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4.21. (...) In their CSPs [the Common Agricultural Policy strategic plans], member States also have to define the two conditionality systems (regarding the environment, public and plant health, and animal welfare, as well as regarding working and employment conditions or employer obligations).

4.32. Until 2020 and during the transition period, member States still had to allocate 30% of their national ceilings annually for direct payments for "agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment" (greening). These funds were disbursed to farmers entitled to a payment under the BPS [the Basic Payment Scheme] or the SAPS [the Single Area Payment Scheme] and which observed, on all their eligible hectares, either certain specific practices or "equivalent practices" (in seven member States during 2020). The specific practices related to crop diversification, maintenance of existing permanent grassland, and having an ecological focus area (EFA) on at least 5% of arable land for holdings with more than 15 ha of arable land.

4.33. During this transition period, certain previously existing exemptions to these practices continued to apply for participants in the small farmer scheme and farmers with a large proportion of permanent grassland, while farmers meeting requirements for organic production are entitled ipso facto to this payment. (...)

4.50. Support in the European Union via operational programmes in the fruits and vegetables sector in 2020 stood at EUR 1.7 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the average for the period 2015-19, primarily directed to investments, quality schemes, and environmental measures.

4.54. As a response to market disturbances resulting from the war in Ukraine, the Commission allocated EUR 500 million (EUR 350 million of which from the reserve for crises in the agricultural sector). Aiming to improve food security, member States were allowed to support farmers pursuing either (...) (iv) environmental and climate friendly production methods, with payments to be made by 30 September 2022. (...)

4.57. The new basic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling described in the previous Review has applied since the beginning of 2022, one year later than initially anticipated. The Commission published a regulation containing lists of authorized products and substances for, inter alia, (...) (v) products for cleaning and disinfection; (vi) various food additives, other processing aids, or ingredients; and (vii) products and substances for use in organic production of wine. The Regulation allows for certain flexibilities regarding the temporary authorization of using non-organic or non-authorized substances in organic production in third countries. (...)

4.60. (...) While regional development aims to support sustainable rural development throughout the European Union, interventions also directly affect the agricultural sector. (...)

4.62. Over the period 2014 to FY2020/22, the bulk of the EU funding envelope was allocated to restoring, preserving, and enhancing biodiversity (46.3%), followed by (...), and resource efficiency as well as supporting the shift towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy (6.1%). (...)

4.64. In 2022, Regulation (EU) 2022/1033 also allowed for the provision of exceptional temporary support to farmers and SMEs engaged in processing, marketing, or developing agricultural products, and affected by the impact of the war in Ukraine. Such support would be paid out in a lump sum, during 2023, of not exceeding EUR 15,000 per farmer and EUR 100,000 per SME for activities contributing to food security or addressing market imbalances, and would have to support beneficiaries to pursuing goals related to (i) a circular economy, (ii) nutrient management, (iii) the efficient use of resources, or (iv) environmental and climate friendly production methods. (...)

4.76. (...) As support to structural adjustment, environment and regional assistance increased between 2016/17 and 2019/20, the composition of Green Box support shifted towards this category during the review period, while payments for relief from natural disasters saw a temporary increase in 2018/19.