Common agricultural policy: the European Parliament approves the reform
Environment — di Redazione
The European Parliament has approved the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Greta Thunberg: “This feeds ecological destruction”.
Common agricultural policy: the European Parliament approves the reform
The European Parliament has approved the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Greta Thunberg: “This feeds ecological destruction”.
The European Parliament has approved the Common Agricultural Policy reform (CAP) package. The document, according to a communication from the EU legislative body, is based on "greater support for those who adopt practices that are respectful of the climate and the environment", "more aid for small and medium-sized enterprises", "ad hoc measures to support farmers during crises", as well as "stricter penalties for repeated infringements, for example of environmental or animal welfare rules".
The guidelines of the new Common Agricultural Policy
In particular, MEPs call for at least 35 per cent of the budget to be dedicated to climate and environment-related measures. Furthermore, "30 per cent of the budget for direct payments will be allocated to voluntary eco-schemes that could increase farmers' incomes". The text then invites member states "to encourage farmers to dedicate at least 10 per cent of their land to landscape features in support of biodiversity, such as hedgerows, non-productive trees and ponds".
All proposals to amend the current rules on the naming of meat products to products containing meat were also rejected. Nothing will therefore change for plant-based products and for the labels currently used when they are put on sale (from vegetarian burgers to tofu steaks).
La nuova #PAC (Politica agricola comune) è un disastro per le piccole aziende agricole, la natura e il clima.
Il Parlamento europeo ha la possibilità di fermarla oggi: i deputati devono votare contro. #VoteThisCAPdown
Il Parlamento europeo ha la possibilità di fermarla oggi: i deputati devono votare contro. #VoteThisCAPdown
Greta Thunberg: "The new CAP feeds ecological destruction"
The text has, however, drawn sharp criticism from environmental non-governmental organisations. In particular, according to Greenpeace, the new CAP is "a disaster for small farms, for nature and for the climate". Specifically, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg spoke of choices that "feed ecological destruction. Eleven months after the European Parliament declared a climate emergency, the same body voted to continue an agricultural policy that, in short, funds ecological ruin with around 400 billion euros." According to the young activist, this shows "once again the scale of the gulf separating current policies from what would need to be done to comply with the Paris Agreement".