Search

3.280. (...) Notably, the joint EUIPO [European Union Intellectual Property Office]/OECD 2022 study on dangerous fakes quantitatively assesses the scope and trends of trade in counterfeit products that pose health, safety, and environmental threats. (...)

4.2. (...) During the review period, the number of organic producers and the area under organic farming continued to increase.

4.8. The new CAP [the Common Agricultural Policy] brings together the support via direct payments, internal market support, and that under the rural development scheme, incorporating the sustainability objectives of the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy referenced therein, and the Biodiversity Strategy 2030. It aims to "ensure a sustainable future for European farmers, provide more targeted support to smaller farms, and allow greater flexibility for member States in adapting the measures to local conditions", according to the Council. [8]
[8] European Council (2021), "Council Adopts Fairer, Greener and More Performance-Based Farming Policy for 2023-2027", 2 December. (...)

4.9. The reform [the Common Agricultural Policy] (i) significantly increases the focus on measures aiming to address challenges relating to the climate, the environment, (...) Nevertheless, while increasing the focus on sustainability and finetuning the framework of support overall, it remains unchanged in terms of the level and composition of support it provides.

4.10. (...) While the 10 key objectives contained in the new CAP [the Common Agricultural Policy] are in principle unchanged from the 9 objectives and 1 cross-cutting objective of the previous CAP, they play a more important role than previously, according to the Commission. Focusing on social, environmental, and economic goals, they are to (...) (iv) take action on climate change; (v) foster environmental care; (vi) preserve landscapes and biodiversity; (...)

4.13. Support provided as direct payments under the new CAP [the Common Agricultural Policy] remains the main income support tool, but the measures funded differ slightly from those under the previous system. Direct payments are available for (...) (iv) schemes for the climate, the environment, and animal welfare ("eco-schemes"). (...)

4.14. (...) The new CAP [the Common Agricultural Policy] strengthens requirements for compliance with basic standards for good agriculture and environmental conditions. It adds the requirements in place for obtaining the "greening payments" under the old CAP to the former rules on "cross-compliance" to receive any direct payments, referring to these augmented rules as "conditionality" for receiving direct payments. Member States then define additional criteria for farmers to receive payments under the "eco schemes", with a similar mechanism in place regarding rural development. According to the Commission, this new "green architecture" provides more opportunities to reward farmers willing to provide public goods. (...)

4.16. Member States will have to allocate at least 25% of total allocations for direct payments to "eco-schemes". [21] Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 spells out that member States are to define such voluntary schemes covering at least two objectives spelled out in Article 31, which would go beyond Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs), conditions set by Union or national law, or other conditionality already contained in the Regulation. Farmers committing to adhere to agricultural practices defined in these schemes related to climate and the environment, public and plant health, and animal welfare would then be eligible for a payment on all eligible hectares.
[21] This share can be lower if allocations under the regional (rural) development programmes exceed the minimum allocation to environmental and climate objectives (35%).

4.17. (...) Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 outlines the allowed types of measures to support certain sectors in Chapter III of Title III and makes certain adjustments to the lists of previously allowed measures, in particular adding types of measures linked to the environment, animal welfare, or climate objectives. (...)

4.19. Support for rural development previously regulated in Regulation (EU) 1305/2013 is fully incorporated into the revised framework and described in Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, with member States having to spell out planned measures in their CSPs [the Common Agricultural Policy strategic plans] instead of rural development programmes (RDPs). Support may cover a number of additional or restructured areas, including, inter alia, (i) voluntary management commitments beneficial for the environment, climate, and animal welfare; (ii) support for on-farm investments; (iii) support to young and new farmers; (iv) support to farmers facing natural or other area-specific constraints or disadvantages resulting from certain mandatory requirements (consolidating the schemes previously part of direct payments and those under rural development); (v) risk management; or (vi) knowledge dissemination (Chapter IV). At least 30% of funding for each RDP must be dedicated to measures relevant for the environment and climate change. Generally, according to the Commission, support will be more closely linked to environmental and climate objectives of the European Union. For the period 2023 27, the annual foreseen contribution from the EU budget amounts to EUR 12.1 billion (Table 4.2).