EU says farmers ‘deserve to be listened to’ as effects of climate change and war deepen – Europe Live | Europe

In a statement this morning, Greenpeace raised concerns that “leaked plans for the European Commission’s proposed 2040 climate target, which will be announced later today, do not include deadlines for phasing out coal, oil and gas” and that “the Commission has also backtracked on plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

Greenpeace European climate activist Silvia Pastorelli said:

That’s about as meaningful as a goal to prevent lung cancer without any plan to end smoking. It is clear that fossil fuels must end quickly if we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

The lack of a plan to phase out fossil fuels, and even subsidies, not only delays urgently needed climate action, but will ultimately harm people further.

To react to Ursula von der LeyenIn announcing that it would suggest withdrawing a proposal on reducing pesticides, the European agricultural lobby, Copa and Cogeca, said:

President Von der Leyen’s announcement this morning on the withdrawal of the SUR proposal ends an impasse: this top-down proposal resulting from the Farm2Fork logic was poorly designed, poorly evaluated, poorly financed and offered few alternatives to farmers.

The European Commission finally recognizes that the approach was not the right one and thus reinforces the credibility and importance of the ongoing strategic dialogue.

Alexandre De Croothe Belgian Prime Minister, reacted to Ursula von der Leyenduring his speech to the European Parliament, writing on social networks that he welcomes the announcement of the withdrawal of a proposal on pesticides.

The Belgian leader said:

It is essential that we keep our farmers on board for a more sustainable agricultural future, as part of our determination to deliver the Green Deal. The dialogue continues.

In a nod to farmers, in his speech to deputies Ursula von der Leyen said she would suggest withdrawing a proposal on reducing risks from chemicals from crop production and that the Commission could present a different proposal.

A report on an ongoing strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture will be presented by the end of summer, von der Leyen said, emphasizing the need for a “long-term” perspective for the sector.

Speaking in the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenstressed the need for incentives for nature conservation.

She said Europe has the highest quality food in the world and farmers “play a central role in this system and, of course, they must be paid fairly for that”.

Highlighting that there is huge support from the EU budget for the sector, the President added:

Money is important, but it’s not everything. Healthy natural resources are also essential to maintaining high yields and, in particular, fertile soils have always been the backbone of our farmers’ livelihoods.

And we know that 60 to 70% of soils in Europe are now in poor condition.

We can reverse these trends, and many farmers are doing just that, but we need to do more.

From now on, effective nature protection must offer generous incentives for intervention. Farmers need a valid business case for nature-enhancing measures – perhaps we haven’t made this argument convincingly – a real incentive beyond just loss of yields is necessary.

Von der Leyen also said:

Public subsidies can provide these incentives, and for example, premium labeling in cooperation with retailers and processors. In other words, nature conservation can only succeed through a bottom-up, incentive-based approach.

Because only if our farmers can make a living from their land will they invest in the future. And only if we achieve our climate and environmental goals together can farmers continue to make a living. Our farmers are well aware of this and we should trust them more.

Ursula von der Leyenthe President of the European Commission, declared this morning in the European Parliament that “our farmers deserve to be listened to”.

While the European Council was in session, farmers across Europe took to the streets.

Many of them feel cornered. Farmers are the first to feel the effects of climate change: droughts and floods have destroyed crops and threatened their livestock. Farmers are feeling the effects of the Russian war: inflation, rising energy costs, rising fertilizer prices.

Nonetheless, they work hard every day to produce the quality food we eat. And for that, I think we owe them appreciation, thanks and respect.

But, von der Leyen told MEPs, “problems have gotten worse in recent years” and “our farmers deserve to be listened to.”

She added:

I know they are worried about the future of agriculture and their future as farmers.

But they also know that agriculture must evolve towards a more sustainable production model so that their farms remain profitable in the years to come.

And we want to make sure that in this process, farmers remain in the driver’s seat.

Von der Leyen stressed that a dialogue was underway.

We must move beyond polarized debate and build trust. Trust is the crucial basis for viable solutions.

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