cases were also reported. The risk of infection remains low for the general public. The risk of infection remains low-to-moderate for those occupationally or otherwise exposed to infected animals or contaminated environments.
Commission allocates €77 million in emergency support to farmers in Austria, Czechia, Poland and Portugal
Member States have approved a Commission proposal to mobilise €77 million from the agricultural reserve to support farmers in the fruit, vegetables and wine sectors in Austria, Czechia, Poland who have suffered from adverse climatic events of unprecedented magnitude, as well as Portuguese wine producers who face serious market disturbances. The amounts available for each country are €10 million to Austria, €15 million to Czechia, €37 million to Poland, and €15 million to Portugal. These countries may complement this EU support by up to 200% with national funds.
Efforts by the government and international NGOs to clear mines are falling short of the urgent needs of farmers in Ukraine
Although 3 million hectares of land have been declared clear of mines in Ukraine, the Defence Ministry’s Mine Action Directorate has reported that more than 14 million hectares remains potentially contaminated by mines. It is estimated that between 460,000 and 2.6 million hectares of arable land is contaminated. Kyiv is currently prioritising demining civil infrastructure, roads, and residential areas over farmland and forests and farmers are now demining land themselves in order to continue production. Read more here - The heavy toll of mines on Ukraine’s agriculture – Euractiv